Hello :) I'm sure everyone who read Crimes of love thought I'd never update it again and leave it at this moment...and well, in one moment I was sure I'd never managed to get back to writing, but after so many months, finally I'm back. I don't know if anyone would still follow the story, but I've decided to pull it to the end, so that's why I'm publishing a new chapter. I hope I'd be able to update as frequent as I was last year, but we'll see. For now my personal live established a bit, so it sounds promising :)

A chapter I dedicate to my friend, and faithful reader, Candy :) I know she's angry with me and would kick me on my four letters if there'd a chance to meet again, but I still love her :D

A friend on the war field

There was no one else in the flat at this time of the day, so Frankie could focus on the daily chores, without being disturbed. At the top of her what-to-do list was to take off already dry and clean clothes from the dryer. She had deal with it pretty quickly and, as she was her custom, grabbed the pile of clothes and decided to leave them in the rooms belonging to members of her family.

She'd gently left the smelling with roses bodysuits and bottoms on Cameron's wooden crib, put her own dresses and Jack's clothes into their wardrobe. Jake's suit found its place on his bed, while Darren's socks and shorts she'd leave on the top of the washing machine as she doesn't feel it'd be still appropriate to bring his underwear into his room. Let's Hannah take care about 'things' like that.

'Don't worry, I'm only here for moment.' She popped her head from the bathroom as she heard the front door has been opened and Jack's voice came to her ears. 'I need to take a hammer.'

'A hammer?' She asked with a frown. 'Something broke down?' She looked at him worriedly.

'One of the paintings fall down. It looks like the nail didn't handle its weight.' Jack replied with a soft smile and walked over the cupboards in the kitchen area. 'Nothing to worry about, I'd put it back on the old place in a minute.'

'I hope it didn't fell on someone's head.'

'No one was around.' Jack calmed her down and looked through the drawer.

'Good.' She nodded and raised her eyebrow in surprise as she noticed there were still two shirts hanging on the dryer. She took them off and looked closer at them, wondering to whom there are belonging. There were too small for Jake, and too much elegant as for Darren's taste, so she guessed there had to be a property of her the youngest son. 'Did you found it?'

'Yes, I have it.' Jack replied and lifted a hammer to show it. 'Do you need my help in house?'

'No, love. I only need to leave Craig's shirts in his room and prepare a lunch. I'm sure I can handle it on my own.' She smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek. 'Darren's in pub with you?' She asked and walked toward Craig's bedroom.

'No, he went shopping with Craig.'

'Are you sure?' Frankie frowned surprised with a hand on the door knob. 'I thought Craig is showing John Paul Hollyoaks.'

'Well, maybe I didn't hear right.' Jack shrugged off. 'You can always text him and ask when he's back, if you need him.'

'I don't need him, I just wondered if he's doing anything about his upcoming wedding.' Frankie replied, a bit of harshness evident in his voice.

'Everything's almost tie up, Frankie.' Jack sighed. 'The world changes since our wedding, and we should respect that. You know Darren, he never has been very open about his feelings, but it doesn't mean he's not nervous or happy about his big day.' He explained calmly.

'Well, the problem is not that he's not showing any emotions, but indeed he is, and it's not happiness, Jack. He acts like he was preparing himself for a funeral.' She scowled, couldn't understand his irrational behavior. He was with Hannah for years and they were happy, so why he didn't want to be with her more 'officially'? It wouldn't change anything in their relationship, things would look the same as before the wedding.

'He's stressed with his job and the wedding…You should be more supportive for him, Frankie. Try to be in his shoes.'

'I'm trying, love, and that's why I don't understand why he acts like he does right now.'

'Hannah's very restrained with her feelings, too.' Jack pointed out, trying to defend his son.

'But at least I know she's excited and happy about her upcoming wedding. She was shining like a star when we were helping her chose the dress.' She said back. 'Every day I understand Darren less.' She muttered and pushed the door of Craig's bedroom open.

'Then let me take care of him. I know what he needs.'

'If I let you do that, everything would turn into complete disaster.' Frankie said with a roll of her eyes and shook her head, when she heard the door slammed. Men, they never can take the criticism.

She was going to leave the shirts on Craig's bed, when she noticed that something wasn't right. Craig's bed was on the wrong side of the room. She wondered why on Earth he'd like to moved his bed there, but she didn't understand yet, that she already knew the answer.

