Thank you to Morgan and talltwin18 for reviewing, I love hearing your feedback :)
This chapter prompted by Guest- set after Darren finds out that Sandy is his Mum he doesn't trust them, thinks they are a joke and all bad news until he sees how they act around each other. The way they care and get protective over Jason when he collapses, the way they listen to Ziggy talk about his latest one night stand, the way they help Robbie stay in college and then he realises that he thought wrong about his half brothers
Chapter 46- proven wrong:
Darren sighs as he sits in the coffee shop waiting for Sandy to arrive. It was four weeks ago he'd first found out that Sandy was his real mum and in all honesty he wasn't sure how he felt about it.
At first he wanted nothing to do with them. Thought they were trouble makers and only out for themselves. Thought they were too big for their boots and who'd had everything given to them on a plate.
He instantly despised them before he even had a chance to know them. That's when he realised just how wrong he was. It was started when he witnessed something three weeks ago.
Darren was sat at a park bench, trying desperately to get his thoughts together. He'd just had yet another argument with Nancy and honestly wasn't up to socialising with anyone. He enjoyed the peace and quiet and instead thought about a way to break his fractured relationship.
However that peace and quiet was broken when he heard voices. Not just anyone's voices. The Roscoes voices. He could hear their voices coming and really didn't want to have to interact with people. Especially not them.
He got up from the bench he was sitting on and moved to one in the corner, more covered by a tree and a hedge. He continued his thinking there while watching as the Roscoes approached.
As they came into the clearing, Darren saw that it was in fact Jason, Robbie and Ziggy he had heard. They talking about something but Darren had to listen in harder to work out what.
"Listen Rob, all I'm saying is that Mum's worried that you ain't gonna stay in school long enough to get any qualifications" Ziggy said. Robbie scowled and Darren noticed that Jason looked slightly ill.
"But what do I need qualifications for anyways?" Robbie asked, sick of himself always being the topic of conversation. "To get a job, obviously" Ziggy replied. He turned to look at both the twins before realising just how ill Jason looked.
"Jase, you alright mate?" Ziggy asked. "Jase, what's going on with ya?" Robbie then asked, both brothers noticing how ill the youngest looked. Jason tried to speak or give them a sign that he was alright, but before anyone could do anything, Jason collapsed.
"Woah, right Rob get his head, you know what to do!" Ziggy shouted as Robbie kneeled down on the floor placing Jason's head in his lap. "Right I'll get him in the recovery position and check his pulse, you ring Joe" Ziggy instructed.
Darren watched on with fascination as Ziggy and Robbie got to work helping their brother. Robbie had already rang Joe and he was on his way. Darren just couldn't believe the maturity and care they were showing.
It was nothing like he had ever saw. He wondered whether he should go and help but then Joe appeared with Jason's insulin. He watched as Joe injected Jason and the brothers sat back waiting for Jason to wake up.
A few minutes later Jason thankfully woke up and Darren watched as the three brothers guided him back home, mentioning something about getting him checked out to make sure he really was okay.
After they'd left, Darren took a minute to process everything he'd just witnessed. He felt an ache in his heart and it was nothing like anything he'd ever felt. He couldn't believe how sensible they were; nothing like what he'd grown to hate about them.
He then realised that the ache w as regret and concern. In reality he'd just watched his younger half brother collapse and he did nothing to help. He decided next time they look liked they needed help, he would offer his assistance.
Darren sighed thinking back to that day as even now he still regretted not helping. But it had changed his views. He never looked at them the same after that. Instead of looking at them as if they were silly little boys, he could finally see them for the adults they were.
A week later he witnessed something else that proved even more that his half brothers were nothing like what he had made them out to be. It all started with a drink in the pub.
Darren sighed as he cleaned yet another glass. It was late afternoon and for a Friday they hadn't been very busy, which in turn meant Darren hadn't been very busy. He had a feeling it would be like this all night.
However that feeling disappeared when three loud males entered. He looked up and saw that it was Joe, Freddie and Ziggy. They approached the bar and Darren put the glass he was holding down, realising he was going to be the one to serve them.
"What can I get you lads?" Darren asked, telling himself to be nice and reminding himself that only last week he'd witnessed a different side of two of these people. "Three pints please Darren?" Joe asked as Ziggy went and got them a table.
Darren served the pints to them and watched as Joe and Freddie carried them over to where Ziggy was sitting. Darren stood and watched the brothers talk about work and business at the garage.
There was something nibbling at him. Like he'd forgotten to do something or say something. Then he thought back to last week and realised he'd wanted to find out whether Jason was okay. After all he was Darren's younger sibling.
However he didn't want to interrupt their conversation. But then he realised that this would be his only chance to ask them before they got too deep into their conversation and subsequently their drinks.
Darren cleared his throat and took a deep breath before calling over to them. "Oi lads how's Jason doing?" Darren asked, grabbing their attention. "Why'd you ask?" Freddie asked, curious as to why Darren was now taking interest in their family.
