© Jojo B 2016

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*N.E.V* The Seven Deadly Simpson Brothers

32

(Picture is Melody)

It was after school and I was in the kitchen looking through the cupboards, trying to write a list of things the house would need for shopping. I had decided that we needed more home cooked meals and not just take-aways and the instant foods. I closed the fridge when I heard someone enter the kitchen behind me and saw Eli standing by the dining table.

"Hey," I greeted him.

"Hey," he murmured back, looking a bit down actually.

"What's wrong?" I frowned, walking up to him. "Didn't the date go well?"

Having already heard from Hayley, the date had been 'fantastic' and the two of them had shared a few more kisses. She didn't know if Eli wanted her to be his girlfriend, as he hadn't asked her straight out, but then again maybe Eli was the kind of guy who felt that he didn't need to ask.

"The date was good," Eli smiled faintly as he gazed downwards. "It's just...ah, it's nothing."

"Eli," I said softly. "You can tell me what's bothering you."

He frowned sharply and I took a step back from the sudden anger in his features.

"It's not 'bothering' me," he scowled. "How could my sister ever 'bother' me?"

I widened my eyes in surprise on hearing his words and I quickly tried to dissolve his irritation.

"I'm sorry Eli," I said to him. "I didn't mean to make it sound like that, I didn't know it was her who was on your mind."

Eli let out a long breath and hung his head so that his hair fell forwards, "No, I should apologise. I shouldn't have snapped."

Looking up at Eli's crestfallen face made me want to hug him and tell him that him missing his sister was normal and that she was happy.

"You can talk to me, you know," I said, trying to approach the subject gently.

Eli nodded and I asked, "Do you want to go outside?"

"It's too cold out there," he said quietly. "Let's go to the den."

The two of us went down into the basement and sat down on one of the small sofas, surrounded by beanbags, that faced the plasma TV and DVD case.

Eli sighed and looked down at his hands and I waited patiently for him to say whatever he wanted to.

"Eunice and I were really close," Eli said lowly. "It was better than having a best friend. That's how it felt like anyway."

"You never fought with each other?" I asked him, curling up in the sofa and listening to him speak.

"Yeah, we fought," Eli said. "But not as much as she and everyone else did actually, which was weird, because we were nearly always together so you would have thought we fought the most."

I smiled at his memories. It sounded like a lovely relationship.

"Ever since she left," Eli tugged at his hair. "I've felt lonely. She was my other half, we did everything together, shared the womb and all. Then one day, she was just...gone. Forever."

I felt my throat tightening and tried not to let my emotions overwhelm me. If I was struggling, I couldn't imagine how Eli was feeling and Eunice had been his fraternal twin. Irreplaceable.

"Eli," I took his hand. "I know nothing will replace the space Eunice left in your heart, but you still have all your brothers and they still have you. It makes me sad that you feel lonely, so please, please let your brothers in more. Don't shut them out as much as you do. Maybe you'll feel better if you do that. I've talked to Walter about it too, he agreed that he'd try harder not to argue with you so much."

Eli didn't even deny that he often pushed his brothers away, especially Walter with whom he fought with a lot, and he nodded, swallowing. The tip of his nose had turned red and his hands were shaking. I squeezed his hand, trying to give some encouragement. I knew he was trying so hard to hold himself together.

"The day Eunice died," Eli said in a shaky voice. "We had an argument, and I never got to make up with her. I think that's what...hurts me the most. I..I didn't get to say a proper goodbye. She died angry at me and I can never forgive myself."

I didn't know how Eunice Simpson had died, but I imagined it had been quick if Eli hadn't been able to talk things over with her or say goodbye. It was heartbreaking that he thought her last memories she had of him would be bad ones.

"Children fight all the time," I said to him, still holding his hand. "I doubt it was so serious that she'd never be able to forgive you Eli. She loved you, and that's the most important thing."

Eli nodded, but I could tell he was unconvinced. I pulled him into a hug when I saw tears falling from his green eyes and I held him tight, trying to give him at least a little comfort. Eli hugged me back after a few broken sobs and I felt his body shuddering as he poured out his emotions. I tried not to cry. Him hurting, made me hurt....we had become family. I knew all the boys missed their sister and I wondered how they dealt with her loss. None of them had really spoken about her, except Walter – and seeing him cry had been very painful.