She understood it, when she hugged the shirts to her chest and walked back from the room. She gently closed the door behind herself and her brain accepted what exactly she has seen there. Frankie slumped down on the couch with a blank face, wondering how she didn't notice it earlier? Or maybe she did, but didn't want to accept the truth?

The door of the flat opened again, but this time it was Craig's and John Paul's turn to come back. They were giggling over something like a schoolboys, in hands keeping packs of sweets and cans with coke. They looked so…normal.

'Everything's fine, mum? You look pale.' Craig's laugh died on his lips as he looked at his mother face.

'I just have a headache. I'd take a pill and I'll be fine.' She replied motionlessly and carefully raised up from the ouch without looking at both men. Craig and John Paul exchanged the look, surprised with her unnatural behavior.

'Are you sure, mum? Maybe you'd lie down for a bit?' Craig suggested, worried.

'I'm fine, love. Just take your shirts, will you?' She replied and handed the clothes to her son. 'I'd be in the kitchen.'

'Thanks, mum.' She walked over the kitchen area with aching heart. She couldn't understand why her baby boy would like to live like that? He's smart, handsome, loyal and has a good heart. He also has a very good paid job, so he shouldn't has any problems with finding the right girl. She was sure there'd plenty of them, wanting to become her daughter in law…Or maybe she did something wrong? There has to be some explanation, there's always answer for everything.

'I'm sorry for bothering you…' She turned around surprised as John Paul's soft voice rang behind her back. 'But I thought you'd like to take something stronger on your headache.' He added with a shy smile, in hand he kept a small box of strong painkillers.

'Oh, thank you, John Paul. It's very nice of you.' Her face broke into small smile as she took a look at him. He was such a sweetheart, and how cute he looks with that shy smile and pink cheeks.

'I hope they'd help you.' He said and then he was gone. Frankie sat down on the tool and sighed heavily, not sure what to think anymore. That wasn't a life she wanted for her baby boy, but on the other hand… John Paul wasn't a bad boy, at least she thought that from what she sees. He was handsome, friendly and very protective when it comes about Craig. She noticed it almost at the same beginning, but then she didn't put it all together…She couldn't believe how blind she could be. It was so obvious.

'If you throw it on me again, I swear you'd clean it up with your own teeth!' She heard Craig's scowl and John Paul's sincerely laugh, before something slam down on the floor. 'I'll kill you, John Paul!' Curious, she peeped through the empty space between wall and cupboard. They were throwing the pillows at themselves as they kept running around the room leaving a chocolate footprints on her clean carpet, reminding her of Craig and Jake as the kids. She smiled at their childish play and quietly walked back, didn't want to interrupt them.

They were like two best friends and there was nothing wrong about it. She was happy her son's has someone he can trust on and is taking care about him, when she can't do it. The only thing she didn't understand and wasn't ready to accept, yet, why they have to pull their beds together...

She wished she hadn't see it, and it'd be her son who would tell her the hard truth.

You'd pay for this. He narrowed his eyes and threw a cloth to the bucket with detergent, feeling the anger raising up in his chest. Whoever has done it, would pay for it. He'd make sure of that.

'I see someone didn't appreciate your stag-party.' He glanced briefly toward the canal where his sister was standing with a child in her arms and knowing smile on her face. If she wanted to be funny, she definitely lose it.

'I'm in the killing mood today, so back off Steph.' He warned her loyally as he dig the cloth back from the water and splash the soap on the front door of the pub, leaving white and red foam streaming down the wooden surface.

'So, who wrote it?' She stepped closer, didn't take his warning to the heart. 'You know mum would hurt you if she finds out you have done something stupid or the music was too loud.'

'Stephanie…' He said slowly, a threaten evident in his voice.

'I'm only worrying about you, that's all.' She muttered and rolled her eyes, finally realizing it wasn't a good time to cross her brother right now. For Craig she's always Steph, he used to call her by full name only when she got under his skin. 'Mum's would be back in a minute…' She added on the one breath and stepped back before she'd get a slap with wet cloth as Craig took a big coup and turned around with daggers in his eyes.

'You think I'm bloody don't know it?!' He snapped annoyed and pointed a finger at the door. 'And don't you dare to say a word about this to anyone.' He didn't give too much shit about his mother, but if John Paul sees it he'd get mental.

