* 𝖚𝖓𝖇𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖉 ╱ ™

The satisfaction Charlie felt upon seeing her uncle actually reply to her question after she tried to pull it back made her feel almost childish, even if she hadn’t had any manipulative intentions with her comment. “She’s a bit late, isn’t she? I don’t think dad could ever forgive her.” And she wasn’t sure about her brothers and her, either. “It’s just, it feels weird. Why now? Why not five years earlier? Ten?” It seemed obvious that Charlie was still wrapping her head about it, and her uncle was the only person she felt comfortable dropping the whole ‘ I couldn’t care less ’ facade. Shaking her head slightly, Charlie looked at Greyson. “I bet it’s not fun to talk about it for you either, uncle. Thanks for hearing my ramble, I don’t want to bother you with that. There are just some things… I don’t know, that it feels weird talking about with my dad or my brothers.” 

“Hey,” she approached the other person tentatively, not everybody felt comfortable being approached at random, even fewer when that random approach required a favor from them, “Feel like boosting your Good Samaritan score a little?” Peyton questioned as she hitched her backpack on her shoulder. Since school had ended for the afternoon she’d ditched her uniform for something a little more casual and a lot less itchy but she still needed her book bag to carry it all. “My phone just died and I need to get home,” she explained, “- so, if you’ve got a power bank, I’ll take it- or if I could use your phone to make a call, that would be cool then last option; if you’re not going to skin me alive and bury my body in the woods, I’ll accept a ride,”

olenna  turned  to  face  the  other,  questionably  and  unbothered,  greeting  her  with  a  slight  smile  on  her  face.  “  hey.  well,  sure.  why  not.  ”  the  mayor  was  unsure  about  what  she’d  meant  but  without  any  hesitation,  she  obliged.  lena,  too,  had  gotten  her  mayoral  tasks  taken  care  of  for  the  day.  the  woman  unlocking  her  phone,  handed  it  to  the  younger  female  so  that  she  could  make  her  phone  call.  as  someone  that  was  fond  of  the  fact  that  power  banks  existed  and  bought  one  —  not  too  long  ago  —  she  didn’t  have  hers  today.  “  i  can  assure  you  that  that  won’t  happen,  and  if  you  need  a  ride,  just  ask.  ”

“I wouldn’t dream of it though I’m not sure it would count as dine and dash if they feel like letting us eat for free.” Aaliyah got some free stuff alot, for pictures to boost customers or whatever. They might just be running for the fun of it, she thought. A chuckle leaving her lips as she heard the question. “ Girl tell me about it, I’m not allowed to complain about my family either. Former First lady complains about former first children and former president. I can see all the tweets and news articles trying bro tear me apart" 

“  that’s  true.  it  wouldn’t  be  as  exciting...  but  still,  free  food  is  a  plus.  a  lovely  tip  included,  of  course.  ”  the  woman  shrugged.  she  had  forgotten  what  it  was  like  to  do  what  was  considered  as  fun  in  this  day  and  age.  lena  used  to  get  herself  into  a  lot  of  shenanigans  back  when  she  was  in  high  school;  she  missed  that.  “  i  picture  it  so  well,  that  it  bothers  me.  but  who  says  we  can’t  do  it  in  secret,  though?  ”  she  looked  at  aaliyah  with  a  raised  brow  and  a  chuckle  escaped  her  lips  thereafter.

“i’m doing well, it’s a lot busier today than i expected it to be.” she laughed. growing up she’d come to know the florists in london were always busy, but here hadn’t been like this in a long time…not that she was complaining. leaving the desk to join him, she looking around the copious amounts of flowers that surrounded them. “well, what’s this person like? fun? shy? loud? sweet? people’s flower presences usually depend on their personalities.”

“  i  love  you,  olenna.  ”  spark  be  damned,  arguments  be  damned,  whatever  choice  was  best  or  right—  richard  couldn’t  bring  himself  to  care.  he  just  wanted  to  have  her  in  his  life  again,  he  just  wanted  for  this  never  ending  fight  of  theirs  to  be  over.  “  i  love  you,  and  fuck, i’ll,  i’ll  tone  the  drinking  down,  alright  ?  i’ll  tell  you  whatever  it  is  that  you  wanna  know.  ”

“  i  miss  you.  i  just—  i  just  miss  you.  ”  there  was  a  sigh.  loud,  heavy,  long.  like  those  four  words  had  single-handedly  took  the  weight  of  twelve  months  of  unsaid  truths  off  of  his  shoulders.  “  i  miss  you.  ”  and  the  glimpse  he’d  had  of  life  without  her  was  enough,  he  didn’t  care  what  the  rest  of  the  world  had  to  offer,  no  other  person  out  there  seemed  interesting  to  him.  he  just  wanted  her,  he  just  loved  her. 

