#leillip

‘Take the long way home.’

Phillip walks back with his hands in his pockets to keep his fingers warm. He's able to keep mostly to the path only walking slightly more right or left occasionally and catching himself before veering off too much. Leila might have been joking when she'd asked him not to fall into a shrub, but that's seemingly like a slight possibility at this point.

Luckily, he knows the way back well enough not to really need to focus on the directions. Letting his feet carry him in a meandering way as his mind wanders.

'Leila~'

Instinctively he begins to take his usual route the fastest way between the farm and Leila's house. While he walks the scenic way on occasion that only with Leila in tow and not with this sort of chill.

Except suddenly Phillip feels his hand crunch around a piece of paper. He pulls the note out of his pocket and squints at it. Unable to read it well due to the darkness and his current condition. A few back there was a streetlamp, so Phillip turns around slowly as to not make himself dizzy and saunters back over to it holding the note under the light.

It's not his handwriting, it's not Leila's, and it's not Charlie's either. The words are hastily written, and the penmanship is thick like a heavy-handed grip on the pen would make.

Take. The. Long. Way. Home.

Phillip mutters the words under his breath as he reads them leaning against the lamppost for support. That's vaguely threatening, but who's threatening him exactly?

Dillon’s ice blue eyes narrow at Phillip.

“It’s winter now, but it was a summer fling. You’re hardly in the position to do what you’re doing. It’s not just Star Wars, It may be the catalyst, but I’ve put the work in for the rest.”

He seethes at the mention of Thomas’ name and backhands Phillip wildly.

‘It’s an interesting point you’ve made. Because, deep down, you don’t know that do you? Nor do I. She might be so lost, she needs to come back to some balance. Some structure and order. I can provide that for her, hell if you comply you could both be happy there. You never know unless you try Phillip. As for finding another Thomas…no one can replace him. He has a uniqueness about him that very few understand.”

Dillon folds his arms and stares at Phillip.

“Something tells me…That I wont need to look very far. I know how you feel about Leila and I shan’t take that from you. You can’t give me what Thomas did, but I can and will mold you to what I need you to be. You’ve seen my other High Priest. You’d be a wonderful addition.”

He’s about to continue when Harding enters.

“We have movement. Prewett’s coming for him. Come with me.”