'I'm afraid it's a little too late.' Craig took a deep breath through his clenched teeth and close to blow up he looked at her with the most hateful gaze he could manage, to shut her up and force to go away.

'I swear that if you…' She pulled her face as he thwack a cloth in front of her eyes, flicking a bit of water at her face.

'Just turn around, Craig.' She snapped and protectively hugged her little baby close to the chest before he could spill more water or saliva on him. 'Good thing he doesn't understand what are you saying, yet.' She muttered under her nose and stepped down the stairs as she felt the upcoming troubles.

'I believe it wouldn't take him too long.' He retorted with a snap and felt how the blood leaves his face as his eyes spotted the 'old Osborne's' making their way toward him and Stephanie. 'Just fucking great.' He muttered and made his best to smile when his eyes crossed with his mother ones. One look into her icy blue eyes and he knew that their meeting wouldn't bring nothing good for him. 'Didn't thought you'd come back so soon.' He said louder with a fake smile, hoping they'd buy it and just leave him to deal with the problem on his own.

'You know your mother, she's a riser.' Jack said with a smile and sneaked an arm around Frankie's shoulders.

'And they let you leave the room before seven?' A hint of sarcasm in Craig's voice has not gone unnoticed by his mother who immediately shot him a dead glare. 'Well, we don't have any breakfast, yet, since everyone are still sleeping, after…our night out.'

'I already saw your night out!' Frankie snapped at him and waggled a fist of ivy Craig didn't notice at first.

'What's happened, mum?' Steph asked with concern, didn't understand her sudden outburst.

'This happened!' Craig screwed his face and took a step back as he almost get hit by the handful of plant. 'Someone was at the back of my garden and ruined it!'

'Frankie, calm down.' Jack said softly and massaged her back. 'The garden looks fine, someone just break off a bit of ivy from the wall and that's all.' He explained, trying to calm the situation.

'No one left the pub except me!' Craig argued, clearly offended with her unfounded accusations. 'Whoever has done it, has to be pretty annoyed at you, seeing what kind of message has been left on your front door!' He snapped and pointed at the red inscription. 'If I was you, I'd be worried.' Frankie opened her mouth speechless, an ivy has slipped from between her fingers, while she focused her eyes at the door. 'See?'

'I'm sure there's some simple explanation…' Jack said carefully and kept glancing at his suddenly quiet and pale wife.

'Yea, like we have a few enemies.'

'I'm sure someone is making a joke of us.' Steph stated and hugged Cameron closer to herself and, as he began whimpering. 'Probably local kids. You know that young Valentines come back to town, so I bet it's their job.' She nodded firmly, already being sure of their trespasses. 'You remember Sonny Valentine, don't you? He always was a bad news, and bullying our poor Craig.' Craig gritted his teeth together, feeling at himself her sympathetic look.

'Steph, it was years ago, people change.' Her brother snapped and rolled his eyes. 'And don't forget we're not boys anymore. Sonny has to be over thirty already.'

'Craig is right, Steph.' Jack said. 'Sonny is an adult man and I don't think he'd do anything stupid like that. Besides he knows Craig isn't living with us anymore.'

'Still it doesn't explain this horrible message on the door! Thank God any of customers see that.' Frankie sighed heavily.

'Clients are the last thing we should to worry about.' Craig said calmer and began to clean off again. 'I hope it's only a one-time prank. ' He barely scratched anything, when the door opened violently and he stood face to face with Max. 'Would you mind to move? ' He asked irate.

'Someone knocked out the window upstairs.' He informed with a thumb pointed at the ceiling, before he passed by his brother-in-law to kiss his wife.

'What window?' Frankie asked with a snap, close to the heart attack.

'In Craig's room. It looks like someone forgot to use the door.' He smiled stupidly.

'Shouldn't he used the window downstairs, then?' Steph asked and glanced unsurely at her brother. 'Why he'd want to use the window upstairs and how he climbed in it? There's no ladder.' Max shrugged his shoulders when she looked at him, searching for answers.

'Well, it explains why someone ruined your garden, Frankie.' Jack said after a moment of thinking. 'He or she used the ivy to get into Craig's room.'

'He'd fall down!' Steph disagreed. 'It's just a plant, dad. It wouldn't keep his weight.'

