~Reconciliation~

Nicolas kept pacing back and forth in the nearly empty house for reasons he didn't understand. There was a pressing weight in his chest and he wasn't so sure what it meant. Maybe the universe was trying to send him a warning about something; something he didn't quite get.

A thought soon occured to him and he found himself climbing up the stairs to see the one person he had mixed emotions for. He wanted to be sure the man was still with them in person and hadn't passed on to the great beyond already. As usual, he stopped to listen intently the moment he got close to the door. There was slight movement inside the room but if one didn't listen quietly, it would seem as though there was no sign of life inside.

Nicolas took deep breaths as many times as he could drag in but still didn't have the heart to push open the door even though he badly wanted to. It was at that sensitive moment that his phone chose to ring out. The sound startled him badly that his heart started to pound faster than normal. He took a look at the screen and saw it was someone he didn't want to hear from anytime soon but seeing as he had no choice, he determined to answer the call.

For the injured man behind the closed door, he figured the doctor's visit would have done much to help him quell his loneliness a little. The man refused to say a word to him everytime he came around so there was no point paying him visits often. That gave him small relief as he walked back down the stairs where he picked up the persistent call.

"Hello."

"What's up, man?" The voice sounded happy on the phone which was opposed to the person's regular countenance in real life.

"You sound awfully happy? Did something happen?" He dropped on the couch closest to his right as he tugged off his loafers using his feet.

"You can't relate to the depth of this happiness which I feel. You've always been nothing but a sad, moody kid. Not sure I can explain how I really feel." The caller clicked his tongue twice.

Nicolas didn't feel any emotions at his retort, he replied. "I'm glad I can't feel what you feel. That would be the death of me. Can you imagine someone like me trying to fit in your shoes right now? I'm better being sad and moody, thank you very much."

"Too sad for you." There was a short derisive laugh. "So, you ought to be going through with the plan already but I don't see any reports or gists like we should have been getting. What exactly is going on?"

"Calm down, it is a long winding process. I thought I told you about it. Just trust me on this man, there is no way I'm letting go of that money for someone else to grab. I know the other greedy boys aren't going to waste their time in grabbing the deal but hold on because it is mine until I say it's not anymore."

"Now that's the spirit. It would have been better if all the rest were like you."

Nicolas scoffed. "You know very well that it's not possible. I'm the last of my kind."

"That's fine. See you at the usual hangout spot."

After that, the line went dead. Nicolas stared at the phone for the longest time trying to think if that meant another mission before the front door swung open. His head snapped up immediately to see his sister storm in with her clothes drenched in brown liquid.

He stood up to meet her halfway before she could take angry strides to her room. She didn't even stop to acknowledge his presence or the fact that he was standing in her way. "Hey, Aurora, what happened to you?"

Aurora refused to meet his worried gaze. "Get out of my way." She made to move again but was held back in place.

"Talk to me, dammit. Who did this to you?" He sniffed her hair then recoiled when the smell of soup hit his nostrils. "How the hell did this happen?"

When she looked up to look into his face, Nicolas saw tears brimming in her eyes as they threatened to spill over. Her lips were trembling, so was she. His blood thrummed with anger for three reasons. One, he didn't know what had happened. Two, he couldn't bear to see his sister in such mood because she meant everything to him despite her petty demands. Three, she wasn't speaking to him about what it was that eating her up within.

Her purse dropped from her grip as she lifted her hands to cover her face. The sounds that soon escaped her lips tore his heart into pieces. There was nothing he hated more than seeing her in physical or emotional pain. When they were younger, he was more than willing to take the blame if she did something wrong. It was how deep his love for her went.

She slowly sunk to the ground crying out in a broken voice; one of pain. "I hate my life. I hate her. She is the reason why I'm in this mess."

He couldn't make any sense out of her statement. "Stop it. You don't hate your life. You're only upset at whoever did this to you."

She raised her head to meet his face again. It was swollen red with snot running unhindered down her nose. "I hate her so much. If she hadn't gone, my mother would still be with me to make sure I didn't make such stupid mistakes. My life is a mess, Nick."

At her nickname, Nicolas felt his heart squeeze in his chest and tears quickly fill up his own eyes. She used to call him Nick when they were younger. Unfortunately, he had to grow up too fast due to their family falling apart. He wanted her to be able to depend on him to be her anchor but during those times he spent away working shifts and making ends meet for their small family, their relationship gradually sunk.

He didn't even realize that tears were already dropping onto her hair but she did. She looked into his face in shock. The tears then came out freely as the image of her brother's wet face felt like needles piercing her soul.

In a choking sob, she held on to him tightly. "I'm sorry, Nick. For being so distant from you. I should have listened to you."

He kissed the crown of her head. "It's not your fault sweetheart. If there is anyone in this room who deserved to be blamed, it should be me. I should have paid more attention to you instead of being absent all the time."

She burrowed deeply into his embrace and despite the odor emitting from her hair which was damp from the soup drenched in it, he didn't push her away. A feeling of satisfaction washed over her that moment and the long time burden of guilt and anger rolled away like a heavy rock from the centre of her chest.

"I love you, Nick."

Nicolas thought his arms couldn't be more tight as he hugged her but as his brain registered those words he had been longing to hear from her, he almost crushed her in his grip. "We'll be fine no matter what happens. Parents or not."

On the floor of the sitting room, he let her into his warm embrace and hugged her for what seemed like hours until he felt her tight grip slackening. She had fallen asleep in his arms like she used to many years back.

He picked her up as gently as he could to avoid startling her awake. With slow but steady steps, he took her to his room so he could drop her on his bed. Since he could easily take his bedsheets to the drycleaners, he decided he didn't want her getting soup all over her own pillows.

He pulled the covers over her then sat back on his reading chair to observe her peaceful features. He reached out to slick back a strand of damp hair that was on her forehead.

As he watched her sleep, he swore to pay double fold to Selena what she did to her. He knew other mixtures that were worse than the soup she bathed his sister in and he was going to make sure Aurora was present to relish every single part of his revenge.

~~~{•}~~~

Tears alert!
Tears alert!
Hands up if you didn't feel emotional in this chapter (no one raises hands)
I didn't cry... Tears only came out cos of my incoming PMS *wink*

No use hiding it...I CRIED!!! *blows nose*

Please vote if you enjoyed this chapter
~~Tequila~~