"Would you like some tea, love?"

James buttoned his blue shirt. He glared at the mirror and fixed his leather belt; it felt too tight around his waist. The man turned to Deera, who was holding a Channel compact mirror applying some lipstick. She pressed her lips together and smiled, loving this shade of red. The woman's eyes hugged James' silhouette as he sat beside her and kissed her cheek.

"That sounds nice, darling."

She brought her fingers through his hair, leaning her head against his. He smiled back and yawned. "You need a haircut badly, James...." she chuckled, but he just pulled away, rolling his eyes.

"I'll be right back."

Deetra nodded as he left the room, closing the door behind. He rushed downstairs and went straight to the kitchen. James faced his mother, who was cooking before he opened a cupboard. Sarah looked at her son as he grabbed two mugs and set them on the counter.

"Can I help you, dear?"

"No, I'm fine, mom. I'll just make some tea for Deeta and me."

He smiled, tilting his head before pressing the button on the electric water boiler. Sara turned to her son and grabbed his hand when he tried to touch it again. James looked at her as she held the two mugs between her fingers.

"Let me prepare it for you, sweetheart."

"Mom, you don't have to -"

"Oh, no, no, I insist!

"Okay then... Thank you, mom."

"No worries, dear."

As Sara was pouring the hot water in the mugs, James leaned against the counter with his hands holding onto it. He looked down; the only sound in the kitchen was the water hitting the mugs' bottom.

"How's Liverpool, mom?"

"It's nice, but you know that London was my favourite."

James laughed softly, still glancing down.

"Where's Fiona?"

"On the way. She'll arrive around seven; both her and Sebastian work till noon, so they started from Bournemouth kinda late."

"Oh right, she lives in Bournemouth... I forgot it...."

James rubbed his face with a groan. His mother glared at him with a small smile.

"How's work, James?"

James gulped and held his breath for a few seconds. He hated this lie. The one that he was a policeman in London going around catching the bad guys. Meanwhile, he was the bad guy.

"Just fine, mom. Thanks for asking, though."

"Your father is really proud of you, James. You know, knowing that his son risks his life serving the country. He can't stop talking about it...."

Sara giggled as James smiled awkwardly with half-opened eyes. It's been a while since he choked a cop out of his misery.

"I know, mom. He was the one that pushed me towards that career path."

"Do you enjoy your job, though? Do you like your workplace? That's all it matters to me."

Sara put her palm on James' shoulder, worrying about him. A smirk took over his lips as he nodded slowly.

"I love every second of it, mom. Especially when I catch sick people like paedophiles and rapists."

"Oh, these people deserve... death, not just jail time."

Sara growled, letting the mugs on the counter beside James. The man laughed lowly before licking his bottom lip in anger.

"You tell me, mom. You tell... me."

It's been some months since he murdered with his own hands a rapist. A male around his forties went around in London raping young women in alleys late at night. The police couldn't "find" him, maybe because his cousin was in the force.

In his free time, James' hobby was taking out rapists and paedophiles as well as other sick people. No, James wasn't taking them on dates. He was there to make sure they'd meet God sooner. To London's eyes, that secret person that killed hundreds of paedophiles was a miracle in human form.

As James always said, "If the police can't protect its people, I'll do it."

A pat on the shoulder brought him back to reality as he looked at his mother with wide eyes. A toothy smile was on her lips.

"I'm proud of you as well, James. And I would be proud of you, even if you weren't a policeman. I know you have a good heart, and that's all it matters to me."

James smiled widely; it's been a while since a smile that big had decorated his face. He loved his father with his whole heart, but his mother was always his soft spot.

"Thank you... mom...."

"Now...."

Sara pulled away and changed her tone. She grabbed the mugs and offered them to James.

"Bring the tea to your Tesoro before it gets lukewarm! C'mon!"

James held the mugs and laughed, nodding. He started walking upstairs but stooped at a step starring at the wall. There was a picture of himself with his sister when he finished high school. At that time, she was studying to become a teacher. He puffed; it's been so long since he saw her. The distance and his job never let him be too close to his family and especially his sister. She was the only one that knew his secret, though.

And now, his big sister is getting married. James felt like he missed many important chapters in her life, but he was ready to catch up with everything. He couldn't wait to face her again.

James stepped into the guest room; Deetra was fast asleep curled on the bed. He tried to hide his smile as he closed the door slowly, not wanting to create any noise. He left the mugs on the bedside table and sat on the bed, besides his girlfriend. James didn't know how long his girlfriend was asleep, but he wouldn't wake her up anytime soon. The tea could wait; he held his mug and had some. It was still hot, and it warmed his neck in seconds. The man pushed his fingers through her hair playing with them.

Deetra lately wanted to dye her hair a darker shade, but James wasn't agreeing with her. He liked the colour, but Deetra disliked it. "It reminds me of my father," she kept saying, again and again, receiving sighs from her boyfriend. Damon's hair had lost its red vibe here and a few years and had a more brownish undertone. Deetra was stuck being ginger, though, and she hated it.