'I think we already set up it wasn't Sonny.' Craig snapped and glanced knowingly at his sister. 'As Jack said we don't know if it was a man or woman…'

'I don't know what kind of woman would like to get into your bedroom.' She said deadpanned. 'It's not like you're a Brad Pitt.' Max sniggered.

'Thanks, Steph.' And his mother couldn't understand why he was beating her up as a kid. He has just known what kind of woman she'd grown up and he has doing everything to save himself from the future destruction. 'And back to your question, ivy is covering wooden fence or whatever it is, and probably someone use it to climb upstairs… However I don't know who could do it, if everyone were in the pub.' It couldn't be John Paul, could he? In the end they like always made up so there was no point to take a revenge on him…Besides he doubt it was in John Paul's taste. He'd kicked his all clothes out of the house or leave a lunch on the carpet, but wouldn't try to break in into his bedroom…Unless he wants to make a surprise for him. Well, that definitely sounded pretty good in Craig's head and he already have a few ideas about it.

'And any of you didn't hear how someone knocked out the window?!' Frankie asked with disbelief moving her eyes from Steph to Max. 'You have a bedroom across Craig's room!' She said with a shrink voice.

'I thought I heard someone walking around the house, but then I remember there's Darren's stag-party so it was impossible and I probably imagined it.' Max explained quickly, withstanding her stare. 'Besides we both are very tired after taking care of Cameron, and we're sleeping very tight.'

'It doesn't matter why they hadn't heard when someone broke the window, it does matter who the hell could do it and why he has done it? Maybe he stole something?' Craig's eyes grew up in panic. 'My laptop!' He cried.

'Everything's on the place, I already checked it.' Max assured him, but Craig wasn't so sure about that. In the end how the hell he could know what he and John Paul are having in his bedroom? 'And I think there won't be any problem with finding the guilty.' He added after short pause.

'What you mean?'

'He or she has to cut its hand. There's a lot of blood in the sink, in bathroom. That's why I went around the flat and checked each room to see if someone is hurt.'

'Craig, I swear you'd clean it all!' Frankie yelled, losing her temper. 'I just don't believe it!' She snapped and stormed into the house with a Jack chasing after her.

'Are you sure it's a blood?' Craig asked quietly, feeling Goosebumps running along his spine.

'Well, it's red and it looks like one.' Max replied with a shrug. 'So, I guess it is. Anyway it'd explain the broken window.'

'I know it's stupid question, but did you see something unusual around the flat?' He asked carefully, his hands shake lightly with nerves. 'I mean, something new or looking strange in my room?' He looked unsurely at Max, who in response wrinkled his eyebrows like he was thinking about something. 'Ah, forget about it. It doesn't matter.' He pushed the bucket aside and sighed heavily. 'If John Paul will looking out for me, I'm upstairs. And if you could not tell him about that…' He pointed at the door as he rubbed the back of his neck.

'Well, I don't want to worry you, Craig, but if he goes outside he'd see it.' Steph said carefully.

'I'd clean up in a minute. I just need to check the room and see how's mum.' He pushed the hands into the pockets of his jeans and was going to walk in the pub, when Max suddenly speak up.

'A doll.' Craig stopped in a track and slowly turned on his heel to look at the older man.

'A doll?' He wrinkled his eyebrows confused, not sure if he heard good.

'Yea, a doll. In your room.' Max nodded with a smile. 'Well, I thought it's for Mabel, but it's a bit too small for her age. She could swallow it.'

'Oh, Craig, you could ask! You only wasted your money.' Steph moaned and shook her head.

'Sorry, I didn't think…' Craig muttered, feeling as the heart was running as a crazy in his chest. 'I'd be upstairs.' He added quietly, and with jelly legs he came inside the house.

A face of nameless woman was looking back at him from today's newspaper edition, when he only settled down at chair and wait for the breakfast. Serial killer strikes again, said the title, making him wonder if it's a true, or journalists are trying to create a new hysteria around the town, since nothing interesting was going on around for the last few weeks. Regardless of if the title was saying the truth or not, there was still an unknown, dead woman staring back at him from the first page, whose murderer hasn't been caught yet.

'You shouldn't read that.' He suddenly heard behind his back and before he had a chance to react, an unknown power yanked a newspaper from his hand. He sighed heavily. 'You have enough problems on your head to keep it busy.'

'Well, maybe that's why I need something to distract myself?' He cocked his eyebrow at her.

