Eight Years Ago

He held back a smirk when he felt Tess shiver, keeping his eyes trained on the television while the rest of his attention was laser focused on the shifting of her thighs as he brushed his fingers over them.

"Alright, that's enough."

"What?" He asked their roommate innocently, his smirk growing when his friend just gave him a dry look.

"Do you think I don't see those?" Mouse asked with a wave to the blanket that was hiding his hands, if not their movements. "Either you two go into your room and leave me to watch my movie in peace or we make this a group event."

Tess burst out laughing but he felt her body heat up, as much as his own did, images of the last time they'd all been together rushing through his mind. As much as Jay liked having her to himself seeing how she'd responded when they'd shared her had made him much more open to doing it again.

Eager to actually but a knock at the door had his desire cooling.

"Did you order more food?"

"No." Mouse answered with another dry look as he went to answer it." Maybe Mrs. Harrison lost one of her cats again."

"I don't understand how they keep getting out."

"That's because you don't understand cats." Tess quipped with a grin, her soft blush not nearly pink enough for his liking.

"I don't recall you ever complaining about my understanding of a pussy."

Sure enough that made her cheeks go bright red, even as her eyes flared but their smiles quickly fell when they heard Mouse's worried tone. "Are you okay?"

He'd only just sat up to see who he was talking to when Tess threw herself over the back of the couch, her intensity only making sense when he saw the flash of red as her best friend rushed forward to meet her. There was just enough time before she buried her head in Tess's shoulder for him to see the tears falling down her face and a quick glance at Greg had them both moving closer, unsure what they could do but wanting to help; he had never seen the redhead so upset before and as bad as it made him feel he'd been under the impression she couldn't get so worked up. But that was wrong. Everyone could, for a myriad of reasons, the worst of which immediately started filling his mind but he was wrong again.

It was entirely different and so much worse than anything he'd been thinking.

"It's stupid." Vivienne said with a sniffle but clearly Tess knew what was bothering her, and disagreed because she shook her head fiercely as she brought her closer.

"It's not. He's your dad. He's a dick but he's still your dad."

Oh.

Now that was a pain he understood.

"Not anymore. He said he-… He said he didn't want a faggot as a daughter." Vivienne choked out, his anger spiking at the anguish he could hear in her voice as she continued. "He disowned me. He- he had papers."

"Fuck him." Greg said roughly as he grabbed the two women in a bear hug, Vivienne's pained laugh making his fists clench.

Jay had to put a concentrated effort into releasing them, channeling all that rage into wrapping his arms around the three, ducking his head until he could catch Viv's stare. "We make our own families."

"We are your family." Tess said fiercely but she looked at each of them softly, the same look he was sure had made them all fall in love with her. "Me and these two and Lydia and John and Michael and Nysa and Coulson. We love you exactly as you are and anyone who doesn't is fucking dumb."

His girl definitely had a way with words.

But she was right. He may not know Vivienne that well but he respected her and if she was Tess's family then she was his too.

And there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for family.

Jay had only ever worked two operations with Vivienne, one of which had only lasted a couple days and they probably wouldn't ever work anymore considering his job now kept him firmly in this country while hers took her everywhere but, but they had been long enough that he'd gotten a good sense of her. He knew how hard working and dedicated she was, how intelligent and deadly, how snarky yet kind. She was everything he'd want Tess to have in a best friend, not that that was something he'd ever have a say in but he was still glad to know his assessment was right. And this wasn't the first time she'd been here either; she'd actually come for the first time just a few months ago which had allowed them to get to know each other even more, on a more personal level, but still nothing like they had this time. She'd been here for two weeks now and though at first she'd been very hesitant to stay, and very adamant that she wasn't going to take Mouse's bed, just as adamant as he'd been that he wasn't going to let her take the couch she'd settled in pretty easily. Definitely easier than she'd expected.

