family traditions

I don’t hate you, but that isn’t my permission for you to die, either. -a watery laugh falls from her lips as she shakes her head, laughing that she had to be strong after all he had thought. not for locke, or herself, but for someone more important than them both. for their son, though she had no idea how to break that to the man before her, or even if she should. should she really introduce locke to his son for him to leave the boy once again? but before she could even make a decision, she heard a crash in the living that could have only come from one little boy, and her face whitened at the noise as she instinctively looked over her shoulder even though the door is closed.- Don’t.. Just wait here, please. -she says, eyes never meeting his again before she moves through the door in time for the crying to begin, but in her rush to hold her child, she didn’t paused to make sure she closed the door which was now ajar.-

-locke was about to continue when the crash came. he would have told her that it was okay; that he still didn’t intent on making her witness the end, but now he had the knowledge that she didn’t entirely loathe him he at least could go with some kind of peace. but then she was scurrying back into the house before he could get the words out, and he was left alone on the porch. he would have remained there too had he not heard the child’s cries. with a furrowed brow he followed, confusion washing over him in waves just as agitation did as he never liked feeling in the dark about something, which he certainly was. as he came to a stop in the hallway he caught sight of them, the girl who was his and the child in her arms who he inexplicably knew was tied to him too. call it instinct- Who’s is that? -he asked in a flat tone, masking as he did the rising emotions he felt in a bid to play dumb, for the truth was not something he was quite sure he was prepared to handle-

-each prognosis is like a separate stab to her heart, her very healthy, beating heart. each statement causes her eyes to gloss over but maddie bites on the inside of her cheek to stop her reaction from going any further. the man she loves - the only man she had ever loved bar her father and now her son - was going to die, and there was little to be done.- I can see how that was the only choice. -her voice is watery even as she tries to sarcasm- I loved you, and I would have stayed. Yet you threw me away like trash, like I was a toy to be used and disposed of when you had grown bored of it. -her fists clench together to stop herself from reaching out to him, to stop herself from burying her head into his chest and pretending that the past few years had never happened. but they had, and so she does stop herself, but not her words.- And stupid me still loves you, but I can’t. I can’t watch you die. It’s not good for me. It’s not good for us.

...It really was. -he replies in a soft manner that for once wasn’t at all condescending. instead he sounded sympathetic, because she was saying everything he didn’t think he had the ability to. though he does smile a little to hear what he hoped, that being that she still felt something good for him- I couldn’t let you see it. You weren’t strong enough, and I don’t say that to be cruel I say it because it’s true-- you loved me too much to survive watching me die, and if I didn’t make you leave you’d have never left. Because the reason you weren’t strong enough was because you were always too gentle. Too kind. -he chuckled almost as if in a bid to hide the emotion in his voice that was almost real, but the momentary smile he had was pushed aside for a sombre expression- But I’ve decided I don’t actually like the idea of dying while you still hate me.

-she had expected a lot of things from his visit, but the words that left his mouth had not been on the list of things she had prepared herself to hear. three little words, albiet not the ones she had forever wanted to hear, but ones that destroyed her all the same. ones that tore at her heart, because no matter what she needed to think and feel about the man, she was still in love with him. she still had a place in her heart for him, which left her open to the pain that he had brought to her doorstep.- You’re dying? -her words were said in disbelief as she shook her head, staring at the floor until she could trust her eyes to be clear to stare at him. her pain turned to anger as she looked at him once again, angry that he would show up at her doorstep to ruin her once again, angry that he still had that effect on her, and angry that he knew it.- So what do you want from me? There’s nothing I can do for you. I’m nothing to you, remember?