'I'm sure there's plenty other things you can distract your head with.' His keeper retorted sharply and threw a newspaper to the bin.

'Like this young fella watching ya from the threshold.' Small grin formed on his lips as he turned around and noticed his lover leaning nonchalantly against the wall, watching him intently with a small smile. He felt butterflies in his stomach.

'It's not what I thought.' Myra scowled and looked annoyed at Mercedes sitting at the opposite chair with a Cheshire smile. 'The breakfast would be ready in five minutes.' She added with gloomy face and turned toward the oven to take care about scrambled eggs and bacon before it burns down.

'I'd look for something lighter to eat.' Mercedes said and looked down at her nails as she felt her mother eyes at herself. 'I already gained two pounds, mum.' She said in her defense.

'It wouldn't hurt you if you gain another one.' Her mother retorted irate, finally forgetting about Spike and Darren. 'You're skinny.'

'Mebbe it wouldn't if ya want to look like ya.' Spike massaged his eyelids tiredly, sensing in the air upcoming fight. He wondered if in this mad house there is a one day free off the shouts. He was going to emerge from the room before the hell would start over, when he felt a warm hand on his neck and moment later skilled fingers were massaging his tensed muscles. He murmured quietly and with a soft smile looked up at smiling back at him Darren. Their eyes locked together and Spike felt a big urge to raise up from the chair and press his lips to his lover. As like he read in his mind, suddenly Darren tilted over him and moved his face closer to the younger man, like he was indeed going to fulfill his wish.

'What about breakfast, mum? I'm hungry as wolf!' Spike was the first to move his face away, as Michaela's voice rang in the house and moment later she swaggered into the kitchen with a notepad in hand and usual pink bow on the head.

'You need to wait till she quits her whining!' Mercedes snapped for the welcome and crossed arms against chest in defense when Myra sent her a dead glare above the oven.

'Like always everyone in a good mood, eh?' Michaela rolled her eyes and slammed a notepad down at the table before she took a sit next to her sister and fixed her eyes at two men. 'Ah, our love birds, finally get up!' She coed with a cheeky smile, a dangerous glint in her eye.

'It's nice to see you, too, Michaela.' Darren smiled politely and moved his hands lower on Spike's shoulders, to massage the hard muscles and occasionally brush a thumb over his cheek in tenderly way. 'How's the hunting celebrities going on? Any success?' Spike smiled slightly as the man's fingers tickled his skin.

'I've already dropped it.' She replied with a bored face and popped a candy into her mouth.

'Any scandals around? That's something new.' Mercedes snorted and studied her nails.

'No, I just changed the department, when I understood that if I stay there any longer I wouldn't be able to develop further my skills.' She explained with a smirk. 'Now, I can be more creative.'

'So, what kind of journalist you are, now?' Spike asked with curious and winced slightly as the hot coffee he has taken a sip sting his injured lip.

'An investigative journalist.' Michaela announced proudly, her eyes flashed with excitement. Spike almost choked on his drink, when the spoon Myra was holding in hand slipped from her fingers and crashed with a loud slam on the room, while she looked petrified at her the youngest child. 'That's why I thought you could give me a small interview about Rose Case.' She looked expectantly at Spike with a grin. 'How it feels when you're captivated by a serial killer.'

'I don't think it's a good idea.' Darren stated as he felt how Spike's muscles tensed under his fingers. 'The case is already closed and it's over. There's no reason to come back to it.' He added firmly.

'Believe me, that people are still very interested with the case!' She disagreed loudly and picked up a pen from the pocket of her jeans jacket. 'Especially in hearing Spike's version. As you remember everyone thought you were the killer and there's still a big mystery about your person.' She pointed a pen at him.

'They should keep noses in their business.' Darren snapped, slowly losing his patience with the woman. He didn't want Spike to go through it once again.

'What you mean by an investigative journalist?!' Myra suddenly cried at the whole kitchen, when she finally realized what her the youngest child has said.

'She'd be chasing criminals, mum.' Mercedes said with a wry smile and quickly raised up from the chair to grab a pan before her mother would push it down on the floor as her mother suddenly lost a control in hands. 'I feel obliged to warn Jackie, before you'd help police to throw her in jail.'

'Are you insane?! It's dangerous, Michaela!' Myra yelled, couldn't believe in what she heard. 'Just wait until I'll tell John Paul about this!'