After what seemed like a while, but was probably just a couple of minutes, Eli pulled away, rubbing away the last of his tears.

"Sorry," he mumbled as he dried his face.

"No," I frowned, shaking my head. "There's nothing to be sorry about. We're all human, it's good to cry."

Eli's dimples shows as he gave me a watery smile, "Anyone who says that is a cry baby."

I smiled back at him, "Well I'm the biggest cry baby you'll ever meet then."

Eli smiled again and looked down in space, thinking. I didn't say anything, not wanting to interrupt his mind's thoughts on his sister.

"Thanks Coral," he said after a silence and then added a smirk, "and don't tell me there's nothing to thank you about either."

I laughed this time and pushed his shoulder playfully, "Come on Eli, let's go and get something to eat."

***

    "Hey," Walter said to me, hugging me from behind as I washed up in the kitchen.

"How was your workout?" I smiled, enjoying the feel of his warmth.

"It was good," he replied. "Have you already eaten?"

"Not dinner," I said back. "This was a snack me and Eli had, I was thinking we should go out and buy food to cook with."

"You and Eli had a little snack together?" Walter repeated, with a hint of amusement in his voice. "What are you, nursery kids?"

"Well excuse me, Walter," I said, drying my hands and turning around to face him as he continued to hold be round the waist. "We were peckish."

Walter only half-smiled, his eyes staring at my lips. I leaned into him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and kissed him on the lips. Walter sighed in pleasure as he closed his eyes, instantly parting his lips to let me in. His heart was pounding and he gripped me harder as the intensity of the kiss increased. I broke off, breathless and trying not to blush. I'd felt his passion in more than one way.

"Is that Melody crying?" I changed the subject, moving past him and heading for the living room.

Opening the door, Melody seemed restless and she kept whimpering and pulling on Landon's hand, nearly in tears. Landon himself was lying in the sofa trying to get some sleep it looked like.

"Come and lie down," Landon held his arms out to her, but Melody shook her head, being difficult.

She kept pointing and rubbing her eyes as tears threatened to spill from them.

"Melody," Landon rubbed his face tiredly. "Daddy needs to sleep. When I wake up I can take you to the park, okay?"

It was already four in the afternoon and would be getting dark out very soon. I doubted Landon would fulfil that promise and Melody didn't seem to want to take any chances either.

"Mummy," Melody continued to moan, her beautiful brown eyes wide.

Landon sighed and then looked up at me and Walter in the doorway.

"She couldn't sleep because of her cold last night," he said to us. "So I was up trying to make sure she was okay and now she's had enough rest, she's bored and wants to go out, but I'm exhausted."

"You know," Walter said. "You didn't need to explain, we would have taken her so you could sleep anyway."

Landon smiled, "Thank you."

"Come on Melody," I went to take her hand.

"Mummy," she shook her head, reaching for Landon's hand again.

"Aunty Coral and Uncle Walter are taking you to the park," Landon said to her. "Go and get your shoes, alright? And don't forget your gloves, okay?"

"Okay," she replied in an adorable voice and allowed me to lead her out of the living room to put on her shoes and coat.

"Aunty Coral and Uncle Walter?" I heard Walter ask his brother in a dry voice.

"Its respect, isn't it?" Landon replied after a yawn. "When she grows up do you want her just calling you Walter? I wouldn't want your kids doing that to me."

I blinked to myself as I bent over to zip up Melody's coat. Landon casually talking about the children Walter and I would have in the future like that? It actually made me happy. I tried not to beam so much when I went to stand in the doorway by Walter's side.

"We're ready," I said to him after I'd gotten myself ready too.

"What's so funny?" Walter sent me an amused smile.

"Nothing," I said, brushing it away. "Go and put your shoes on, Melody can't wait any longer and it will be getting dark soon."

"Okay Melody," Walter crouched down and gave her cheeks a little squeeze before he went to get his shoes and jacket.

Melody was already pulling her gloves, which I had just put on her, off again. She sure was a stubborn child.