"Just I seen him last week the park and he didn't seem too good. He was with you two and Robbie" Darren said, directing the last part towards Joe and Ziggy. "Oh yeah, we took him to get checked out everything's alright now. Cheers for your concern mate" Joe replied.
Darren nodded and shot them a small smile before turning back towards the bar.
Two hours had passed and Darren had watched in awe at the three brothers sitting near the bar. He could hear their conversation perfectly and in all honesty it made him jealous. The way Joe and Freddie were completely supportive of Ziggy and listened to every word he said made Darren feel like he had lost something he'd never really had.
"And then I just followed her back to hers, or maybe it was a hotel, and then-" Ziggy would have continued however he was interrupted by Freddie. "Look Zig, as supportive as I am I don't think anyone wants to know what happened next."
"Did you get her number?" Joe asked, changing the subject back to the girl. "I got a number but I'm not sure whether it was hers" Ziggy replied. "Well she sounds like a nice girl, try and see if you could find her and go out with her again" Joe suggested as he finished off another pint.
"I'll get the next round in" Freddie said, standing up to walk over to the bar.
Once Darren had served Freddie again, he watched on at the chemistry the brothers had between them. They got on so well and were nothing like the cold hearted and stone faced men Darren had made them out to be. Deep down he craved something like that.
Darren took another sip from his coffee and looked at his phone. Sandy would be there in five minutes. When he thought back to that night, he remembered wondering what he had missed out on not being a part of their lives.
Not being the older brother he could have been.
He could feel himself become more nervous as the time for Sandy to arrive for closer. But he took a deep breath and told himself he'd made this decision by himself and had no reason to feel nervous.
He thought back to only a week ago when he was sat in the same seat, and when he eventually changed his mind.
Darren sat drinking a hot chocolate and reading the paper, enjoying the peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the pub. He looked back down at his paper to finish reading the article he was reading, however looked up when he heard raised voices.
"Fred, they can't make me stay in school though" Robbie pointed out as they entered the coffee shop. "They can't, but Mum can" Freddie said as he ordered their drinks. "She wouldn't do anything drastic" Robbie muttered. "You wanna a bet?" Freddie challenged.
Robbie rolled his eyes as he took his drink from the counter and walked over to a table. "Look Rob, all I'm saying is there's no point ruining your education because you can't sit still in a lesson" Freddie said.
Darren was slightly shocked as he heard this conversation. Simply because he'd never heard freddie speak such sense and had never seen Robbie care for his education.
"Look Rob, were all worried that you're just throwing away your life, especially Mum, and she's just worried that you don't care" Freddie explained. "Do you care?" Freddie asked, not actually sure what kind of answer he would get.
"Yeah, course I do" Robbie replied.
Darren raised his eyebrows at that and quiet frankly had to doubt what Robbie had just said. He'd been surprised by the Roscoes over the past few weeks however this may have been one step further.
"And Mum's just worried that you're getting involved with the wrong crowd" Freddie said, taking a sip from his coffee. "What's that supposed to mean?" Robbie asked, slightly offended. "She's just worried, as we all are. You're a smart kid Rob and its about time you started showing it."
Robbie took a sip from his drink but didn't reply to Freddie's comment. "I got in with the wrong crowd at your age and yes I know you were young back then but you can remember the stress it put Mum through."
Robbie looked down at the table as he remembered that quite dark period of their lives. Joe was always our drinking, dad had left and Freddie was getting involved with gangs.
"I'm not trying to make you unhappy I'm just telling you not to ruin your life like I did" Freddie said. "And I know it's hard to believe but I know you've got brains in there somewhere" Freddie said as he ruffled Robbie's hair.
Robbie smirked at Freddie as he finished his drink, thankful that it was Freddie speaking to him and not Joe as that wouldn't have gone down as well.
Darren couldn't actually believe what he'd just heard and now knew he had a decision to make.
That's how Darren ended up sitting where he was, waiting for Sandy to arrive. He wasn't sure how he was going to greet her but decided he would just go with the flow. Before Darren had a chance to think any further, he spotted Sandy walk around the corner.
"Morning Darren" she greeted, sitting down opposite him. "Morning" Darren replied. "So what did you want to talk to me about?" Sandy asked.
Darren took a deep breath and tried to figure out what he could say. However the words didn't come easily to him. "I-I just wanna say I'm sorry." Sandy frowned. "Sorry for what?" Darren sighed. "For judging your family, and not taking the time to get to know you."
"Also, I'd understand if you said no but I would like to get to know your family and hopefully be a part of it" Darren said, finding it awkward to hold eye contact with Sandy. When he did look up at her though, he found she was smiling.
"Of course you can get to know us, I'd love that" Sandy said, feeling tears start to well up in her eyes. She reached across the table and hugged Darren, embracing the feeling of holding her son. While Darren embraced the feeling of holding his Mum.
Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed, please review and let me know if you have any suggestions :)
Next chapter prompted by guest- could you do like a flashback one to where the twins are really young? I think that would be good!