A/N: Sorry this took me awhile to crack open. Thanks for any reviews. They really motivate me to keep writing.
Sophie turned over to the other side of the sofa bed. She groaned audibly as she reached out to feel empty air beside her.
"She's gone," Rosie said from the kitchen.
Sophie groaned even louder as she stretched out the tension in her back. It had never been the same after the car accident and this crappy mattress didn't help. She swung her feet around to the edge of the bed. Wearily she pulled herself up, her hands wiping her eyes. Rosie better at least have a cup of tea ready for her.
She went into the small kitchen area and saw Rosie flipping thru a magazine at the table.
"Please tell me that you've at least made me some tea," Sophie said as she looked around for a cup.
"Kettle's just boiled" Rosie said not even looking up from her magazine. Sophie groaned. It was so typical that her sister would barge in and insist upon taking everything. It's what Rosie Webster does.
As Sophie pulled down a mug and some tea bags, she ran her hands thru her hair. She sighed girding herself up for a difficult discussion.
She turned toward her sister having gotten her tea sorted.
"Y'know for that stunt last night I should just throw you out into the street" Sophie said.
"Oi! You should have known that I can't be held responsible for anything while I'm in such a state! And I already got it from your girlfriend so no need to pile it on. She can be quite the ice queen aye?" Rosie said in her own self-entitled snotty tone. Sophie knew it well.
"Sis, I'd choose your words very carefully because I'm the one whose going to be talking dad into helping your silly ass" Sophie said sitting down opposite her sister.
"Oh Sophie please! Just tell him anything! I don't care how much of a silly cow he thinks I am as long as he'll help me out of this mess" Rosie pleaded.
Sophie couldn't help but smirk. It was a rare occasion when she had her sister groveling at her feet.
"Hey I see that! You don't have to be so smug about this" Rosie said haughtily.
"Well Sian's got errands in town so you can stay here for awhile, but Rosie if she wishes it then I'll throw you out on your ass" Sophie said over her shoulder as she got up and headed into the shower.
Sophie emerged from her bedroom with clean clothes and a plan. Her sister was flopped on a now made-up sofa bed and watching TV.
"All right I'm gonna go over and talk to my dad but Rosie you have to make a promise to me" Sophie said grabbing her jacket and keys. Rosie turned toward her.
"Well whut is it?" her sister urged her.
"It's gonna take awhile to get dad to see reason, but when Sian gets back you are going to apologize to her for that stunt in California" Sophie said as she opened the door. "Oh and Rosie, it better be good" she added as she closed the door.
"Sophie's here!" Jack yelled as he ran towards her as she closed the second door. She laughed as she scooped him up in a big hug. It was amazing how much he had grown while in Germany. He had big eyes and a cheeky grin just like her dad. Sometimes she remembered that he was not completely related to her, but it never really mattered. She knew that it was harder for her mum, but Sophie would never hold his parentage against him. As far as she was concerned Jack was her brother and she would be there for him.
"I think he knows Jack," she said ruffling his black hair. She set him back on the ground and watched as he ran over to where his toys were scattered on the floor. Her father stood with a cup of tea in hand in the alcove between the kitchen and living room.
"I suspect I can guess why you're here. Should I make you a brew?" Kevin nodded toward the kitchen. Sophie nodded and followed his lead. She guessed that her mum was at work or summat because she was nowhere to be seen. It was for the best. Sophie felt that this should be done one-on-one.
She came into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Little had changed since she had moved out a few weeks ago. Naturally she couldn't help playing a game of notice the differences in her head as she looked around.
"So how are things?" Kevin asked setting a mug in front of her.
"It's good dad. Really good" Sophie said hesitatingly.
"Why do I sense a but coming on?" Kevin smirked. He was really going to make her say it. Well then Sophie ran thru the speech in her head then threw it all out.
"Dad I think you know that Rosie made a mistake and that she's sorry" Sophie began. Kevin huffed. "She's not like us Dad. Everything she wants is handed to her not because she works for it, just by existing. Of course she's an easy mark. But deep down you know that she has a good heart. And good intentions" Sophie finished up taking a sip from her tea.
"Soph, I know that you believe in helping others no matter what. But Rosie needs to be taught a lesson. She can't just run home every time and expect us to bail her out," Kevin said in a dead serious tone. Since he had come back from Germany she had noticed a more quiet resonance in her father. He didn't shout as much as he used to. Barely even raised his voice. It was more effective than his shouting at them had ever been.
"But dad I know what it's like to believe that you are doing good than finding out that it was all a fantasy. After what happened to me at the charity" she saw her dad's jaw clench even at the mention of it. "It's devastating to find out that you've been used and that's happened to Rosie over and over again" Sophie begged trying to get him to see.
"And yet she never learns!" Kevin said exasperated. Sophie could tell that his patience was wearing thin.
"Dad, when you were gone, I found out something that nearly broke my heart. And I went off the rails and Rosie was there for me. I know that she can be a silly daft cow sometimes but she's my sister. And she's been there for me when no one else was. She knows that she's screwed up. She just needs a place to stay while she gets back on her feet" Sophie pleaded.
"And she can't stay with you aye?" Kevin smiled.
"Yeah right dad" Sophie chuckled. "I wouldn't put Sian thru that, she can barely put up with one Webster" Sophie deadpanned.
Kevin just nodded and smiled. "Okay tell her that she has a place here, but not forever," he agreed. She got up and hugged her dad. It was so good to have him here.
"Sophie!" Jack yelled from the living room. Sophie walked into the living room. "Look!" as he pointed at the screen. She sat down next to him as he watched the screen transfixed, occasionally clapping his hands.
Sophie could hear the loud voices as she entered the hallway. It was clearly her girlfriend and her sister going at it in a way that the whole street could hear. For a moment she wanted to bust in and find out what was going on, but she held herself back.
"I just had to make sure that you weren't taking my sister for a ride!" Rosie shouted.
"Did it ever occur to you that Sophie could take care of herself? She knew exactly what was going on," Sian countered.
"Oh yeah that's why she showed up on my stoop looking the same as she did that day you…" Rosie stopped.
"Day I what? Oh the day that I was humiliated in front of everyone by your sister? That day?" Sian shouted.
"Yes see! How do I know that you weren't just getting revenge on her? Hurting her just to make yourself feel better" Rosie countered.
At that Sophie busted in from the hallway. She figured that she better break this up before it got heated.
"You two can stop now! The whole street can hear you both" Sophie said standing between them.
"Sophie, she needs to leave" Sian said as she went into their room slamming the door.
"She's off her head Sophie" Rosie said looking toward her sister.
"I asked you to do one thing! Rosie one thing" Sophie said emphasizing each word.
"Did you talk to dad?" Rosie said frantically. She was still shaken by the argument.
"Course. You can pack up your stuff and head over" Sophie sighed. She had to get her sister out of there as soon as possible.
"Okay. Thanks Soph" Rosie said gratefully as she started gathering up her stuff. Sophie headed towards the bedroom. She had a girlfriend to calm down.