'Oh, stop threatening me with John Paul, mum!' Michaela cried back, annoyed. 'It's my life and I can do whatever I want. It's not John Paul's business, let him put his nose into his dwarf's matters!'

'I don't think you understand how risky is that job.' Spike spoke up softly. 'Your life can be in danger.'

'It adds a bit of spice to the life.' She grinned excitedly, looking like a small girl who just got her new doll.

'It's not about fun, Michaela.' Myra snapped and moved forward looking like she was ready to grab her the youngest child and shake it by arms until he'd come back to senses.

'Ah, don't waste your breath on her, mum.' Mercedes drawled with a bored face. 'You know she's a stupid, stubborn cow, and the more you'll fighting with her, the less she's going to listen to you. She'd do whatever she wants, no matter what you all say. She needs to get burn to understand her mistake.' She glanced briefly at her sister and snort a bit when in return she got a stick out tongue.

'It doesn't mean I should let my child kill yourself!' She was all shaking with anger. 'Darren, Spike, tell her!' Both men looked quizzically at each other, as the woman looked at them expectantly, waiting for their support. Darren moved nervously behind Spike's back, his hands slick from the sweat were slipping over his lover's neck, as he kept thinking what kind of answer would satisfy Mama McQueen. 'Well?' She prompted, as any words left their lips.

'I think Mercedes right.' Spike was the first to speak up and enough brave to withstand her stare. 'Until Michaela doesn't learn anything, she stubbornly would do whatever she wants.' With the angle of an eye he noticed a flash of triumphal smile on Michaela's face, Darren's hands painfully grabbed for his shoulders. 'And John Paul wouldn't help in it, either.' He added when Myra opened her mouth to protest.

'I know what I'm doing, mum.' Michaela assured her, although any of men thought she had even a small knowledge about what kind of job she's going to do. 'This is exactly what I always wanted to do.'

'You lost your mind completely!' Myra snapped close to despair, and waved a hand at her before she walked out from the kitchen with dangerously red eyes.

'Oh, great. Now, we don't get anything to eat.' Mercedes growled and shot a dagger toward her sister, before she followed her mother.

'You should think twice about what you're doing, Michaela.' Darren said. 'You're not going only to write interview with the people who survived the attack of killer, but also…'

'I already have a theme to write about.' Michaela chimed into his word, her face broke into sly smile.

'If you think Spike's going to…' His eyes darkened with anger.

'Jesus, take a rest! I'm not talking about Rose's case.' She rolled her eyes. 'I'm talking about this.' She opened her notebook and picked up a piece of newspaper hidden between pages. She handed it to Spike with a sly smile he didn't like. He looked at the paper and immediately recognized the face of woman he has seen few minutes earlier.

'You're going to write an article about this serial killer?' Spike asked in disbelief, his eyebrows raised up as he looked at her quizzically.

'It's one of the first things I'm gonna do.' She confirmed his fears firmly with not coming down smile.

'Michaela, you may not only find herself in danger, but complicate the investigation with your theories.' Spike snapped, feeling that this time she has pushed him on the edge. 'Besides you don't have any experience!'

'Of course, I have!' She scowled, clearly offended with his last words. 'I'm writing to the newspaper for the last five years!'

'About celebrities!' He shouted, finally losing his patience. 'There are two different things!' He couldn't believe how childish and stupid she could be.

'Okay, calm down you both.' Darren raised his hands up, feeling that someone has to stop these two before their argument goes further. 'I'm sure we can discuss it calmly.'

'There's nothing to discuss.' Michaela said with angry face. 'Spike wouldn't tell me what I can write about or not.'

'You can mess up with the investigation! You don't have any idea with whom you're dealing!' Spike yelled, his fist slammed down at the table.

'Well, we don't know yet if we're dealing with serial killer. From what I read crime scenes looked different.' Darren said with a shrug, but he quickly regret it as his lover looked up at him heavily with a stern face.

'Thanks, for helping.' He said sarcastically and settled his eyes back at Michaela, packing back pen and notepad to her jacket. 'You can be in danger.' He added, but she seemed to not care anymore about him speaking to her. 'I'm serious.' He tried once again, his fingers patted nervously the table.

'Get a grip on your life, Spike.' She finally spat and violently pushed the chair down while she stood up and walked out from the kitchen.

