I realized today that I started writing Loss of Innocence last year in November, so it's almost a year now that I've kept up with the same storyline without getting bored, that's what an awesome movie will do for you. And not to sound like a sappy idiot (which I am) but you guys have been great, really I mean it. Seems like just yesterday this told me of this great dream she had, and here we are. Planning something special for the 26th, to celebrate he he. As always, Four Brothers do not belong to me, or the quote whick I couldn't find the source to.

A Christmas shopper's complaint is one of long-standing

Jack couldn't remember where he'd heard that saying. Not that it mattered at this point. At this point all that mattered was keeping Bobby from killing the old man that had dared take a seat on their bench, and avoiding ending up in jail over christmas.

"Do you mind?" Bobby rudely cut off the old mans ramblings about not finding his wife.

"Can't you help me? I can't find her?"

Jack sighed. The guy was a drunk, and probably just a little bit crazy, judging from the way his head was rolling on his shoulders as he glanced around like a paranoid bunny. And he smelled like garbage. Not that he was judging.

"For fucks sake man thank your lucky star and get the fuck out!" Bobby snapped. He turned to Jack. "You see why I wanted to come? This place is full of more crazy ass bastards than the county jail, anyone could have just picked you up and used you as a christmas present with a string"

Jack snorted. Trust his brother to manage to sound dramatic and insulting at the same time. "I doubt Grandpa Al over there is capable of picking me up, much less carry me anywhere".

"My name's not Al" The man slurred out, his left eye twitching.

"Yeah we don't care, now get the fuck off this bench before I beat you to death with it" Bobby snarled.

A shriek was heard and then a woman, who was suspiciously a lot like Al came charging at them. Al stood up quickly and hurried over to her. "I couldn't find you Alice"

Said Alice grabbed a firm hold of Al's arm and dragged him away as Bobby and Jack watched. "Take a good look brother" Bobby's voice was somber "That's your brothers future right there". He shifted on the bench and Jack caught the slight wince he was trying to play off as a shrug.

"Want something to drink?" He gestured at the drinks stand, and got up when Bobby nodded and soon returned with two cokes. As he handed one to his brother he reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out two pills and held them out to him.

Bobby glanced down and then laughed. "Thinking of me are you little brother?"

Jack shrugged, a grin on his face. "I knew you'd need them, stubborn bastard"

"Yeah well" Bobby didn't say anything else, but he took the pills and swallowed them, proving to Jack that he really was in pain, as he didn't even fight about it. "I think it runs in the family" he said, shooting a glance at Jack. "Speaking off... how's your shoulder?"

"Much better" Jack nodded. It actually was, it had healed a lot better than he thought it would. Now he could move around without problem, and he only ever really felt some pain in it when the weather took a turn for the worse.

"Good" He nodded, trying not to think about his brother on his knees in the street. A Mercer should never be on his knees for anyone, and he'd be damned if that ever happened again. He would make sure it didn't.

"I hate this place" Jack mumbled.

Bobby looked over at him, a soft look in his eyes that no one would ever catch him wearing around anyone except his brothers. Jack hated the mall, just as he hated almost every public place that had a lot of people in it, with the exception of bar's, where he was almost to drunk to think, and the movie theater cause he loved movies. Bobby knew he expected his tormentors to jump out at him. At least he used to. Now days he probably didn't even think anything along those lines, but his body reacted just the same. He averted his eyes. "Me too".

Jack took in his tense posture and sighed. "Don't you think it's time to stop being pissed at them?"

Bobby hadn't been thinking about that at all, but he didn't want to share those other thoughts right now. "No" he answered bluntly. It wasn't either. They were silent after that, both of them thinking about the past, the present, the future.

Jack spoke again, keeping his eyes averted from his brother. "We need to stick together"

Bobby gritted his teeth. Little shit knew exactly what he was doing. How many times hadn't he told Jack the same thing. That no matter what they had to stick together, have each others backs, cause they were a family, and that's what family do. Oh he'd have their asses alright, he was just waiting to knock them on it. He didn't want to admit it, but he was hurt. This felt exactly like a betrayal, and he never expected it from them. A part of him knew that he had always been a bit unreasnable when it came to Jack and his safety, but he was just a kid damnit. A kid he'd promised he'd protect, no matter what. "We are sticking together Jack" he muttered.

His little brother leveled him with his all knowing look. "You want to beat their asses"

"And I will" Bobby promised. "Dosn't mean we're not sticking together"

"Okay I need your opinion, and don't scoff man" Angel suddenly appaered before them, holding a box in his hand, shooting a warning glare at Bobby.

Bobby and Jack looked down at the box, and Jack turned whiter than a sheet. Please, please not that. For the love of everything holy and what little sanity he had left let it not be a ring.

Bobby took it better. He looked up at Angel with a glare. "You better not be that fucking stupid"

Angel looked confused for a few seconds before he caught on. "It's earrings"

Jack let out the breath he'd been holding. Thank God.

"Is it plastic?" Bobby asked.