-he wasn’t sure what he’d expected. more questions, more emotions, he didn’t know, but it certainly wasn’t the anger that was thrown his way. in a way he feels bitter about the fact that she didn’t ask-- that she didn’t care enough to ask --so he went on to answer the questions he’d imagined her asking- I’ve got Coronary Heart Disease... My heart’s failing. We tried the treatments, prolonged the decay, but I went on the transplant list a week or so before we last spoke. -he wants for her to stand there and tell him that things are going to be okay. for her to reassure him in a way that he would insist he didn’t want her to, but would be glad for anyway. all of this he knew would not happen but he couldn’t help but hope anyway. when he speaks again his voice is clinical and very matter of fact- So you see, there was really no choice but for you to go.

-maddie stood tall (or as tall as she could for her short stature) as she stared up at him, fighting the temptation to fall back into old ways even though she couldn’t. she was now a mother, she had more to think of than herself and her own wants, and even though she could still feel the want for the destructive ‘love’ locke had to offer, her son was more important to her than that, and so she pushed the lingering residual feelings aside. fallening back into old ways was not how she imagined she’d act when she thought of this day and so maddie tried to stay strong for herself, pulling all of her hair away from her face to stop him from doing the same again.- Ever think that was the whole point? -she queried, her voice level as she did so, trying to make it obvious that he was no longer welcome. that he was never welcome.- You should have saved yourself the time and the trouble. There’s nothing here for you.

... Fair. -he half shrugged, willing to accept her reasoning behind her actions. it was him who had pushed and pushed until he outright made her leave after all. yes he rationalised that by reminding himself of the reasons behind that, reasons that at the time he wasn’t willing to share for looking anything but strong to her, but times had changed. he was still the unfortunately proud man he had been then, but as time was growing shorter and the cold chill of fear was slowly rolling in, he was no longer willing to be alone if the end was as near as it felt. call him selfish, call him cruel, but contrary to what he would have you believe he was no god; he was just a man, and he no longer wanted to be alone- I’m dying, Maddie.

-maddie had thought she would be a lot stronger if she ever saw locke again. their relationship was murky at best, maddie stolen from the streets in order to pay a debt, but she had fallen for the man before her and though he hadn’t said as much himself, she thought he had too. she’d been wrong of course, that much was obvious when he dropped her when he finally had no used to him. she may have been carrying his child but she wouldn’t stay where she wasn’t wanted. but for him to come to her door, curiosity hit her. she couldn’t turn him away, but she would keep her child from him.- No. -she said to his request, looking back over her shoulder to make sure gregory couldn’t been seen. he was in his playpen, he would be fine, and so maddie moved out of her home and stood in front of the door, closing it behind her.- Why are you here?

-he chooses to ignore her question the same way he chooses to ignore the muffled sounds coming from inside the house that hinted she wasn’t alone; he wasn’t interested in anybody who might be inside after all. he was only there for maddie- You look well. -he said with a sincere but subtle smile, having never been the master of compliments but wanting her to know that it did not go unnoticed how the few years that had passed seemed to have been kind to her. she carried the glow of someone who had happiness in her life, something he was glad for even if he could never say the same for himself. without much thought behind the action he reached out, catching a stray piece of hair between his fore and middle finger, twirling it for a second before he tucked it behind her ear. a part of him said he only did it because he was confident he still had an effect on her in that way. for the most part though he just wanted to- You weren’t particularly easy to find y’know-- for all my trouble the least you could do is offer me a glass of water, if not some coffee.

-jasper had lost himself in the work, humming to himself as he tended to the flowers his father planted every spring. it wasn’t that his father was unable to do these tasks anymore, it was more to do with the fact if jasper didn’t do them himself, he’d spend too much time wallowing on things he couldn’t change, and that would be the end of him. lost in his thoughts, he startled a little as faye made herself known, but he soon jumped to his feet, closing the distance between them with a small smile on his face. he was happy to see her. she was a welcome distraction from the jobs he had himself doing.- Hey, what’ve you got there? -he asked, nodding to the box she was holding, confusion shown plainly on his features.-