The biggest part of that of course had to do with Tess, she could make anyone relax, though it probably also had to do with her threat to fly out to confront her best friend's father if she tried to leave. And the other part was Greg, they two had formed a tight bond last time, had actually used each other as 'stress release', something he was sure they'd been doing the last two weeks too. But he was proud to say he thought that he was a part of the redheads growing comfort here too. He'd made it a point to reassure her a couple times a day those first few days that they wanted her here, that she wasn't in the way or making anyone uncomfortable. And even though it had made both of them a bit awkward he'd also made sure to find a time to talk to her about her father, nothing too personal but just letting her know that even if he didn't understand the specifics of what she was going through he knew the particular breed of pain that only a father could cause, making sure she understood that he was here if she wanted to talk. And she hadn't shared much but she had talked to him, something he thought had surprised them both. He'd been surprised when she told him he gave even better hugs than Tess had said, and touched.

And proud.

He wasn't the best at communication, or comfort so to know he was getting better made him feel good. Clearly Tess's influence was rubbing off on him.

She had that effect on people.

Like it always did when he thought of her his gaze found her, surprised to find a pinkness on her cheeks that he hadn't put there. He was tempted to say Vivienne had based on the way the other girl was looking at her, her head and lips cocked and one brow raised, some kind of silent conversation happening between them. With a glance at Mouse they had their own, each asking if the other knew what it was about and when it became clear neither did Mouse went right to the source.

"Someone want to tell us what this is?"

Vivienne grinned, slowly, the way she looked him and Greg up and down making his heart beat faster, a carnal kind of knowledge that told him exactly what they'd been talking about. "She wants to share."

"Share what?"

"Share us."

Fuck.

Just like that his pants started to tighten, so many images filling his head that for a second the room around him disappeared. When Tess had first told him she'd been interested in being with two guys, with Greg because he was the only one either of them would trust in a situation like that he'd made a joke about getting to see her best friend naked if she got to see his but he hadn't been serious. Jay knew Vivienne was bisexual, the sin her father considered so egregious but Tess had never given any indication she was interested in that kind of experimentation. But if she was he sure as shit wasn't going to stop her.

She'd taught him just how fun sharing could be.

"Does she?" He asked her quietly, his dick giving a slow but hard throb when Tess just swallowed heavily and nodded. "Out loud."

"They have a thing with him giving orders."

He kept his eyes on her but from the way her breathing sped up as she looked over at Greg Jay knew he'd already started touching Vivienne, suddenly grateful he'd grabbed the spot next to Tess before her friend could take it. He'd want to see them together eventually, soon, but right now he only had eyes for her.

For her smirk when her friend answered his, the heat that flared in her eyes when she thought about all the orders he liked to give her.

"So I've been told. Personally I prefer to give them."

"Don't I know it."

"Look at me." He told her when he looked away again, damn near drowning in the dark of her gaze when it snapped to his. "Do you want this?"

"Yes." Tess answered breathlessly and he couldn't stop himself from kissing her; he may not have known this was something she was interested in until five seconds ago but now that he knew he couldn't wait to give it to her.

A quick glance at Greg showed he'd also started kissing Vivienne, and was also looking back at him, his friend shooting him a smirk as he started to slide her to the floor. Jay followed suit, forcing himself to let go of her long enough to grab a blanket to lay down for them as Greg pushed the table back.

"Oh that's right, you didn't like picking a bedroom last time." Vivienne said with a smirk as she took off her sweater, all of their eyes roaming over her.

She was slimmer than Tess, and taller, and he couldn't help wondering how else they would be different.

And how they might be the same.

"She likes things to be fair."

"I think you and I should make her feel better then."

Fuck.

His dick gave another hard throb at the huskiness in the redhead's voice as she crawled over to him, both looking to Tess for a final confirmation that she was really okay with this and then she dipped her chin and Vivienne's lips were on his. They tasted different. Both sweet but where Tess tasted like vanilla she tasted like cinnamon, like the mini donuts at the fair. Addicting. The moan she out when he swept his tongue past her lips was different too, deeper and tighter, her fingers tugging at his hair as she pulled him closer.

"Can I watch you kiss her now?" He heard Greg mumble and they slowly pulled away, Vivienne biting her lip as she looked between them.

"Yes please."

Just like that she was crawling over to Tess, the two sharing a quiet conversation while he and Greg shared a silent one of their own.

Jay had never been interested in having more than one partner but it was turning out to be so much simpler than he'd thought. There was no jealousy, no discomfort or awkwardness- even though he knew he'd never feel for anyone what he felt for Tess it was good to feel closer to the others. And when Vivienne soothed Tess's insecurities and the women did start kissing?

