*Updated 01-05-2018*

Hey guys! I just want to clear up that the whole Hoyt sending Rosa home thing going on may seem a little random but it's just setting the foundations for something action packed and tense that I have planned. I agree, it seems odd and like 'Why would Hoyt even do that?' but trust me. You're gonna love what I have planned. So yeah, it is weird but just go with it :)

Chapter 24 - Hardships

Rosa laughed.

"Very funny, Hoyt. Now, seeing as you have come over to our home, I am asking you to go back to yours. You can't come here and start throwing threats around."
Hoyt glared at her as it unnerved Rosa slightly. Vaas had taken a step closer, and stood in front of Rosa more, protecting her.

"I'm being serious, Rosa. You're leaving, right now. And then you're going back into the world. I've decided that this island is no longer safe for you."
"You've decided? I'm sorry, have you seen to have forgotten something? I don't live with you anymore so you don't exactly get a say in what I do."
"You're going to England, Rosa, you deserve a better life. I'm helping you, you should be thanking me."

"Thanking you? THANKING YOU?" Rosa started to shout as her blood boiled.
She couldn't believe what Hoyt was saying, thinking he had some form of ownership over her. She wasn't an animal, she was his daughter. He just come here to pick a drunken fight, not even to ask what had went on are how she was properly doing.

"Hoyt, you're drunk, go home hermano." Vaas said as he edged closer to Rosa.
She knew that he wouldn't let them touch her but a drunk Hoyt wasn't one to pick a fight with.
"I'm not your fucking hermano It's your fault that my daughter is still here, stuck on these islands. Do you not think I wanted a better life for her, Vaas? Ever since you came along, all of that is gone!"
"Don't you dare bring Vaas into this, Hoyt. Go back to South and call me when you want to apologize. You don't even know what you're talking about."
"No. Grab her."

Two privateers marched forward as Vaas shielded Rosa from them. He whipped out his gun and pointed it straight ahead at the men.
"I would advise that you men don't fucking move."
"Vaas, it's called business. You understand. Business means having to take care of your property. I am only ensuring the safety of my most valuable asset."
"Your what?" Rosa seethed, running forward to lunge at Hoyt. Raul grabbed her before she could, holding her back.

Vaas didn't lower his gun down as there seemed like there was going to be a stand off. The crowd of pirates had grown as they were all captivated by what was unfolding before them. Rosa, having calmed slightly and with Raul releasing her, rested her hand on Vaas' arm to lower it. She gave him a look, making him drop the gun.

"I'm not going anywhere, Hoyt. Go back to South. Now." she demanded, her voice stern.
Hoyt chuckled.
"You were always so stubborn, Rosa."

Another pair of arms grabbed Rosa around the chest and lifted her off her feet, taking her as well as Vaas by surprise so they couldn't react soon enough. She started screaming but two privateers pinned Vaas' arms back as another started punching him and kicking at him so he couldn't get to her, beating him to the ground.
"VAAS! RAUL, DO SOMETHING!" she roared
"ROSA! YOU FUCKERS!" he screamed at the pirates, punches still being thrown.
"ANY OF YOU MOVE AND YOU DIE!" Hoyt yelled.

Rosa was writhing under the heavy's vice-like grip. She kicked out in anger but the heavy just kept walking. She looked at Vaas, helpless, until he directed his eyes to the heavy's head, difficult when he was taking a battering. Rosa understood him; with all of her force, she headbutted the man, his nose cracking as he yelled out and dropped Rosa. She flipped around, kicked him in between the legs and when he was down, pulled out her gun and shot him in the head. She was livid, blood pumping around her body as she slowly turned to face Hoyt. She raised the gun up and aimed it in between his eyes.

"You leave now or I will kill you." she snarled.
Hoyt's expression changed.
"Rosa." he whispered, his voice now softer; it seemed he was sobering up.
"You heard me. Leave. Don't come back here."
"I didn't mean it, Rosa. I just want you to be safe."
"You just want me to be safe? And this was your big plan? You're a fucking asshole Hoyt. How dare you refer to me as your property."
Rosa felt the venom within her as she didn't know what had come over her. Insanity.