'I don't believe in this…' He muttered to himself and sighed heavily when Darren's arm wrapped around his shoulders, and kissed him lightly at the back of head.

'Just leave it, Spikey. We both know she thinks she's the brightest spark in the family and you're losing your nerves for nothing. I'm sure John Paul would deal with her if she began messing with investigation.' He assured the younger man and moved hands up and down his forearms. 'Now, let me fix something for us as I guess we don't get anything from Myra.' He added with a deep sigh and turned on the oven. 'Maybe we just eat sandwiches?'

'Probably that's the best solution.' He replied with a shrug and braced his hands on the table, while in the meantime Darren was pacing around the kitchen, gathering necessary ingredients. 'Until John Paul learns one or two things about his little sister.' Darren smirked and winked at the man as he passed by him to get to the sink. He was pretending he's going to grab clean plates for them, while when Spike wasn't looking, he discreetly removed a newspaper from the bin.

'With cheese and ham?' He asked with a false smile as he slipped the paper under his t-shirt.

A doll. A small as his hand, in a pale blue dress with orange shawl wrapped around shoulders, and red lipstick smeared on the half of her plastic face. Dark skin, black hair. To be precise half of her head was covered with a long, silky hair, when the other half was short and spiky.

He was in disarray.

Was it a warning or treat? Or maybe a helpful tip? Was the writing directed to him, or it's a simple coincidence?

Craig never believed in such coincidences, but he wish it'd be the one of them. Not for him, but for John Paul. He even didn't want to think how his boyfriend would react if he finds out about the late night surprise left in their bedroom.

He moved fingers along the soft material of the doll's dress and stopped around the middle of her back, as he felt something convex under it. He grabbed the scissors from the night table and without second thought cut off the dress and turned the doll around to cut her back up. There was a small plastic bag hidden in her body, with a piece of paper in it. He carefully removed it and with bated breath opened.

Not everything looks the same if you look at it once again.

A short note. Nothing more.

'What the hell that means?' He asked himself and took a long look at the doll. Was it some kind of riddle? A joke? And who left it? A friend or foe? Someone from Russian's Mafia, or someone he hasn't thought about?

He wrapped his fingers around the doll and squeeze it lightly as his mind was racing. It didn't make sense.

A treat on the front door of his mother's house, a doll left in his bedroom with a hidden riddle in her body, and the red paint mixed with a water in the bathroom sink.

Nothing makes a sense. And the more he was thinking about it, the less he understands.

'Were you going to hide it from me, or tell me the truth?' Startled he turned around on the bed and noticed a pair of blue eyes staring at him with anger. He disappointment him again, but he has done it only for his good. He wished John Paul could understand him. 'Answer me.' He said in demanding tone, arms crossed against his chest.

'It doesn't has anything to do with you.' He replied softly, withstanding his intensive stare.

'It does!' He shouted, his hands clenched together. 'When the fuck you'd finally learn it?!' He asked through the clenched teeth, tears spring in his eyes. 'It will always does, if it touches you!'

'John Paul…' He raised up from the bed to walk over his boyfriend, to calm him down, but before he even made two steps, he has turned on the heel and with the last words; you'd never understand it, he stormed out of the bedroom. 'John Paul, please!' He shouted after him, but he hasn't come back. In the reply he only got a quick, heavy steps and slam of the door as he has left the flat. 'I'm only doing this to protect you.' He whispered and slumped back on the bed, head hid in his hands.

He'd found him standing above the canal with a red nose and swollen eyes, watching in silence the flowing water. He wouldn't look at him as he finally got a courage and approached him, only to stand on his side, forearms rest on the wooden barrier. They stayed quiet, each one in his own world, until John Paul had enough of the silence and broke it with hoarse voice.

'You've never trust me.' His voice above the whisper, sounded more like statement than question. Craig shuffled on his feet, his stare fixed at the small stone on the other side of the canal.

'I do.' He disagreed quietly. 'I really do.' He sighed slightly, not sure how to move over the new ground. With John Paul everything was new, and he feels like he's learning from the beginning. For him there was no hard questions, nor answers, while for Craig there was nothing like easy conversations, especially the ones touching the relationship matters.

'But you don't show it.' John Paul retorted with a grimace and threw a stone to the water.

