"So, are you going to knock or shall I?" Lydia asks as she and Raymond appear in front of the door leading into the apartment Laura has been staying in. The married couple glances at each other. Lydia notices Raymond's extremely uncomfortable at the moment. "It'll be alright" Lydia mutters taking his hand in hers. 

Raymond gives her a small smile and kisses her forehead. Lydia grins loving the way his beard hairs brush against her skin. He keeps a hold of her hand as he raises his other fist to knock on the door.

"Buenos Dias" Raymond greets.

"Wrong door" The kid says instantly and goes to shut them out. Lydia's foot strikes forwards and prevents the door from closing anymore as Raymond talks to him again.

"My names is Raymond Smith" Raymond introduces himself. Lydia grins squeezing his hand as he rolls his 'R'. "Can we step inside for a moment, please?"

"Who's she?" The kid nods to Lydia.

"She's none of your concern" Raymond says in a tone that would trick many people into thinking he was simply being casual but Lydia knew better. Ever since they met he's grown extremely protective and in situations like this his instincts flare though he tries to control them.

Lydia and Raymond's heads both drop as the boy extends a makeshift mirror on a stick. Lydia grins in amusement as the boy checks for anybody, specifically cops, that might be lurking in the hall.

"How can I help you officers?" 

"No, we're not the police" Raymond shakes his head. "No, we just need a moment of your time. It's about Laura Pressfield."

"I don't know anyone of that name" He denies.

"It'll be easier for all parties concerned if we could just step inside for a moment" Raymond warns him.

"No, fuck off" The door slams in their faces.

"I do hate a boy with no manners" Lydia says. "Perhaps we should teach him some" She suggests glancing at Raymond.

"You might just get that chance" He says stepping away from the door. She follows suit moving away as well. "But if we can get Laura out peacefully-"

"Yeah, I know" Lydia nods knowing Raymond wants to leave sooner rather than later with as little trouble as possible.

Two of Lydia's father's men, Dave and Bunny, come strutting down the hall. Lydia grins in excitement as Dave carries a battering ram. He glances at Raymond, who gives him a nod of approval, before breaking the door open.

Loud, tasteless, music blares from inside the room. Noise of protests come from the boys inside as the four of them venture into the room. Once they make sure there's no one waiting in the connecting rooms to ambush them, Raymond enters the room more with Lydia.

Lydia glances around. The place is nicer than the one she had grown up in. She felt slightly envious but pushes the feelings aside as she remembers the home she's living in at the moment.

Raymond moves towards the window and opens it up allowing the light to come in. The music turns off allowing everyone to think easier. Lydia watches as the younger boys grow more nervous while Laura seemed as if she could care less about the events taking place.

"No need to get excited young man," Raymond says calmly. "We will be gone in a few moments"

"No, no, no, you'll be gone before then," He says shaking his head. "Get the fuck out now"

"Oh look" Lydia smirks. "The little kitty is trying to be a lion" She says approaching the two standing boys slowly. They look at her with a mixture of confusion and nervousness. They didn't like the look in her eyes, it unsettled them.

"I can be dangerous if I wanted too! Get the fuck out now!" Lydia giggles amusingly while Raymond keeps his to his calm and collected self.

"Sit down, Power. Before you get yourself into more trouble" Raymond warns.

"How do you know my name?" He asks Raymond before looking to his friend. "How the fuck does he know my name?"

"I know all of your names" Raymond says before pointing to the boy in the seat. "Apart from that... little anomaly." Raymond then redirects his finger back to this 'Power' boy. "I know where you went to school, I know who your parents are, and I know you'll suck a cock for a five pound bag" Raymond tells them easily intimidating them even more.

"Oh, wouldn't we all?" Lydia whispers in the brunette's ear. The boy jumps and quickly moves away from her as she gives him a devilish grin, her eyes filled with mischief.

"Now sit" Raymond demands motioning for them to sit. The two boys do as told slowly. Their eyes bounce from Raymond to Lydia neither of them knowing which one to be more intimidated by. "Just so we're clear, I work for a man, a powerful man."

"Michael Pearson" Laura tells them.

"10 points to you Laura" Raymond says pointing at her.

"Who's Michael Pearson?"

"A friend of her fathers" The Russian kid speaks up. "Runs London's puff game. Big dick swinger"

"I like him" Lydia says pointing at the Russian boy. Raymond mentally rolls his eyes.