-her nerves are palpable as she glances over her shoulder to see if there are any desperate housewives about to devour her for being there. looking back to him she has her best apologetic smile in place- Well it’s a small town and people were talking about your dad, so I thought you might need a little break from it all. -she takes a small step towards him so he can see inside the box as she opens it- I just wanted to get you things that I thought might cheer you up, so I made you a mixtape with really cheesy music on it to listen to when you’re down, and got you some of those chicken fingers from the Diner that you like but they’re probably cold now, and a picture of us two at the beach from last week which I know is really cliche but-- yeah. There’s a few other things in there too; a pug key-ring with goggly eyes, a pun on a bumper sticker, a fridge magnet that sings if you press it... -trailing off she looks up at him again, holding the box out with a very sad smile as the thought of him being in pain is not one that sits well with her- ...I just didn’t like the thought of you being sad, but I know I can’t do anything to make it better. So this is a crappy attempt at letting you know that I really, really wish I could.

-taking care of a toddler was no walk in the park, especially when there were few people maddie could depend on to help her with the task. she’d be lying to herself if she said she had forgotten all about gregory’s father – she thought about locke every night, but she knew better than to get in touch. she’d been thrown to the curb and she wasn’t about to go back begging for anything from him. maddie had survived without him before, she could do it again. so as gregory played with his toys in the front room, maddie ran around changing the load in the washing machine before the door went, her eyebrows pulling together as she moved through her home and opened the door, freezing as she saw who was on the other side before automatically moving to close the door again.-

-before the door could be slammed in his face, locke lifted a large hand against it to hold it open. he refused to acknowledge how his stomach flipped as he looked at her, because he didn’t like realising that she was still the only person who could elicit any kind of involuntary reaction from him. she looked well, he noted, and of course still beautiful as ever. standing there he found he was at a loss for what to say, what with not being entirely sure of why he had decided that particular morning that he had  to see her, so for a long moment he just stood there. when he did finally speak his voice was stoic as ever- Maddie... I’d like to come in.

distractions

-walking up to the williams’ family home, faye had never felt more out of place in her entire life. she avoided the nicer end of town as a general rule of thumb, knowing her family were not firm favourites with the kind of people who lived up there (mrs. williams being no exception that), but for jasper she could do this. she could walk up to that front door and face whoever was going to answer on the other side without turning and running for the hills, because for once in her life she was quite determined to think about someone other than herself. more importantly though she just wanted him to know that she was there, even if he didn’t need her. that being said, she couldn’t deny that an enormous wave of relief hit her as she walked up the drive to see the man she was looking for in the front garden, tending to some work. in a more sheepish manner than he had ever seen her, she slowly approached holding her ‘pick-me-up’ box- ... Uhm, hi.

-matteo wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do once these kinds of deals were made. it was not a proposal in the true sense of matrimony, it was more of a business deal yet he did not think a handshake was the right way to go. instead with the twitch of a smile on his lips and a firm nod of his head, he was back on his feet, filling both of their glasses before moving around his desk to perch on the end of it across from jac, handing her the glass.- I suppose in that case, to us. -he says, holding up his own glass to her, not because they were to save their siblings, but because they were to stick together until the end and there was no one he would rather fight side by side with.-

Sure. Foolish, but romantic. A winning combination, I’m sure. -she says, unable to stop herself from shaking her head at him even with a smile on her face. he was not charming, he was a green, something she kept reminding herself as she downed another shot.- That’s for me to know, and you to figure out. -she began, and maybe it was the alcohol flowing through her system, she decided to continue, feeling a little more open with the drinks he kept supplying her- But since I’m feeling nice, I run a bookstore down town, Little Dickens - used to be my mom’s. Other than that I fight crime at night and plot my world domination when it’s a slow day.