'I don't know what else to do to let you feel that indeed I am.' He was irate and tired with hearing that only John Paul is doing everything to save their relationship. Craig was doing everything he could, and forcing himself to do things he'd never does. But his boyfriend couldn't see that; he was only demanding him to be someone else – to be someone like John Paul. But he wasn't. And he never be. 'If you really think I'm not worth you.' He felt the knob in his throat. 'Then why are you still, here? If I'm so bad for you and don't respect, why…'

'I thought it's obvious.' John Paul said quietly, hurt evident in his voice.

'Well, I thought that so, but now, I'm not so sure about that.' Craig took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his neck, not sure how to handle the situation well. 'Whatever I'm doing, I'm doing it for you, John.'

'Oh, really?' He snarled, his cheeks flushed of the anger raising deep inside him. 'You think you'll win me by not trusting me and feeding with more lies?' He spat, the blue eyes he loves so much in him, turned into two icy poles. 'It's not how the relationship works, Craig. I'm not Spike who was happy enough when you only looked at him. Maybe he liked hearing your lies to feel important in your life, but for me it's not enough.' It hurt him. He was unfair showing him as a monster without heart, who only uses people for his own benefit.

'I wasn't in relationship with Spike.' He said slowly, stressing each word, with hope he'd finally get the message. 'And you're the last person who should judge our relations, as you haven't been around when it took place.' He knew he shouldn't say it, but John Paul already got under his skin, and he wasn't going to let him humiliate himself, without fight.

'Whatever. You'd never change and would never understand how it is to sacrifice himself for another person.' Craig gritted his teeth together and painfully grabbed for John Paul's wrist, as the man turned on his heel and was going to walk away. 'Get off me!' He shouted, tears spring in his eyes.

'No, until you'd listen to me.' Craig said firmly, still holding him in a tight grip. 'If we talk about Spike…'

'No, I don't want to hear that. I have enough stories about Spike.' He snarled, feeling as his heart ache.

'It's you who brought him up!' Craig yelled, flustered. 'I didn't want to talk about him, but if you start it, I'd finish.'

'No, you won't.' He disagreed and pulled back sharply, finally freeing himself from his grip.

'Do you know why Spike let himself be caught by Mitchell?!' John Paul stopped on the track and confused turned around to look at his boyfriend.

'What the hell it does has with us?' He asked irate, didn't let him fool himself.

'Well, it does. It does for me.' Craig replied firmly and pulled himself from the barrier. 'So, answer me, that.' He eyed him with challenge, waiting for his turn.

'It's ridiculous.' John Paul finally snapped flushed. 'You're like always trying to dismiss me.'

'It's a simple question, John Paul. Do you know, or not?' He asked again harshly. 'I thought it's me avoiding the hard questions.' He added with a malice smirk, knowing it'd push him on the edge and make him listen to him. As he thought John Paul tightened his fists and looked back at him with burning gaze.

'I don't care. He's not my problem…'

'He let himself be caught, because Darren is his weakness.' Craig answered for his own question, before John Paul has a chance to walk away. 'And Mitchell knew that.'

'I don't understand what are you…'

'Spike did everything to protect the one he loves, regardless of the price he had to pay for this. He'd get caught, be imprisoned, and almost get killed. For Darren…Mitchell knew that he'd get Spike do whatever he wants and hurt him the most, if he does something to Darren. He'd pay for Spike's past and his mistakes.' Craig moved a hand over his face. 'And I don't want to be on Spike place; to be force to choose between you and my duties. I don't want you to pay for my mistakes. It's not about not trusting, John, I just know if less you know, the more safer you're…I don't want to lose you, do you understand, that?' There was an utter silence between them, their eyes fixed together, but no one dares to say anything. After minute or two, Craig broke the eye contact and looked down at his feet, realizing that maybe indeed it wasn't enough reason for his boyfriend to forgive him. And that maybe he wished to hear something else, maybe would like to hear he was ready to give his life for him? Maybe…it wasn't enough.

He shivered as the warm hand suddenly rested at the top of his, and long slim fingers wrapped around it. He jerked his head up only to meet with an intensive blue stare, before his lover wrapped arms around his waist and pulled him into embrace. Craig breathed with relief, realizing he has stopped breathing since he has finished his speech, and closed his eyes as he rested a head on John Paul's shoulder. They hadn't say a word to each other, only were standing there for few good minutes, enjoying the blissful moment between them.

And for that moment Craig thought that maybe it was enough for John Paul.