"Landon are you comfortable sleeping in the sofa?" I asked him before we went to leave.

He gave me a thumbs up, "I'm good, don't worry about me. Thanks for taking her out, I appreciate it loads."

"Not a problem," I grinned at him and turned off the light for him. "Later."

Walter and I took his niece to the park in the central part of the borough where all the shops were. It was also the park that Ario and I had gone to one night, which seemed like such a long time ago. Thinking about that was sad. I'd really had fun and Ario had become like a brother to me after that, though it didn't last for long.

"Let her go," Walter said as Melody grinned excitedly.

Melody herself had already ripped her little hand out of my grip and was running to the climbing frames. I laughed as I watched her run, it was insanely cute. Walter and I helped her climb the steps and we cheered with her every time she went down the slide. To the few other people around, we must have looked like one happy family.

"We should go," I said to Walter as I swung Melody in the swing a little while later.

He looked up at the darkening sky, in fact, we were the only people left in the young children's part of the park.

"Yeah," he agreed, catching my eyes as he lowered his gaze from above.

I pulled Melody out of the baby swing and set her on the ground only to catch Walter's gaze still on me. He smiled at me and I smiled back, a little bit confused.

"What?" I asked him patting my hair down in case it was a mess.

"You're perfect," he put my hand down and held it instead.

"Walter," I said, feeling embarrassed. "No one's perfect."

"You are to me," he grinned.

"Thank you," I said, leaning in closer to him so that our chests touched.

Walter held me around the waist and he ducked his head down to kiss my neck softly. The feel of his warm lips, so unbelievably gentle, against my cold skin made me shiver in pleasure. It was like we were magnets, unable to stay away from each other.

"Walter, kiss me properly," I whispered, getting caught up in the massive effect he was having on me.

Walter didn't need telling twice. He kissed me like crazy and wrapped myself up in him, feeling his face, his hair, his shoulders. It wasn't until I registered that I hadn't heard Melody for a while, that I pulled back sharply.

"She's gone," I said, my heart pounding like mad as I looked around the empty ground by our feet.

"Walter," I stared, feeling my blood freeze in my veins.

Melody was on the far side of the playground, running towards Miguel and Manuel Santiago who were standing by the fence, beckoning to her with mean smiles on their faces.

"Shit," Walter swore, already running after her. "Coral stay here."

I couldn't just stand and watch, so I started running after Walter, hoping that he would get to Melody before the Santiagos had her in their grips...hoping that I could help somehow.

"Melody!" Walter was shouting. "Melody, stop right now!"

Melody's steps faltered as she heard Walter's voice, and Miguel Santiago ran forwards, trying to get to her before Walter did. Walter swore at him, yelling out threats but Miguel kept smiling, not even listening to his words.

Melody tripping over her own little feet was what saved the situation. Miguel and Walter reached her at the same time and Walter grabbed her first, spitting in Miguel's face furiously. The child had grazed her hands on the ground from the fall and had started to cry, and the angry shouting only made her cry louder.

Walter turned his back on the twins who were throwing back their own rude remarks and I took Melody from his arms, knowing how enraged he was. Melody clung onto me, wailing in my ear and I rubbed her back comfortingly, trying to get her to calm down.

"Come at me then," one of the boys called out to Walter. "Puta!"

"I need a distraction," Walter said, his chest heaving. "Coral, please. Distract me so I don't go back and kill those little shits. I'm trying so hard."

Without thinking, I stopped walking and grabbed him by the back of his hair with my free hand, kissing him hard. I could feel Walter's whole body shaking as hard as mine was, and I knew he was fighting against the urge to react to the Santiagos the way they wanted him to.

In my other arm, Melody had reduced her cries to quiet sniffing and I pulled away from Walter, making sure he was okay. I touched the side of his face, right where his healing wound was, and leant his forehead against mine.

"Are you okay?" I asked him quietly.

Walter nodded wordlessly, looking deep into my eyes as I did to his.

That was when I heard one of the twins say Ario's name.

"Hey Ario, you see that?" Miguel said with a laugh. "I think that one was for you."

I turned to look behind me and saw Ario standing by the gates with his younger brothers. Looking at him, I just knew he had been around the whole time and had seen everything. He knew what his brothers had tried to do, and he didn't do anything to stop them.