Well it’s worked for me so far. -he shrugs, no lie to his words though nobody had ever described him as a fool before, not even his past conquests. shit-stain, twat, dick-head, yes-- never foolish though. he can’t help but laugh at her immediate 180, deciding for future reference that he just needs to get her drunk more often if they’re to have a conversation without her shooting him down- Ah, I know the one. Cute little place. -he means it as a sincere compliment- See, I took you more for the small scale kinda girl. Less of a ‘world domination’ type, more ‘destroy my own enemies and bathe in their blood’, y’know..? Suppose a bit of ambition can be hot though.

-the plan is laid out perfectly in his head, all it was missing were the fine details, and how they were going to cancel on the russian’s without starting a war they were trying to prevent, but apart from all that, matteo finally had a plan. he finally had a chance of saving his sister from a future she did not chose nor did she want. now he just had to make everything work and the chips would hopefully fall in place. shame matteo wasn’t a hope filled man.- You wanted a plan and this is it. For our siblings, for our families. -if they could pull it off. but they could, matteo would use his last breath trying to fulfill the plan, which could very well be needed. jac’s husband was a monster, the russian’s expected a rosas to marry and if his father got wind of the plan, matteo’s head would be served on a platter as a peace offering to their future in laws.- Just the two of us. No young ‘uns running around. Will you be my partner, Jacqueline?

-it was just about the most far fetched thing conjured up to date. really, there were a million ways that this could go wrong and end in not only them achieving nothing, but also the two of them meeting very untimely ends. however, call her an idiot but jac trusted matteo, something she did not take lightly. in many ways it meant more than any feigned sentiment of emotion ever could. nodding slightly when he agreed with her conditions of their little plan, she could hardly help the small smile that spread across her lips as a wave of relief hit her-- not for adam’s sake though. rather for her own, as she felt something close to free again after all those years- ... I already am. -she says it quite softly, knowing that for a while at least the only people they could safely rely on were each other- 

I think you’re forgetting the part where they were together in death, Genius. -she states, keeping her face still as she skips over the part where the two marry in secret. there was no way she wanted to fuel his delusions and so she downs the shot in front of her, trying not to think of the story, or the proud look on his face. though she struggles to keep her face straight at his next action, snorting at the look he gives her, rolling her eyes at him once her laughter dies down.- Oh yeah, I’m sure you are Romeo. Gotta be to handle all those power tool, huh?

Well that’s just a minor detail... And if nothing else it’d prove me to be a romantic, right? -he chuckles as he says it, trying as he does to ignore the voice in his head telling him that if there were to be anyone likely to go down in a dramatic blaze of gunfire and glory, it’d be people like them. that was just a fact of life where they were from. the easiest way to do this of course was to pour them yet more shots and throw it down, focusing as he did on the pretty girl in front of him- What’s your story then? Beyond irrationally disliking my family and being the spawn of the boogeyman, I mean.

-swirling his brandy around his glass before tipping it into the back of his throat, he allows his barely there plan to keep forming as he debates if it could work and whether he should go through with it. it would be for the family, yes, for anna, but there was something else there too, not that matteo could put his finger on it.- What if I say I can help you with your problem? -he questions, looking up at her from his empty glass, his business head firmly on his shoulders as he thinks of the possible outcomes. he’d be raging a possible war if his attempts failed, only causing more need for anna’s marriage, but if it worked…- I help you with yours, and you help me with mine. You’d be free of your husband. Free to marry again, if you found the right partner.

-jac spins on her heels when what he’s saying starts to make some sense to her. even a fool could follow his train of thought, ludicrous though it was- You’ll get us both killed before you pull it off. -she replied in an almost mocking tone, seeing no world in which it could work because it was simply a fantasy. pacing back over to her seat she sits down on the edge of it, thinking as she did about how kaleb knows nothing about the rosas family. they could get close without him getting suspicious unlike jac or any of her connections. likewise the only reason she’d been trapped in that hellhole of a marriage for the past six years was only because of his wealth and powerful name, something the rosas’ had in common with them- I have no intention of ever being a mother-- ever. We’d have to get him gone and make it official before my parents got wind of either as well because they’d put a stop to it. Once things are already done they’ll spin a good story about it, so we needn’t worry then... And I refuse to do this with anyone that isn’t you. -her voice is clinical, as though they’re discussing the stock market dips because after all this was business. or so she kept having to remind herself-