After a while, she opened her eyes and yawned. James smiled softly at her cute face and held her close to his chest, still playing with her hair. She closed her eyes for a few seconds mumbling something under her breath. He glared at her, confused, but she just sighed, staying between her boyfriend's arms, liking his warmth.

"I brought you some tea, but you were asleep... It's probably lukewarm by now...."

"It's fine... Thank you, though...."

She talked in a sleepy voice before rubbing her eyes gently, not wanting to mess up her makeup. He moved his fingers down her shoulders and back, rubbing them slowly; Deetra yawned again. She looked more tired than usual.

"Is Fiona here...."

"Not yet, but anytime soon...."

She grabbed her mug and had a sip, not caring about the taste. It wasn't as cold as she was expecting it to be.

Deetra stood up and went to the mirror. She started brushing her hair, James' eyes were following her around the room. His eyes were big, shining, seeing his girlfriend go around taking care of herself. Oh, how much he wished he could express his love towards her. He always kept his mouth shut, though, trying his best to find the right words but failing.

Suddenly, shouts and laughter could be heard from downstairs. James jumped and ran to the door opening it quickly. A sweet smile took over his lips when he heard his sister's voice; Deetra giggled seeing him. He grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the hallway.

"J-James! Slow down!"

"Yes, you're right, sorry, sorry...."

He couldn't hold his excitement back as he ran downstairs, soon facing Fiona. She was talking to their father but turned her chin when she saw a man by the corner of her eyes. Her face lit up as she rushed to her brother with open arms. James and Fiona shared a big hug and some giggles before he grabbed her cheeks and gave her a small kiss on the forehead.

"James! I didn't know you'd be here, too! Mom told me nothing on the phone!"

She smiled widely; James just laughed in return seeing the blue-eyed woman.

"Well, surprise, then!"

It was the first time in a while that James looked so happy and energetic. Fiona held her brother's shoulder with a few giggles till she moved her head to the right. Her eyes widened, seeing Deetra staying by the stairs waving at her gently with a small smile.

"Oh my God, Deetra, is that you!?"

Fiona hugged her; Deetra reacted with a laugh before hugging her back.

"You're still with my brother!?"

"Yes, Fiona."

"How can you stand him!?"

"Oh, look who's talking!"

James added, rolling his eyes; Deetra just chuckled, crossing her arms. "Oh, um, Deetra, James...." Fiona mumbled before walking and standing next to the tall man who was waiting for her in front of the entrance. She pointed her palm at the black African-Caribbean man while looking at him with loving eyes.

"This is Sebastian, my fiance, and soon-to-be husband! Sebastian, this is my brother, James, and this is his girlfriend, Deetra!"

James was already scanning the man from head to toe. A smile took over his lips as he grabbed his hand and gave him a firm shake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sebastian."

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine, James! You can't believe how many times Fiona has referred to you!"

James looked at his sister as she hid her face, embarrassed.

Sebastian glared at Deeta and shook her head with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, too, Deetra!"

"It's nice to meet you, too, Sebastian."

"Let me show you your room, sister -"

James added as Fiona grabbed both hers and Sebastian's suitcases; James and Sebastian tried to help her.

"Oh, no, no, it's fine! I can do it; I'll find it on my own. Do you want to come along, Deetra? We have so much to catch on!"

Deera laughed and nodded, following Fiona upstairs. Soon, she found the room; Fiona left the suitcases at the corner and turned to Deetra.

"How's James doing, Deetra? Is he in danger? Is he alright?"

She asked worrying, Deetra sighed and patted her shoulders softly.

"He's okay, Fiona, I assure you."

"I can't wait for the day he leaves this kind of life behind and settle down...."

Fiona started unpacking as Deetra took a seat at the bed. She pressed her palms against the bedsheets glaring down. She understood Fiona's fear for her brother as James wasn't doing the best life. The only thing he didn't want Fiona to learn ever about was him getting kidnapped by Mason and Felix extinguishing cigarettes on his body.

"How's your brother, Deetra? Still a womanizer, hu?"

"Damon? Huh, not really. He's been to rehab; he's drug-free or almost drug-free...."

"Wow, that's wonderful!"

"I guess... You should come to London some time and grab a drink with us!"

"That would be amazing, Deetra!"

Deetra nodded back, fiddling with her fingers. Fiona sighed and sat beside her, her high heels clicking on the light brown wooden floor. Deetra turned to her, confused.

"I hope James likes Sebastian...."

"He looks like a good guy, so... I don't see a problem!"

Deetra shrugged with a small smile. Fiona returned the smile and stood up.

"We should go downstairs... I am starving...."

Deetra giggled and followed Fiona back to the living room. James was there sitting beside Sebastian, both talking with Florenzo.

"Why don't you go to help your mother, Fiona?"

"Why don't you go to help your wife, dad?"

Fiona raised her eyebrow with crossed arms, answering quickly back to her father's question. Florenzo laughed softly and stood up.

"You're right; I'll help her."

"Good job, dad. You look older than I remember, pops."

Fiona laughed; Florenzo just pinched her cheek.

"And you have a longer tongue than I remember, young lady."