“  listen,  just…  ”  the  moment  her  hands  left  his  body,  he  felt  his  heart  sink  into  his  chest.  he  couldn’t  stand  this  back  and  forth  of  theirs.  the  space  left  empty  after  her  touch  had  left  his  body.  it’s  forcing  himself  to  stay  still,  to  balance  his  drunkenness,  not  to  fall  to  ground  —  all  of  it  was  a  lot  easier  than  finding  her  eyes  as  he  spoke,  “  you  didn’t  anything  wrong,  alright  ?  i  did.  you  did  what  you  thought  was  best.  you  did  what  you  thought  you  needed  to.  i  wasn’t  there.  i’m  sorry.  i,  i  really  am.  i’m  so  fucking  sorry.  “

she  was  so  oblivious  to  the  fact  the  he  still  loved  her  ——  the  three-words  tugged  at  her  heartstrings.  i  love  you,  olenna.  “  you  love  me?  fuck,  richard ——  i,  i...  ”  all  she’d  ever  want  to  say  is  that  she  loved  him  back...  but  couldn’t  find  the  strength  to  do  so.  “  how  do  i  know  for  sure  you’ll  tone  it  down?  ”

the  woman  rubbed  her  temples.  quarreling  after  a  year  was  getting  tiresome.  “  that’s  the  thing.  i  can’t  be  telling  you  what  to  tell  me.  that  isn’t  healthy.  to  me,  it  will  feel  like  i’m  forcing  you  to  talk  ——  and  that’s  uncomfortable  feeling  ——  or...  telling  me  whatever  you  think  i  should  hear;  i’m  not  your  lawyer...  you’ve  to  be  willing  to  open  up  at  your  own  disposition.  tell  me  what  you’re  feeling,  rich,  but  freely.  ”

she  paused  for  a  moment.  “  i  mean,  i’m  your  wife,  for  god’s  sake.  ”  your  wife;  it  came  out  so  easily,  she  hadn’t  noticed  that  she  still  referred  to  herself  as  his  wife.  behind  closed  doors,  they  were  divorced;  to  the  public,  they  were  still  married.  it’d  only  started  to  take  a  toll  on  the  woman...  keeping  it  a  secret,  that  is.  “  miss  you,  too.  ”  she  whispered  softly,  barely  audible  to  his  ears.

“I’m just trying to be helpful, but you’re right that’s way to big of a job I should start off small and steal some candy from the store, jaywalk to a restaurant and then dine and dash.” She said looking at the brunette for approval.“ I can’t have him busy for days then you’ll be busy for day and then I’ll be stuck, bored and by myself.” It was true she would probably do something dumb like start a crime family or something if she didn’t have people to hang out with. “You have every right to complain, you’re mayor, a mother and a wife. You have more right than anyone else to do so.”

“  ah,  just  know  that  i’ll  always  appreciate  you  help  !  you  better  not  dine  and  cash  without  me,  though.  ”  this  town  was  quiet  at  times,  too  quiet  for  the  mayor’s  liking.  she  smiled  at  the  other,  giving  her  a  nod  for  approval.  “  that’s  true.  maybe  not  too  quick  on  the  action,  then?  ”  it  was  a  rhetorical  question,  of  course,  but  of  course,  for  olenna,  it  was  better  to  be  safe  than  sorry.  “  yeah,  a  wife  that  has  a  husband,  whom  i  can’t  stand  ——  if  i  complained,  then  people  will  be  calling  me  out  for  it.  i  can  see  it  now.  ”  it  was  rare  for  the  woman  to  complain,  unless  there  was  a  glass  of  rosé  in  her  hand.

“Absolutely!”She knew that she probably seemed a little weird at the moment but Victoria was having a good day, she hadn’t randomly went off to cry or felt like her life was in ruins. She felt good and she missed feeling this way. “I’ve never taken a sick day even when I was pregnant or after I had the babies. I would Skype in the office and get things done. Today is the perfect day for some hookie." 

she  nodded,  acknowledging  the  other’s  sweet  offer.  “  alright,  as  long  as  you  allow  me  to  return  this  kind  gesture  by  doin’  the  same.  ”  lena  was  pretty  serious  about  it;  she  didn’t  want  to  leave  the  other  hanging;  favors  are  favors.  “  you  have  never  taken  a  sick  day?!  okay,  are  you  a  bionic  woman,  or  what?  that’s  impressive.  ——  now,  seriously,  do  me  a  solid  and  let  me  pay  for  your  tacos.  ”

“Maybe I should attempt a bank robbery,and a car chase and liven things up, give the town something to talk about for a little while.” She raised her brow in an amusing manner, she could only imagine the headlines if she pulled a stunt like that. Aaliyah knew one thing for sure is that even in a small town like this something was going on.“Me? I’m fabulous. I don’t really have too much going on, just momming and look good, How are you?" 