No, but if that was the case, you have Romeo down to a T — your just as delusional. -a smirk sitting on her face, she leans over the bar to poke his shoulder for no other reason than because she could. she didn’t know where he got such ideas from, but she hated to admit that they did make her laugh and not particularly at him.- So I’m told. Striking fear into the hearts of lesser men. Scare anyone straight recently?

Ah, ‘cept he did go and get the girl in the end, didn’t he sunshine? -his head tilts just slightly to the side as his smile never falters, not even for a second as his shoulder’s jabbed most uncomfortable. instead he just bats her hand away before picking up his shot glass and knocking it back as easy as the first- I spend most of my time working with my dad-- legitimate business too before you go casting aspersions. Always was good with my hands y’see. -call him brazen, call him drunk, call him whatever you like it didn’t matter, because he’d already winked at her before he could find the good sense not to-

-he had meant to strike a reaction, he had to determine what her motives were, why she was there, why she cared. matteo had known jac long enough to know that she didn’t care, let alone about his sister. her distaste had been expressed a number of times, about most of his family, but he hadn’t minded. he wasn’t particularly fond of who she called family either. all that mattered to him was his family and by the looks of things, he and jac were once again on the same page. looking out for their families, no matter the consequences to those around them.- Jac, you know I would if I could. I’ve thought about how to stop this a million times, but unless someone more rich and powerful comes along — -matteo stops in his tracks, his brain working a million miles an hour as he stares at the solution that may have been there all along. if only he could put all the pieces into place, perhaps he could save their siblings.- How’s your husband these days?

-she’s stood before he’s even finished what he has to say, pacing over to the window and standing with her back to him, not wanting him to see the growing distress she felt. all these feelings were not foreign to her, but certainly unwelcome in the company of others. it was one thing to feel them-- another for others to know she did. her stance is stoic as she listens to him make his excuses. all she can think about is adam. adam who had done so much for her and who she could now do nothing for in return, so she was a little preoccupied to follow his train of thought. at his obscure question she chuckles, her mask falling back in place some as she glances over her shoulder at him- Still alive, which is proving to be an ever increasing problem. -shrugging, she looks back out at the city line in front of her- I suppose he’d tell you the same about me though.

Now that I believe. I’m pretty sure there’s more stories of Kate Moretti than the Boogeyman. -she says very matter of factly.- Oh believe me, your family is the last thing either one of my parents would like to think of. -she knew bits of her parents history with the green’s, most of it centered around how her parents got together which of course lead to the one and only maxwell green, but her mother never elaborated too much, but she was sure that would change when she found out both of her children were hanging around the family she had sworn them off. her tiny mother could be terrifying if she wanted to be.- So we’ll keep the free drinks to ourselves and neither will skin you alive. -she says with a grin before holding her own shot glass up in cheers before downing the liquid, it burning the back of her throat as it goes down.- Don’t say I’m never nice to you.

-he laughs at her keen observation, knowing his mother was something of a living legend on the streets of brooklyn after all her years there, but none of her stories were anywhere near as sinister as the latter man’s. kate’s style was far more to the point- Y’know, I don’t want to be cliched here but are you getting Romeo + Juliet vibes here? Because with the whole parents hating each other I definitely am... Only Juliet was never this passive aggressive in my memory. -he was rambling a little, pouring them both another shot, but it was one of the few traits he’d inherited from his mother instead of his father. like her, he too had a habit of saying what had popped into his head- But for the record, I’d like to see them try. I might not be the Boogeyman, but I am a Green y’know. That means more than you give us credit for.