Did he really hate our guts so much that he'd put an innocent child in danger?

For the first time since everything had turned sour between us, I felt angry at him. So angry, that I didn't care if he'd just seen me and Walter kiss. Angry enough even, that I wouldn't have tried to stop Walter if he decided to go after him, but then I realised that was rash and unnecessary. I told myself not to care about Ario or his feelings anymore, and that there was no way Paulo had been correct in saying that this very same Ario Santiago was sorry about how he'd destroyed my home.

"Blue eyes isn't worth our time," I said to Walter, holding his hand hard as he turned and looked back at them. "Let's go home."

***

"Where have you been?" Landon jumped up from the sofa he was sitting in as soon as we got home. "It's so dark out and you've been gone for ages. I've been calling you Walter, but you didn't pick up."

Landon was already worried, and his brown eyes rounded when he saw Melody's glove-less, grazed hands and her tear-stained face.

    "The Santiagos know about her," Walter explained.

"Come here," Landon said to her softly.

"Mummy!" she cried, elbowing me to get to her father.

Landon was mad now, I could tell by his clenched jaw and trembling hands. He handed his daughter to Phoenix, who held Melody at an arms distance before placing her down in the sofa.

"What the hell happened?" Landon growled at Walter.

Walter took breaths through his nose, trying to stay calm and it only caused Landon to grow angrier. He slammed Walter backwards, so that the door banged shut from the impact.

"Tell me what just happened," Landon demanded, his face just inches from his brother's. "Why was my baby crying? Why did you allow her to be put in danger?"

"Landon, get off me," Walter said in a tight tone.

"Talk then!" Landon shouted, jostling him.

I knew Walter was about to snap, which would have started a proper fight between them in an instant, and Phoenix knew that too. He stepped between the two, pulling Landon's hand off the front of Walter's jacket.

"Just talk Walter," Phoenix said calmly.

"I let her out of my sight and the blockheads almost had her," Walter muttered. "She fell over, that's why she was crying. I caught her before they could."

Landon narrowed his eyes at Walter, "Do you know what would have happened if you didn't catch her first?"

Walter didn't answer, he hardened his jaw and looked right back at him.

"That's not the point," I said, trying to dissolve the situation. "Melody is safe and we're so so sorry we almost let that happen."

Landon sighed and stepped away from Walter, forcing himself to breathe.

"I'm going to get them," he said, his voice shaking as he was still so angry. "I'll get each and every one of them who thinks they can try to abduct my child, with the idea that I'd be fine with that."

"Landon," Phoenix said quietly.

"No," Landon snapped at him. "I'm going after them right now. I'll even put a bullet in Carlos' head if I have to. Thinking it's a decent thing to allow members of his gang to harm a child, a two year old child?"

I'd never heard Landon speak like that before, in fact, I didn't think I'd even seen him that angry, and Melody was seeing it too, sitting in the sofa and watching him silently with her innocent brown eyes.

"I'm going," Landon was saying, heading for the door to most likely gather some dangerous weapons.

"Landon," Phoenix stopped him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Wait for the right time. They'll be expecting it otherwise. Come on, don't be rash."

Landon hung his head and Phoenix did what I thought as the nicest thing ever when he pulled his little brother into a hug.

"The baby is fine," Phoenix said. "It was an accident, but she's okay. I know you were worried and very upset, but don't let her see you like this."

"Okay," Landon's voice cracked as he put his head down on Phoenix's shoulder.

"Mummy," Melody pushed herself out of the sofa and ran to hug Landon's legs.

"It's okay baby," Landon smiled softly and bent down to pick her up. "Daddy's fine. Let's go and wash your hands and have a bath, okay?"

"Okay," Melody leaned her head on Landon and the two of them left.

Phoenix looked at Walter after Landon had gone, and Walter said nothing. I thought Phoenix was going to rant about how we should have been careful (ignoring me the whole while, of course) and telling us how stupid we were for almost allowing Landon's child to be taken by their mortal enemies. He didn't.

"Be careful next time," was all Phoenix said and after a sigh, he too left.

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What did you think about that?

J

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