“  oh  god,  aaliyah.  please  don’t.  ”  acknowledging  the  woman’s  amused  look  made  it  harder  for  olenna  to  be  serious.  “  although,  it’ll  keep  mister  chief  of  police  busy  for  a  few  hours,  days  even.  ”  the  woman  shook  her  head  as  if  removing  the  idea  from  her  mind.  committing  crimes  like  them  would  have  the  town  stirring  into  chaos.  she  didn’t  want  to  deal  with  that  yet.  “  as  always,  of  course.  i’m  stressed  out  with  this  job,  but  you  know  what,  i  don’t  want  to  sound  like  i’m  complaining...  so  i’m  gonna  keep  it  steady;  cool,  calm  and  collected.  ”

medalion’s   mood   visibly   brightened   as   she   took   in   the   question   that   was   posed,   her   embarrassment   shifting   to   excitement   as   she   approached   the   stranger.   ‘   finally,   the   first   person   in   this   town   who   hasn’t   asked   me   if   he’s   a   german   shepherd.   ’   she   rolled   her   eyes   at   the   thought,   the   mere   suggestion   that   cyrus   even   remotely   resembled   a   german   shepherd   absolutely   deplorable   to   her.   ‘   but   yes,   he   is   a   malinois;   fantastic   breed,   but   training   is   still   a   work   in   progress.   ’

‘   ditto,   grey.   ’   to   say   that   she   was   particularly   happy   to   see   her   former   brother  -  in  -  law   would   be   a   wild   stretch   of   the   imagination;   emily   had   been   dreading   this   reunion   almost   as   much   as   she   was   dreading   the   handful   of   others   she   would   eventually   have   to   make.   this   one   was   simply   more   complicated   than   the   rest.   a   familiar   sense   of   guilt   begun   to   creep   back   into   her   bones.   coming   home   was   a   messy   business,   it   seemed.

head   tilts   to   the   side   as   she   takes   him   in.   ‘   you’ve   hardly   changed   since   the   last   time   i   saw   you,  ’   she   comments,   her   tone   remaining   cool   as   lips   part   into   a   tight   smile.   ‘   it’s   nice   to   see   that   some   things   really   don’t   change.   ’

a  slight  smile  appeared  on  his  features,  a  small  nod  thereafter.  the  guilt  was  eating  him  alive.  there  was  no  way  he  could  manage  to  look  at  his  brother’s  ex-wife  with  guilt  riling  him  up.  “  yeah,  ”  the  man  spoke  softly  as  he  jammed  his  hands  in  his  front  pockets.  what  had  happened  between  was  a  lot  more  complicated  than  one’d  think.  the  sudden  realization  of  the  truth  coming  to  light  made  his  heart  sink.

“ that’s some good advice, thank you.“ vera’s eyebrows furrow ever so slightly, and it earns a confused glance. “ what’s going on ? you know i’m here to listen if need be, or if you need someone to talk to. i don’t mind in the slightest and it’d keep me out of my own head. so please do, if you want to. “

“be thankful. this is only my first.” evan drawled, head leaning back against his chair. he’d only even managed a few sips of the drink in question — mind whirring to quickly, to heavily, to bother with getting blind drunk. ( and the urge was there, itching under his bones, seeping into his heart. but like always, it was troy and it was charlie and it was leo and it was vera and it was their new baby, that stopped him — he had to figure this out for them, first. he could get blind drunk later. )

there was silence for a long moment, before evan let out a sharp, bitter laugh; the sound leaving a black taste in his mouth. “she’s fucking back, brother.” he shook his head, and sipped at his whiskey. he remembered their conversation only in fragments — harsh words and even harsher truths. it was decades of repressed resentment and emotions coming out under a microscope — and the worst part was, in some weird way — he’d missed her.

because there was a time in his life that all he’d needed was emily and the kids. he didn’t give a fuck about the company, he didn’t give a fuck about the money and the cars and the girls and anything else this life had given him. he just needed them. he’d missed her; from the way her hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves; to the way her angry eyes could cut him deep; to the way she never pulled any punches with him — because that was what they’d promised in their vows.

where had it all gone wrong?

“you know, i started thinking she’d died, in the end? that that was why she left? not because of me or leo or charlie or troy — but because she was sick, and wanted us to be spared that? because she loved us just that fucking much?” he laughed bitterly. “what a fucking joke.”