That felt really fucking good.

They complimented each other perfectly, pressing and pulling one another closer, Tess taking the lead as she slowly learned her friend, testing her limits and her comforts, the moan she let out as she got rougher shooting straight to his cock. It didn't take long for Vivienne to take over, pushing her back into Greg who immediately cupped her breasts, winking at him when he shook his head before he moved closer and took Vivienne by the waist, running his hands up and down her as he mapped her body, seeing what spots made her shiver and which made her tighten. The way she rocked into him, humming as she kissed his girl drove him wild and before he had time to doubt himself he pulled them apart so he could kiss her, trying to show her with his mouth how glad he was she'd come to stay with them. The only thing he didn't like was that he only had one mouth and two hands because as much as he liked feeling Vivienne press herself against him and watching Tess arch her breasts further into Greg's touch Jay wanted to be touching them both.

With a harsh breath he pulled himself away from Viv, grinning at her smirk when he pushed her towards Mouse and grabbed Tess, devouring her shy giggle as she fell into his arms. "You are so fucking amazing, you know that?"

So fucking amazing and so fucking hot.

Things moved quickly after that but it was all seared in his brain, Tess's black eyes as she watched them each undress, Vivienne's husky laugh as she pushed her onto her back and Greg's grin as they settled on either side of her. They made her their focus, watching as Viv ate her out while they ran their hands over every inch of them both. They were more than content to wait their turn, even if his dick did throb so hard it hurt when Tess came, crying into his mouth as he swooped down to swallow the sound before she pushed up, still shaking but fiercely determined as she pushed Vivienne onto her back and tugged him closer. She waited until her friend took him in her mouth before she returned the pleasure she'd given her and it was hard for him to watch her the way he wanted when the redhead was sucking his cock life her life depended on it, winking at him every time she caught him watching her.

He had the world's best girlfriend.

He might be the luckiest man alive, him and Greg who was enjoying himself just as much, finger fucking his girlfriend while he left love bites across her back. She was enjoying herself, not just from what was being done to her but what she was doing to Vivienne, little noises of pleasure and hunger escaping her that spurred them all on. But Jay wasn't ready for it to end yet. When he got close he pulled himself out of Vivienne's mouth, taking her mouth the same way he'd taken Tess's as she came, waiting until she could breathe again until he and Greg arranged them so they lay next to each other. The smile the women gave each other before they rolled over and pushed their asses towards them was imprinted into his brain, as was the sight of their pink, swollen and dripping pussies.

He was definitely the luckiest man alive to have two such beautiful women on their knees before him, begging to be fucked.

With a grin of their own he and Greg quickly switched positions, Greg taking Tess by her hips while he took Vivienne's, his head falling back as he pushed himself inside her. Automatically she felt different than Tess, he didn't fit perfectly inside her but she still felt fucking great, tight and wet and warm. And active. Much like Tess she met him thrust for thrust, but unlike Tess she didn't appreciate him taking his time to learn her; a tight squeeze of her pussy had him opening the eyes he hadn't realized had closed to find her smirking at him over her shoulder, pushing back harder and harder until he started meeting her, grinning when her head dropped as she got what she wanted. He kept most of his attention on her but he still watched Greg and Tess, watching his friend's cock sliding in and out of her harder and harder and hearing her cries, watching her watch him spurring him on. She came first and Greg a minute later, rolling onto their sides as they watched them. Before he realized what he was doing Jay was flipping Vivienne over, following the urge to let her know this wasn't just sex, that just because he wasn't in love with her didn't mean he didn't love her.

Because he did.

She was smart and funny and badass, and just as uncomfortable with vulnerability as he was. He felt a kinship with her he didn't with anyone else and as they came together he knew she saw that, felt it just as deeply as he did.