Dillon nods and briskly leaves.

~~~

Leila looks at Eddie and hugs him. The sentiment is appreciated, it really is and she doesn’t doubt he’d be able to get a few good hits in.

“I promise I will. But it’s safer for you at the farm. And if anyone turns up there I’m sure between you, Titch and Derek you’d be able to fend anyone off.”

John looks over the evidence again.

“Leila, need that pic of Phillip you got.”

She nods and sends it over. He places his phone amongst the rest of the documents and Photographs. He’s notices how Dillon’s wearing a signet ring on the hand that’s in Phillip’s hair. He frowns as he looks at the state that Phillip’s in.

“Gonna have to bring some bolt cutters by the looks of it.”

He points to the chain on the floor, though he can’t see the end attached to Phillip’s foot and subsequently the radiator, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

“Right, we’ll have to pick some up at the farm.”

John nods and looks at Adam and Leila disappears upstairs.

“That was brilliant, mate. The way you cracked that code. Amazing!”

It’s not long before Leila comes back down and she’s in uniform again. It fits like a glove. She’s suited entirely, all she needs in the over vest saying she’s a civilian from John’s car, the spare radio for Eddie.

“Plan of action?”

Leila takes a deep breath.

“We drop Eddie off at the farm with a radio so we can stay in contact. We, you and I, take the backroads to the old building. I’m not sure where Adam is, but maybe, if there are any more codes, he could come with us? We head in, we get Phillip, get him to the hospital and go from there.”

“What about Michelle?”

“We’ll handle that when we get there…John can you ask Adam if he’s up to sending one more small letter?”

John looks to Adam.

With a yes, Leila writes a small note to Phillip.

Hold on, I’m coming xxxx❤️

She looks at Eddie.

“Can you let Charlie and Ellie know?”

THES AR SO COOL!!!! GRAMPY GRAMMY!!!

What a lovely way to remember such lovely moments, thank you so much V! I'll be sure to send them to Leila and Phillip as well! 🥰

You're very talented....

My mullet wasn't that shaggy, was it?

It was, I have photo evidence.

*harrumphing, but smiling nonetheless*

Nope.

He tells his reflection casting one of his graphic tees back onto the bed. Logically he knows he's overthinking, but really he can't help himself.

Today is Leila's birthday. How else is he meant to convey that it's not like their regular visits, besides putting more effort into how he looks? The key word is 'quality' in quality time. Any regular day he'd throw on a fresh shirt, dust off his boots, and head straight over but now he's delaying the start of the event by fussing over his outfit.

(Even if Leila would probably appreciate him most in nothing but boxers and a giant novelty bow wrapped un ribbon like he was her gift. Phillip does not blush at the idea.)

After some more debate, enough time to pass for his hair to practically dry completely, he ends up in something cozy yet put together. A plain white undershirt tucked into dark jeans, and the graphic jersey Leila got him a while ago from the National Space Centre thrown on top. It's perfect because it's from her, and he loves showing her he uses it. And the weather's hit more of a chill lately.

Smirking at his own reflection to boost his confidence Phillip sends Leila a quick text. They appear right under the Happy Birthday message he'd sent right at the crack of dawn when he'd gotten up, that obviously she hadn't read until later.

Finished work.

ETA in 15.

It's realistically he could get there in more like 10, but he gives himself enough time to put all the clothes away, and gather her presents. Because yes, he'd gotten her more than just his own presence.

Dear Phillip!

Hello! Did the majic work? Did you lik the Ninja Turtl I drew? Mummy sed it was wondaful wonderful but did you lik it? What ar yor dogs calld? Fank you for helping Mummy! I wish I was that brav but Im too littl still. Whats yor favrite film? Mines Wall.e hav you seen it? Ar you and Mummy frends now? I hop you didnt get hurt by the bad man wen you helped her. Can you hug Mummy for me? I cant do it cus Im too far away. Fank you agen!

From Charlie

[At the bottom of the page Charlie’s drawn the version of Phillip he’s pictured in his head from reading Leila’s letters. He’s very buff and is dressed in what Phillip can best guess knights armour, holding a sword and shield.]

-🚀

Phillip wakes up still holding Leila the same way he'd fallen asleep doing. He smiles and lets himself lie there for longer enjoying being close to her. When Leila begins to wake up his smile widens.

Hello.

He greets her return to the waking world, and is glad when she doesn't pull away. But duty calls, and farm work does not wait for the lovesick man to get his fill of the beautiful woman beside him. So he gets out of bed.

His morning is interrupted by an out of place piece of paper on his dresser. Phillip stops and picks it up turning around to lean back on the dresser as he reads by the dim moonlight in the room.

The handwriting isn't one he knows. A childish dexterity and poor spelling that match neither of the Greebrooke boys. The contents are easy enough to decipher once his focus wakes up a bit more.

Not that it makes much sense. He feels like he's lacking some context, but it's addressed to him, or at least his name and it's in his room.

Who is Charlie? Who is the boy's mother? Who is the bad man? He's far past questioning the claim of magic at this point after some of the stuff Phillip has seen.

He reads over the letter multiple times, unsure of how long he's been standing there. When Phillip looks up Leila is sat up and watching him.

Who's Charlie?

Leila glances down at the letter and back to Eleanor.

“You too?”

She feels the warm pulsing and closes her eyes, for a brief moment, a bittersweet smile fleets across her features. She opens them again and pulls Ellie into a warm embrace.

There’s an understanding, a mutual feeling between them as they hold on to each other.

“I love you all so much.”

She whispers the words as she looks at the letters.

She vows to herself she’ll make it right. Make it right by them, make it right for Phillip’s bravery, and Adam’s memory. She’ll make it so Charlie will never have to go through loosing her or anyone one of their family again. So that she and other members of the cult can live in peace and heal from what that awful man has done to them.

She follows Ellie to the living room and sees that Eddie has got upset too, she looks to Phillip and offers a soft smile.

As Eddie walks past her she hugs him close.

When they’re gone she goes over to where Philip is sat, she tries to joke as she asks him.

“So…how did your interrogation go?”

She takes it all in, the comfort, his bravery what almost happened to them both and tries not to let it consume her thoughts.

The orange morning glow of dawn prickles from under the curtain. She arches her back and stretches, perhaps a bit too much as it causes her to wince slightly, but she pushes through and gets up and out of bed.

She draws the curtain and looks out at the farm. It’s really quite lovely. Rows of crops, a small holding for a couple of animals, green and affluent land; and smaller area that has herbs, fruit and flowers. And of course row upon row of aubergines.

A tantalising smell pulls her from her thoughts.

“Surely he’s not cooking breakfast?”

She smiles to herself and wonders out of his room and to the bathroom. When she’s done in there she’s met with a blond man who’s taller than her but much shorter than Phillip.

She clears her throat as he raises an eyebrow at her clothing.

“Morning, sorry…I’ll get out of the way.”

He grumbles, though he’s more embarrassed than anything, that ‘it’s fine’ and mumbles a ‘mornin’’ back to her.

She pads her way down to the kitchen. It’s there she finds Phillip and…another man.

“Don’t mention it.”

John gets out and open the back car door for Leila and Phillip. Leila gets out first and walks to the other side of vehicle with John to help Phillip out.

“Take it easy, we have plenty of time.” Leila says softly as she hooks Phillip’s arm around her shoulder. John unfolds a wheelchair that the hospital loaned them and put the breaks on so Leila could help Phillip into the chair; he then grabs their bags and heads to the door to open it ready for them.

“Not far now, then you can rest.” Leila says as she kisses Phillip’s cheek gently, before she wheels him up to the house.

She helps him inside, and John brings the chair into the hallway.

“Please call if you need anything.”

“I will, I promise. Andrea said she’d pop round too, same with mum and dad, but they’re take care of Charlie while we adjust. Thank you for your help, John, I’ll see you soon.”

“No worries, see you later Phillip, feel better soon.”

With that, John leaves and closes the door behind him. Leila guides Phillip over to the couch and fusses over him to make sure he’s comfortable.

She breathes a sigh of relief, glad to be home, and more importantly, glad to have Phillip back.

“Do you need anything?”