Reality is merely an illusion to me...

"I’m not some kind child that you need to worry about and protect I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I told him yes because no matter how much I may disagree with what he does I still love my father, Rory and I don’t want me leaving to be a reason for our relationship to suffer, I’ve already made up my mind I’m not going to change it and it’s only a few months I’ll be fine, can you just chill out?"

Ripley’s features contorted in confusion at the last few sentences that came out of Rory’s mouth. He couldn’ have been serious, was he really worried about her dumping him over a few tricks that her father might pull? “Rory please tell me you’re fucking joking” She said, annoyed that he’d even suggest such a thing “You don’t have any reason to be worried about me dumping you I don’t care what my dad tries I love you you bloody idiot, that’s not going to change anytime soon.”

"Well, you don't have to curse at me either, Ripley!" Rory said, whipping his head to finally look at her. "You're not a child, and I never said you were. But you are my girlfriend, which gives me the right to be concerned about you and your safety. I'm not saying you can't take care of yourself, but telling me not to worry about you is like telling the sun not to shine. It happens whether you're five hundred miles or five inches from me. I don't like when we aren't together, and I worry about you." He sighed. "You have had enough trouble with your dad already, this is just adding more to that load. And just so you know, I had plans for the two of us this summer. But I can scrap all of them, as well as the reservations that I made, since you decided to change that plan today, without even bothering to ask me about it."

As Ripley settled into his arms, Rory pulled her in close, feeling her tiny fram press against his chest. A hand came up and smoothed down her hair, kissing the top of her head gently, before reaching a finger down and tilting up her chin. He then pressed his lips to hers, kissing her deeply. "I have missed you too much."

Training for a big fight that I have coming up. I've gotta drop some fat and gain some more muscle.

"Of course," he said, grinning. They'd found a hole-in-the-wall coffee house turned bar at night in the next town over during the summer when they'd dated. It had been a long time since they'd been to coffee and cake together, but it was something that Rory had missed. "You are definitely that short.

Nice to meet you, mate. I'm Rory. Rory Costello.

Ripley held up a hand, she was tempted to use her gift to silence him but he eventually got the hint and only  shook his head down at her, offering her pitied she neither required nor desired “That is one subject that you will not get me to change my mind on dad” Ripley insisted as she shook her head “I love him, and I realise that he can be a bit..rough around the edges sometimes but that’s mainly just because…well he doesn’t like you dad, I’ll be honest.” Avery snorted then, glad to know the feeling was mutual.

"Now if you don’t mind I’d like to say goodbye to my baby brother and then leave because I’ve said I came here to say" she dictated and spun around to head back to her parents condo. Her eyes traveled to Rory’s car as they passed by and even though she couldn’t see his face she still felt him. Sitting there in his drivers seat just seething. Ripley sighed and quickly shuffled her father inside. After kissing Alfie on every available area on his face and placing him back in his crib Ripley said goodbye to Oliver and then quickly headed outside, ignoring her fathers reminder about their deal as she slipped through the door. Once she was seated back in the car Ripley buckled her seat belt and began inspect her nail beds “I thought you were only there to be silent and look intimidating.”

He had made it about halfway through the album in the cd player before Ripley finally made her way back to the car. His nerves had calmed significantly, although he'd had to smoke one more cigarette in order to really get them under control. He kept his eyes closed as she got back in the car. He was doing his best to not lash out, because that's exactly what he was feeling like doing. He exhaled as she spoke, his jaw clenching.

"Well, that was my original plan, Ripley. Until you told him that you would go work with him this summer. Last time I checked, this was the cutting ties conversation. There wasn't supposed to be anything else after this. I wasn't supposed to have to worry about you again after this conversation, Ripley!" His voice got increasingly louder the more and more he spoke, the rage that he'd pushed down finally boiling over. His tried to regain control. Closing his eyes again, he continued. "I don't like him, you know that. I like even less the idea of you spending time alone with him. You know that too. So why, Ripley? Why in the world would you give him your summer? All he's going to do is spend the time the two of you have to try to convince you to change your mind. This was a hard enough decision for you to make the first time. And now you have to make it again, at the end of the summer?"

Rory stood up slowly, every muscle in his body sore and aching. He shouldn't have laid done as soon as he finished his workout, but he had been so exhausted that he couldn't have done anything else. He ran through the shower, dried and dressing himself quickly, not bothering to shave or even style his hair. In loose sweats, a loose tank and an oversized hoodie, he was as comfortable as he could get as he made his way over to Ripley's. Swinging the door open, but making sure to close and lock it behind him, he flopped down on the empty side of Ripley's bed, enveloping her small frame in his arms. "Evening, love."

He turned back to look at her, raising his eyebrows. "If you go get coffee and cake, you know that I'm coming with you." He stood, moving to stand next to her. "When did you get so short?"

He shook his head and took a few steps backward, his calloused hand rubbing the salt and pepper scruff around his mouth and on his chin. His anger wasn’t solely aimed at Ripley, he was angry because he was now so confused. He didn’t  what to do next, how he was going to pick up the pieces if Ripley did indeed leave him. In all the years of training her and teaching her how to control her power to the best of his ability he never made a contingency plan for this. Ripley cleared her throat and brought him out of his musings.

"Like I said, this decision doesn’t have anything to do with you or Rory" She started, stepping out from behind Rory and glancing up at him "It’s about me, just me. I still love you know I’ll always love you I just can’t be your right hand girl anymore and honestly it’d probably be best if you rethink some of your decisions too" she was becoming emboldened now "Times are changing and-" Avery held up a hand "I don’t need a lecture from my teenage daughter, thanks " he said in a strained voice with something that almost looked like a smile on his lips. Almost.