“i  sure  hope  it’s  your  first,”  greyson  stated  with  a  smirk  on  his  features  but  it  slowly  disappeared,  seeing  the  state  his  brother  was  in.  grey  knew  that  it  was  a  lot  to  take  in,  the  fact  that  she  came  back.  it’ll  be  a  rollercoaster  ride  for  them,  and  he  couldn’t  help  but  feel  a  tremendous  amount  of  guilt.  however,  that  was  for  another  day.

the  long  moment  of  silence  couldn’t  have  been  awkward  for  the  youngest  brother...  until  he  heard  evan’s  bitter  laugh.  he  sighed,  “she’s  fucking  back.”  he  murmured  to  himself.  it  almost  felt  like  a  figment  of  his  imagination.  “after  eighteen  fuckin’  years,  man.”  greyson  tried  his  absolute  best  to  be  around  for  his  brother  and  the  kids  as  much  as  he  could  —  if  need  be  —  even  if  it’d  require  him  a  drive  from  chicago.  it  didn’t  matter.

“you’re  a  damn  good  father,  evan.  you  know  that?”  he  expressed  sincerely,  his  eyes  visibly  soft.  “far  better  than  our  fucking  old  man.”  his  voice  almost  cracked  but  the  resentment  in  his  tone  was  obvious.  “

he  couldn’t  think  straight,  couldn’t  properly  come  up  with  the  right  way  to  answer  her.  every  word  seemed  like  a  misstep,  every  attempt  at  easing  things  between  them  seemed  to  get  an  worse  answer  out  of  her.  the  world  kept  spinning  around  and  around.

“  what  do  you  want  me  to  say,  lena  ?  ”  he  genuinely  did  not  know  anymore.  “  i  love  you,  ?  ‘cause  i  do.  i  fucking  tried  not  to,  but  i  do.  i’m  sorry  ?  i  fucked  up  ?  ‘cause  i  am.  i  did.  i  don’t  know  how  to  fix  this  anymore.  just  —  just  tell  me  what  to  say,  just  tell  me  what  to  do  and  i’ll  do  it,  i’ll  do  it  a  goddamn  heartbeat,  just  tell  me  what  is  it  that  i  need  to  do.  ”

at  this  point,  it  wasn’t  heartbreak  anymore,  it  was  desperation.  it  was  the  certainty  that  another  step  away  and  there  was  no  going  back,  it  was  the  very  real  unshakable  fear  that  it  was  too  late  for  them. 

“  i’m  sorry.  ”  and  this  time  it  was  quieter,  softer.  his  voice  barely  rose  above  a  whisper.  “  i’m  sorry  i  wasn’t  there.  i’m  sorry  for—  disappearing.  i’m  sorry  for  making  you  feel  like  you  are  alone  in  this.  i’m  sorry,  lena.  i’m  so  fucking  goddamn  sorry,  i  can  spend  the  rest  of  the  night  apologizing  to  you  and  it  won’t  be  enough.  ”

no  matter  how  much  he  was  pouring  his  heart  out  to  her,  it  felt  wrong.  was  she  using  the  state  her  ex-husband  was  in — using  the  fact  he  was  drunk — against  him?  nothing  stopped  olenna  from  getting  emotional  as  the  tears  in  her  eyes  started  welling  up.  this  should  be  happening  when  he’s  sober.  not  like  this.  for  fuck’s  sake,  not  out  in  public.

“  anything,  rich,  anything,  ”  her  voice  broke.  her  hand  still  grasping  his  arm  to  try  and  prevent  him  from  falling  over,  swaying  from  side  to  side.  i’m  sorry.  i  fucked  up ;  it  was  all  she  heard.  it  wasn’t  that  she  intentionally  ignored  him,  but  his  ‘i  love  you’  had  her  thinking  she’s  made  a  grave  mistake.  she  looked  at  richard,  frustrated  and  confused.

i  fucking  tried  not  to,  but  i  do.  “  just  —  just  tell  me  that  you  love  me.  tell  me  you  love  me  again.  most  importantly,  tell  me  you’ll  try  to  stop  drinking.  tone  it  down  a  bit.  it’s  concerning.  tell  me  whatever  shit  is  bothering  you  ‘cause  i  can  tell  you  that  i  still  care  deeply  about  you.  i  still  love  you,  but  it’s  more  than  obvious  that  we’ve  lost  the  spark  we  once  had...  and  i  can’t  help  but  think  it’s  almost  impossible  that  we’ll  never  go  back  to  what  we  once  were.  ”  if  anything,  olenna  was  choking  up  between  words.