Maybe that was why they stayed up after the others fell asleep. After they'd all caught their breath they'd gathered themselves enough to make a proper nest, he and Mouse grabbing every blanket and pillow they could find while she and Tess grabbed water and a few snacks, all of them cuddling together. They shared a few more kisses, a few more touches but mostly they just talked. About what had happened, Tess wanting to make sure no one felt uncomfortable and all of them wanting to make sure she didn't, Vivienne sharing similar experiences she'd had and Mouse making as many jokes as he could. He'd been the first to fall sleep, though Jay wasn't entirely sure he hadn't been faking it. Then after Tess had drifted off, her back curled into his front much like how Vivienne was snuggled up against Mouse, though not quite as close. For a long time they sat together in comfortable silence, both of them just watching the woman who'd brought them together.

The woman they both loved, differently but no less intently.

And not that different anymore.

"I want you to promise me something." Vivienne whispered after a while, her smiling face unusually serious as she moved her eye's from examining Tess's face to his.

"I already told you I'd let you kill me and hide the body."

Now she cracked, giving him a wry but warm smile as she shook her head. "You did, and I will hold you to that. But I want to ask something else."

"Anything."

"Promise me you will always be here for her."

"I promise." Jay said solemnly, holding her stare until she nodded.

"I'm going to hold you to that too."

"Fine by me. If I can hold you to something?" The redhead just quirked her brow in response but he could already see the way she looked at him was softer than it had been when the evening began. And it quickly got softer. "Promise me you'll always be there with her."

"I promise." Vivienne said quietly, both of them holding their breath when Tess suddenly shifted and then sharing a smile when she settled.

Jay knew she meant it, just like he did, and even though he didn't say it out loud he made another promise. To always be here for her. His friend.

His sister.

He took a slow breath in as he stared at his phone, his anger rising the longer he looked at the number. It hadn't been easy to get. It would've been for Tess, probably would've taken her all of five minutes, if that, but he hadn't wanted to ask her. Partly because he knew she would have gone further than he was planning to, which was her right, more than it was his but that was the other part. Jay wanted to do this alone, not just to make sure no one else was caught in the crosshairs but to make sure it was clear he was doing this because he wanted to. Because he knew the particular kind of damage only a father could cause and he knew he couldn't take that away but he could give the piece of shit who'd hurt her a piece of his mind.

With one more slow, deep inhale he hit the button, channeling all his nervous energy into keeping his breaths even. There wasn't anyone around, Tess and Vivienne had gone back out a few days ago and Mouse was at the store but he wasn't the kind of man who liked giving into his jitters, even if it was just bouncing his knee. But it turned out to not be necessary.

"You've reached Colonel Shane. Be succinct or don't leave a message."

Jesus.

He'd known Vivienne's father was a piece of work, a man didn't get to be a Colonel in the Air Force without being a hard son of a bitch but still. No wonder she was so good at acting like she didn't give a shit.

Jay took as quick a final breath as he could when he heard the beep and then prayed his voice stayed even. "Colonel my name is Jay Halstead- former Second Lieutenant in the 75th Rangers Regiment and current Officer with the Chicago Police Department. You don't know me sir-"

Sir.

It was a title of respect, ingrained in him to give to everyone in a position of authority but this man… a man who had verbally and mentally abused and abandoned his daughter wasn't worthy of any respect.

Certainly not his.

"You don't know me but I know you. I know you because I know your daughter, Vivienne. And I know that you don't consider her yours anymore but she is. She is your child, your blood and she is amazing. She is strong, smart, wise and talented. She is hardworking and dedicated and one of the toughest people I know. She would give her life in a heartbeat for her friends and her family and the ideals of this country and she is all of those things despite how hard you worked to put her down. You are a coward for turning your back on her and I hope one day you realize that."

He took another slow breath, surprised he hadn't been cut off yet but even though he'd probably just gone on one of his longest rants ever he still had more to say. "You don't deserve her. But thank God there are people who do see her value. She is our family now."

Jay waited until he hung up before he let out all the air he'd been holding tight in his chest, staring at his phone like it was about to light up and give him shit. But it didn't. For the next three days he wondered if the Colonel had listened to his message, wondered what he thought of it and what he would do about it until eventually he realized he wasn't going to do anything. He hadn't really thought he would but it still angered him that someone could be so heartless, an anger that was maybe slightly misdirected but only a little. And it didn't matter. He'd meant what he'd said.

Vivienne was his family now and he'd do what he had to to protect her.

To love her.