"What is your name, young man?" Raymond asks.

"Aslan"

"And where are you from Aslan? You don't sound like one of the natives"

"Disneyland" Aslan says sarcastically.

"Sounds about right" Raymond adjusts his glasses his OCD steadily rising the longer they stay within the apartment.

"Can we keep him?" Lydia asks moving over to Aslan. She twirls a lock of his hair in her fingers. While her crazy, mentally unstable 'act' didn't seem to affect Aslan the two boys sitting in chairs across from the Russian looked as if they were about to piss themselves.

"We'll see" Raymond says. Lydia winks at Aslan before moving back to her husband. "Well, you are correct, he is a big dick swinging. But I wouldn't want him to hear you saying that. I think it's best you forget what he apparently does after we depart."

Raymond turns to his wife and gives her a subtle nod towards Laura. She turns towards the young girl and takes a seat beside her. Laura shuffles over to give her more room.

"Hello, Laura, do you remember me?" Lydia asks and Laura nods.

"You took me riding a few times" Laura remembers. Lydia smiles and nods.

"Yeah, I did" Lydia confirms. "Listen, I think it's time for you to go home with us" Lydia says gently.

"She's not going anywhere" Power says instantly. Raymond gives him an annoyed look.

"You have anything to say, you say it to me" Raymond says sternly causing the boys to look at him. "You do not address her, you do not talk to her, you're lucky I'm allowing you to look at her" Raymond says motioning to his wife. 

Lydia stares lovingly at her husband absolutely adoring his possessive and protectiveness. Laura glances between the two of them and smiles slightly as she looks away. She remembers the few times Raymond came to the stables during one of her lessons. Raymond and Lydia were almost always attached to the hip. One moved and the other followed. It wasn't hard to see they loved each other and they were both fiercely protective of the other.

"Do you mind if I sit?" Raymond asks not really caring about the answer as he grabs a cigarette paper to roll a blunt with.

"Yes" Aslan says sassily. Lydia smirks and looks towards the cocky Russian kid. However, one look from the ginormous Bunny and Aslan's face falls. 

"I don't build a joint like the Americans and the new school" Raymond says sitting at the table beside Lydia. "Back strappin, Jock strappin, Coke wrappin and all that bollocks. I like a good old fashioned 50/50 mix. That's how we used to play. There is one thing I will never understand is why you lot get addicted to heroine"

Lydia instantly tenses. She shifts in her seat and looks at the ground. Raymond glances at his wife, momentarily regretting his choice in wording but knowing it was too late to take it back.

Flashes of memories swarm Lydia's mind. She remembers all the times she's had to drag her mother out of a ditch, out of her own vomit because she was so high off of heroine and so drunk off of alcohol. Heroine wasn't the only drug her mother did but it is the drug that nearly killed her multiple times.

"That's one drug you should not chase and that's the dirty dragon" Raymond says pouring some weed into the wrapping. "Did you ever give it a spin Bunny?"

"No, not me Ray" Bunny shakes his head. "I don't even puff anymore"

"Course not," Raymond says. "Bunny likes the gym. You can probably see that" Raymond tells the boys in the room. "What are you benching these days?"

Lydia doesn't hear his answer but knows it's a lot from the looks of Bunny's muscles. All she could focus on were flashbacks from her child hood. Everywhere she looked she saw something that reminded her of her old home.

Remembering her old home made her remember her siblings, her mother, her step father, everything. Lydia had come with Raymond on this little assignment to help keep his OCD in check and to assist in bringing Laura home. However, now she was wishing she had listened to Raymond and simply stayed home.

"-what happened to a little smoke and a poke and a glass of wine?" Raymond asks standing from the table successfully easing Lydia from her thoughts. It took her a few moments to registers what he was saying and to clear her mind. "Some Barry White, candles around the bath and put your finger in the misses"

"Is that gonna be our night tonight, love?" Lydia asks as her dazzling smile returns to her face. "I've been a good girl" She whispers seductively. Raymond turns towards her and gives her a sly wink.

"Who's Barry White?" Aslan asks causing Raymond to turn back to him.

"Big black geezer, sexy voice" Bunny explains nonchalantly.

"I'm confused" The brunette boy says frowning his eyebrows. "Am I in the bath with Barry White's finger in my misses?" He asks casually motioning to Lydia without even realizing it.