Avery was quiet for a few seconds then he looked at Ripley, ignoring her boyfriend that was still hovering nearby and still looked less than pleased “I’ll make you deal, little duck” Aver spoke in a voice that was much more tender than before “If you really want to do this, I’ll let you..no interference convincing you to stay but you must do something for me first. This summer when you’re out for the summer you spend it with me back home tying up loose ends, you do that for me and I’ll even write you a reference” 

Ripley bit the inside of her cheek, she really wasn’t looking forward to summer vacation but she definitely didn’t want to spend the entire summer with her father. However she did want her leaving to be a clean break that didn’t involve tense looks whenever she came to visit or screaming matches if the subject came up. For a split second she glanced at Rory, trying to think how her answer would affect him “…fine, dad. You get me for the summer but after that I’m done okay?”

Rory let Ripley move in front of him, feeling her hand drop away from his. She grew more and more confident as she spoke, and he couldn't help the smile that crossed over his face as she told her father that he should rethink some of his decisions, despite the fact that Avery cut her off shortly after the words left her lips. Rory looked up at the older man, tearing his eye away from Ripley, and what he saw, he didn't like. The overly confident smirk that emerged on his face before he spoke, trying to persuade her to stay with him over the summer. And before he knew it, she was saying yes, agreeing to spending the summer with Avery.

Rory fought to not let his dislike for the answer show all over his face. Any other time or place, he could control his emotions, but when it came to Ripley, it was near impossible. His fists clenched again, digging crescent shapes into his palms. He wanted so badly to walk away, but he refrained from doing so until he was able to choke out the last few words he did. Looking Avery dead in the eye, not letting the father of the love of his life respond to her answer, he said, "If she comes back to me with even the tiniest of scratches, bruises, or damage to her body, I swear to you, I'll kill you."

Yeah, yeah do that come to me. I’ve been wrapped in this blanket for too long to move. I’m pretty sure she’s not hear, I haven’t looked over there in a while but its really quiet in here.

I'm on my way then, love.

I was already in bed, an quite comfortable I might add, but for you I guess it’s worth getting up. 

I think I can handle that.

I did at first, but then I started worrying that you actually did need to work out. 

Alright, alright. We'll go. Just as long as I can make out with you in the stacks between subjects.

HD, babe. Do you really think we’d get any actual working out done? I mean I’d be happy to distract you but if you really need to work out for something that’s important I’d feel bad. For a second.

Every single class. You should tutor me.

I could do that. I’d still want the dvd though, for my own personal library when you’re not around and I need to remind myself what you look like without a shirt on. Is that so?  You know I don’t really like exercise, are you sure I’d be much help?

Hahaha, he'd have a right laugh if you did that, but I don't think it's necessary. I just hate that I haven't been around for you lately. I'm barely scraping by in classes. Mom got mad when I told her that, so he's giving me some more time to study.

I'm sorry, babe. I've been working a lot lately, and working out when I'm not working or in class. But I have been planning something very special for you.

Very true. I'm just exhausted all the time.

"Oh right" the man nodded and shoved both hands into his pocket as they strolled along the nearly empty street "Are you having a problem or something?" he looked over his shoulder at his daughter. "Uh, well, I suppose you could say that" Ripley answered then paused for a second, trying to gather her thoughts. She knew that if she just beat around the bush she would eventually end up chickening out so approaching the subject head on seemed to be the most effective way to do this. Except, just how was she suppose to tell her father she no longer wanted to be the person he’d spent the majority of her life being groomed to be? "Listen dad, I’ve been thinking" she reached for Rory’s hand and held it tightly "And I just don’t feel…..right taking part in you business anymore. It’s nothing to do with you, I..just. I’m growing up and I’ve come to realise that what you do, it’s right and I don’t want to be that person anymore." 

Her words caused her father to stop in his tracks. The hands that were held in his pockets looked as if they were clenched into fists “Where is this coming from?” he asked an swiveled to face Ripley, taking a step forward “Just last year we were plotting out a massive job together, one that’s supposed to be happening next month mind you, and now you talking about leaving me?” Ripley opened her mouth to speak but he hushed her, placing his strong hands on her slender shoulders “This is a family business, it doesn’t work without you” his eyes flickered up to Rory for a second before his gaze fell on Ripley again “What has he been telling you?” Avery asked and stood back up “Nothing dad I-” “Well he must have put this idea in your head some way, you weren’t saying anything like this until he popped up” Avery cut her off and folded his arms across his chest “Dad, this doesn’t have anything to do with Rory, I made this decision by myself, I knew you would act like this!”

Rory watched intently from behind as Avery and Ripley walked ahead of him. At the mention of Alan, Rory felt his fists clench in his pants pockets. He didn't know this guy, as Ripley had never mentioned him, but he had a suspicion that he wasn't anyone that would make his life easier, especially when Ripley's eyes dropped from her father to the ground. Rory found his mind wandering as they continued walking, until he felt Ripley's hand clutching to his. He realized that she'd slowed down in order to find his hand, and he squeezed her slim fingers between his, wanting her to know that he was here for support.

He watched as Avery stopped, once Ripley had grown silent, and he turned on his heels, the anger showing wildly on his face. Rory felt awkward holding her hand as Avery put his hands on Ripley's shoulders, but he hated the idea that Avery was close enough to potentially hurt or strike Ripley, should she say something that he didn't like.