"What are you doing, Rosa?" Hoyt asked.
Rosa didn't lower her arm and kept intense eye contact with Hoyt, eyes wide and angry.
"You will continue business with Vaas at South. I don't want to see you again. How dare you come here and treat me like this? Treat Vaas like this? You're fucking disgusting. You don't treat your family like this."
"Rosa, come on, this is a little extreme don't you think?" Hoyt stammered, raising his hands.
"No, what's extreme is coming into my home, beating up Vaas until he can barely stand, having one of your stupid fuckers man-handle me and then claim that you're taking me home. I'm 20, Hoyt, remember? I can do whatever I want when I'm 20. You're a man of your word, you said."

Hoyt was speechless as he looked at the gun, the one that he gave to Rosa.
"Rosa, come on. Let's talk about this for a minute, you're angry and upset, I understand. I only have your best interests at heart."
"My best interests? If you had my best interests at heart, you would not have come here tonight."
Everyone remained silent.
"Go." she replied, her voice monotonous, "Or I will kill you."

Hoyt shook his head, now in disbelief.
"So this is what it has come to. I raise you, give you everything you could want and this is how you thank me. I should have left you to die." he spat, before turning on his heel and storming out of the compound.

The pirates muttered under their breath as Vaas got steadily to his feet, spitting out some blood from his bleeding lip. He made his way to Rosa, who still had her hand gripped around the gun, pointing it at nothing. Her other hand was clenched and her jaw was tense. Vaas didn't say anything but suddenly Rosa turned and pulled the trigger blindly at the pirates, killing 2 men. Vaas stood behind her, leaning into her ear.
"Enough, princesa." he mumbled, gently bringing her arm down.
She dropped the gun, before silently walked to the warehouse, not looking bacj,

"Someone clean this up!" called Vaas as Raul came over to him.
"I thought she was gonna kill him, you know. She would have."
"I'm not too sure, hermano. Should I leave her?" Vaas asked.
"Go and speak to her now, get it out of the way."
"You're right. I better go and check on her."
Raul patted Vaas on the shoulder as they both walked off, Raul in one direction and Vaas in the direction of the warehouse.

Walking in, Vaas saw nobody.

"Rosa?" he called, hearing a sniff from near the couches. He slowly stepped over to them, peering over to see Rosa, knees to her chest and silently crying. It was the same spot where she had found him when she thought he was dead.
"Oh, princesa." he whispered as he pulled the couch out and sat next to her, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
"We don't have to say anything, if you don't wanna."

Neither one of them said anything for what felt like an eternity until Vaas spoke up.
"Rosa, please. I hate it when you cry like this. You're breaking my heart, baby, please."
"Do you want me to carry you to couch?" he asked, Rosa giving a small nod.

He put his hands underneath her knees and scooped her up, sitting down with her still in his arms, so she was sat on his lap. Her head lulled against his still healing chest but he didn't mind the pain, even though he was throbbing from the beating to his body. Rosa clutched at his shirt and cried, wetting it with tears. She sniffed and after a few more minutes, she had stopped crying.

"Feel better, princesa?" Vaas asked as he stroked her hair with his hands.
"A little." she replied, her voice croaky.
"Wanna talk about it?" Vaas asked.
Rosa sighed.
"Why did he have to act like that? Why did I have to act like that? He had no right coming in here and doing that, no right at all. I don't care even if he was drunk, he was never treated me like that, ever. I was scared of him tonight."
"I know, Rosa but I'm okay and you're okay. Do you really think he would have made you go?"
"Yes." she replied, "I do. It didn't have to end like that. I couldn't help myself, he enraged me. I can't forgive him, Vaas, I just can't. I can't feel stop myself from feeling like this."

"Are you sure?" Vaas asked delicately.
"Did you hear the way he spoke to me? He had never spoken to me like that. He called me his property. He wished me dead."
"He's just angry and drunk, Rosa, you'll both come round. For now, just go to sleep, you're probably exhausted."
Rosa was, the emotions of the day finally catching up with her.
"Okay." she yawned, "Thank you, Vaas, you've really calmed me down."
"I'm 100% effective, baby." he joked, kissing Rosa's head with a smile.

Rosa's mind was buzzing and she couldn't process what had just happened. Did she act too harshly? Was there any need for it all? Should she apologize? She tried to concentrate on Vaas' heart beat, before the steady rhythm sent her off to sleep.

Stick with it guys, trust me! It's all going to get very interesting, maybe some of you can predict a twist? Let me know, but for know, thank you so so so so much to those who have reviewed! I have listened to what you have said, especially Geegasm as I know there were some concerns about this little story plot! But don't worry, I have taken it all into account and I won't let you down! I promise :) Happy reading.