Lydia glares at the boy. She knew what was running through his mind as the look on his face grows more distance and his fingers continue to lazily point towards her.

"Be quiet Brown," Raymond says as Lydia stands. He continues to face Aslan not noticing the anger coming from his wife nor the gesture the boy had made. "you were lost long before-" Raymond didn't get the chance to finish as the young man screams in pain.

Raymond instantly spins around. Everyone grows tense, instead of Laura. Lydia stands beside Brown with a fierce glare on her face. Raymond looks at Brown and notices his hand in Lydia's, his fingers bending in unnatural ways.

"It's not polite to point" Lydia says her voice filled with rage. "Be a good boy and keep your hands to yourself" He quickly nods willing to do anything to get her to release her grip. Lydia tightens her grip before releasing it completely. Brown instantly presses his hand against his chest looking at Lydia with wild eyes. "Please continue, babe, I'm sorry for the interruption"

"No apologies needed, darlin" Raymond says gently. Lydia gives him a soft smile before returning to her seat beside Laura. He keeps his eyes on his wife as he lights his blunt. "If you lot are unhappy you should share your thoughts with your friends, nice friends. Talk it out, find a positive solution. But no, all you lot choose squalor" Raymond preaches slowly walking around the room and ending by Lydia. "Drowning in your liberal white guilt"

Laura notices Lydia physically relaxing as Raymond stands close beside her. It isn't extremely noticeable but Laura was watching for it. The both of them always seemed more relaxed around each other. Even when Laura went to riding lessons at the stables, a place where Lydia is very relaxed at, Lydia always seemed completely relaxed only around Raymond and vise versa.

Extending his hand, Raymond offers Lydia the blunt. Lydia doesn't hesitate to take it. She purposefully brushes their fingers together needing some type of physical contact. She takes a hit off of it before handing it back, their hands lingering by each other for a few more moments.

"Wha-What am I guilty of?" Brown whimpers still holding his hand. Slowly, Raymond walks away from Lydia and into the kitchen.

"Being a cunt, Brown... Being a cunt" Raymond sighs. "Anyways, I'm not your shrink. I'm just trying to radiate some positive vibes man-to-man. That's what this puff game used to be all about" Raymond tosses the blunt into the sink. He turns back to his wife and gives her another subtle nod.

"Come back home with us, Laura" Lydia says gently. "You don't need these pathetic excuses" She tells her. Raymond shoots a warning glare to the two boys that were about to object, Aslan wisely staying silent. "Go home, be with your parents, find some real friends, find happiness"

"Alright" Laura nods making Lydia smile.

"Fucking hell, that was easy" Raymond laughs. Lydia smirks looking at him.

"I just have that magic touch, baby" She winks at him.

"Well, in that case" Raymond says standing up. "Bunny, will you help Laura with her things please?"

"It's alright, Bunny" Laura waves off while grabbing her jacket off the couch. "I don't really have anything."

Raymond inches closer to Lydia and holds his hand out. She instantly grabs it finding comfort in his touch. He gently pulls her up from the couch and keeps her close. She kisses his cheek lightly which he responds with a squeeze of the hand.

"It's a shit hole anyways" Laura mutters standing beside the married couple.

"Don't go!" Power shouts shooting from his spot. "Please wait!" He races towards her. Anticipating something from the boy, Raymond was ready to react. Before the boy could even come within a foot of Lydia, Raymond drops her hand and places his body between the two of them. He shoves Power away before harshly backhanding him.

"Touch me again and I'll cut your fucking arm off" Raymond growls pointing at him. "Go near her again" Raymond says motioning to Lydia. "and I'll slit your fucking throat" Power shakes on the ground obviously scared out of his mind. "It's alright Bunny, keep going" Raymond reassures him. "I just will not be manhandled by a junkie cunt"

"Come on, babe" Lydia says holding her hand out to him. "Let's go home and enjoy that tasteful picture you painted earlier" She says winking at him. 

Slowly, Raymond's breathing turns normal again. He grabs her outstretched hand and walks closer to her. He presses his lips on her forehead and breathes in the scent of her perfume. She slips her free hand inside his trench coat and around his back, giving him a comforting squeeze.

"Dave" Raymond says pulling away from Lydia. "Keep the kids in school for one minute" Dave nods silently. Raymond glances around the room one more time before leading Lydia out.