After Jerry had joined the others they decided they'd had enough of the mall and decided to go to the store and pick up the things Jack had written down. It took awhile and when they were home again Bobby's whole body hurt, and if it wasn't for Jack he probably wouldn't have made it inside. He was out like a light before his head hit the pillow.

Jack put a blanket over his now sleeping big brother before taking a seat on the couch, leaning back and closing his eyes. God he was tired... "Hey" He opened his eyes to see Jerry taking a seat next to him.

"Hey" Jack mumbled, his thoughts drifting. Now that he was the only one cooking in the house he needed a plan, so he'd get everything right. Maybe he could start with the turkey tomorrow...

"I was thinking..."

Jack looked over at Jerry who'd spoken. He looked nervous and Jack was immediatley suspicious. What now?

Jerry continued quickly after seeing Jack's look. "It's nothing bad, well not really bad... I would really love to have my girls here for a few hours on christmas, but Camille isn't really agreeing to it. I thought, maybe you could come with me when I go over to talk to her?"

The heartbroken look in Jerry's eyes suddenly made Jack hate Camille. He'd never had a problem with her before, but this wasn't fair. Jerry was a good father, he didn't deserve to be begging to see his kids on christmas. He was a bit confused though. "Why me?"

"Well, Camille always liked you best. I can't really ask Bobby, and Angel is well you know..."

He did know. Though he doubted his presence would make much of a difference to Camille. Maybe they'd even be thrown out faster by it, but looking at Jerry he agreed anyway, just because he hated that look in his eyes. That defeated look. He hated it. He was also pretty sure Camille didn't like him, just tolerated him more than his brothers. "Sure".

Jerry let out a relieved sigh. "Tomorrow then?"

Jack nodded warily.

Jingle bells jingle bells...

Bobby didn't know how the fuck he'd managed to escape the fact that it was approaching christmas for so long, because now it was everywhere. Songs on the radio, christmas movies on television, and a giggling Angel upstairs. Okay maybe he wasn't giggling, but he was sure as hell doing something. He glared at the radio currently playing Jingle Bells for the billionth time. If only he had the energy to get up and smash the fucking thing, but the trip to the mall yesterday had really exhausted him and his body burned like hell, screaming at him for his stupid idea. Jack had been frowning when he swallowed all his pills without a fuss, and was now busy running his hands through his hair nervously. Bobby glared towards the radio again as the song changed to a woman wailing about someone kissing Santa, and he immediately started to formulate a plan to destroy the freaking thing without getting up from his bed. Sure Jack would be pissed, but he'd get over it. His thought drifted back to said brother who was now biting on a nail. "What's going on?"

Jack jumped and shot him a glare. "Nothing"

"It's not nothing when your pulling your hair out and biting your finger off sweetheart" Bobby's knowing voice stated.

Jack sighed and muttered something that sounded suspicioulsy dirty, but Bobby kept his eyes on him until he gave in. "Jerry and I are going over to Camille's to talk her into letting the girls hang here for a couple of hours tomorrow".

Oh. That explained it. "How did he talk you into that?"

Jack shrugged. "He asked"

Bobby knew why Jerry had picked Jack as a wingman, he just hoped it would work. He knew it was important to Jerry, even though he suspected he would have to pop a few more pills to get through it himself. "Well good luck" The words were nonchalant, but his tone wasn't and Jack knew anyway. He still felt guilty for his part in the fuckup that Jerry's marriage had become, and if he thought it would have helped he would have gone over there himself, but he knew that would only make it worse.

"Okay here we go" Jerry straightened his jacket for the tenth time since they'd arrived at Camille's house. His house, even though he didn't live there anymore. The door opened on the second ring and they were met by Camille's face.

Jack was struck by how different she looked. At Evelyn's funeral she'd been sad, but she'd still looked beautiful. Now her face was hard, her mouth set in a firm line. She looked older, bitter. Not at all like she'd looked the times he'd seen her before.

"Camille" Jerry spoke with a soft tone.

"Jerry" She glanced over at him. "Jack. What are you doing here"

"I was wondering if we could talk?" Jerry asked, standing still with a calm face. If anyone had seen him fidgeting before the door opened they wouldn't have believed it was the same person.

Camille sighed and looked like she was about to say no, but then her eyes took on a glint Jack didn't like and opened the door. He could tell Jerry was surprised as well and it took a few seconds before he moved forward, Jack following behind them. As soon as they stepped inside they were greeted by the sight of the kitchen table, a table that was occupied. Sitting at the table were Muriel, Evan's wife. She looked up and when her eyes landed on them her eyes turned cold, and full of hate. She glared first at Jerry, and then her eyes shifted to Jack, her eyes turning even more venomous. Jack could almost feel the hate radiating off her and for a moment he was struck by the horrible feeling of having it directed at him, but then he steeled himself and met her eyes straight on, no emotion in his own.

Okay. I'm gonna take a leap here. I know Camille is OC, but this is kind of how I imagined her other side to be, a bit more vindictive. She's hurt and feels like she's always been second best to Jerry and that's why she's lashing out. She dosen't really understand why they have to do what they did, since she was never really a part of that world. At least that's my take on it. I also took the oppurtunity to show how Jack's changed.