Chris's house🏡

Chris's Pov-

For the first time in two years i organised something.It was a small barbeque.My parents and siblings were here.Rebecca came too.Tristan had invited her.I believe they have something going on though Tristan might not be commiting.Rebecca was a saint to tolerate my brother.

(Jane Levy as Rebecca)

Some of my friends from office,James,his new flavour of the week and Faith.She baked some cookies for everyone and i was grateful.She is already helping me a lot with the case.

My house was full of people.Raiya was playing with Moose and Jack and some of her friends had joined us too.

"James and Tristan should have been brothers.Both of them are so disgusting.I mean i am tired to relating you and me to Tristan.No similarities."

My sister rolled her eyes.Being the youngest of all three,she was the baby of the family.

I was 3 years elder to her and Tristan was the eldest one of the lot.Mom and dad adopted Nysa when she was just 3 days old.Her birth parents were Indians,they died in an accident and no relative turned up for custody.They were my dad's bestfriends.Mom wanted a daughter so bad and the doctor had warned her that her next pregancy could be fatal,so Nysa came in.Our parents doted on her,we spoilt her and as a result i have a bratty,annoying but lovely sister.

"You never stop complaining,do you?"

"Now stop it Chris.You were the quite good boy.Mom always insists you were the sweetest little boy she had and Tristan and I,we were just spawns of the Satan."

Nysa blurted and munched on the cookies.

"These cookies are so tasty.Faith sure is a fabulous cook.Speaking of Faith,mum looks taken by her."

I looked around to see mom and dad talking animately with Faith.

Mom and Dad were extroverts.So were Tris and Nysa..i dont know from where i got my introverted atitude,as my mom would say.

"I talked to her too.She is such a sweet person.Even Raiyaa did not stop talking about her.Tris even joked about how he was going to marry her and she put him right in his place.You should have seen the look on his face.I laughed so loud and Rebecca!Oh god,poor Rebecca ;she was not amused though.Poor Rebecca.."

(Nysa Crawford aka Naomi Scott😍)

Nysa went on and on.I loved my sister very much but she sure had a big mouth on her.I had joned out.

"You never stop talking,do you?"
Some one tapped my shoulder.I groaned.Not what i wanted.

"You are such a pig head.I am so surprised anyone as nice as Faith hs related to you."
Nysa huffed and left James and I alone.

"You sister despises me a lot."
He sighed,then smirked.

"You know she likes me,right?"

I gave him the stink eye.

"I am well aware of that and i hope she never realises that she likes you.Nysa still behaves like a naive 16 year old,you stay away from her."

He just laughed.I rolled my eyes.

He better stay away from Nysa..I will beat him to the pulp but Tris,well,he will kill him straight.

"Come on,lets meet your parents.I want to see how Howard is handling your mom.She seems pretty high."

He snickered.Sure,mom was giggling and pinching Faith's cheek.This is embarassing.

"Mom,how much did you drink?Dad,why did you let her?You knows she is a light weight.I am so sorry Faith."

"Its ok,Chris.Mrs Crawford is really nice.Here let me help her to the bedroom."

"Oh no sweetheart,you enjoy the party.Julie has hit the high point.She will be giggling through out."
Dad took mom by the waist and helped her to the house.

"You are adorable sweetheart."
Mom shouted at Faith while she was going.Dad then hurried to pull her inside.

I smiled at her awkwardly.James and Tris laughed out load.Nysa just looked bored that mom was away now so there wont be more entertainment.Poor Faith,she looked kind off uneasy.

"Hey,do you want to have some wine?"
Rebecca asked her.

Faith looked at her.

"Oh sorry.Hie,I am Rebecca.I completely forgot to introduce myself.I am Tristan's friend.Oh and trust me,i am not as crazy."

Tris just glared at her but she did not really looked bothered.

"Yes Faith,they are veryyyy good friends indeed and yeah true,she is not thatttt crazy.No one can be as idiotic as Tristan.Come on,Lets have some wine."

Nysa pulled a very surprised Faith with her and Rebecca just huffed and followed them.

"Daddy can i have some cookies for Moose??"

"Sweetheart,you know you are not supposed to feed Moose cookies.Here take some chicken.."

Our conversation was paused when we heard screaming.

The source was of course Nysa.

"Oh my god Chris,did you know Faith is from Memphsis?That's Elvis Presley's home town."

Nysa had too much alcohol in her system.Faith and Rebecca gentally pulled Nysa with them,towards my house.

Tristan rolled his eyes.

"That's too much drama for today."
I looked at him.

"And you are saying this is yet again dramatic.Anyway,James wanted to talk to you and dad about something.He wont tell Faith or I anything.I wonder why."

Tristan looked at me and shrugged.

"Hie Tris,if you are not very busy..i would like to talk to you and Henry about something.Henry is already in the hall.Chris,i want you and Faith to enter the hall as soon as i am done with these two."

"What is this?Some kind of a secret mumbo jumbo..woah dude."

James was looking serious and that scared me.

I texted Faith.She told me she will be here in ten minutes.

Faith came with Jack in her arms.I looked at her.

"I am so sorry,you had to wait.I just heard him meowing very loudly so i had to leave for my house and then he just wont let me go. "

I shrugged.

"No problem.He seems very clingy though.."

"Tell me about it.You must think i am this crazy cat lady and all!"

She groaned lightly.This made me laugh.

"No,i just think you are very compassionate.There is nothing crazy about that!"

"Well,thank you.Anyway,what is this about?"

"I dont know.James is inside with Tris and dad.He told us to wait outside.He will call us when he is done with them."

Faith looked perplexed but didnot say anything else.She continued petting Jack who purred in satisfaction.

The door opened.Dad and Tris looked like they wanted to tell us something but then James just pulled me inside.Faith followed me.

"Hey what is this behaviour!You are creeping me out bro."
Faith almost whisper shouted at James.

"Look guys,i talked with your father and brother.Actually,i wanted to talk with your mom and sister too but they are passed out.Anyway,before i say this..just remember,this is going to be very shocking.But trust me,its the only way."

"What are you talking about James?"

I knew something was fishy.

"Look ,i have been on Raiya's case this whole week.Two days ago i received a call from Katya..she is gonna publicize this case.Its going to be all over the media."

"But she cannot do that!Its illegal.I mean that's against privacy.."

Faith said as she gasped in shock.

"Yes.It is.She cannot do that as our opponent but she can do that as a journalist.They dont need permisson.Well,not technically atleast."

"So,you are saying is that i might lose Raiya now as this is going to be all media manipulation ."

James sighed and gave me a slight nod.

I slumped down on the chair behind me.

"One good thing in my life..just one.My own fucking daughter and that woman!She is ready to snatch her too.."

I rubbed my hand against my forhead.

"You said there was a solution,James.You said it that day."
Faith let go on Jack and looked at James.

"And yes,there is one.Just one.Thats why you are both here."

"What is it?Just tell me.I dont care if its bloody murder right now."

Yep.I seriously dont.Not right now atleast.

"No!God no!Chris,the one thing that Katya has over you is your medical report from 3 years ago.Her point about you relapsing can get us in rock bottom.According to her,you are not sane enough to handle a kid.Alone."

"Yes,but he is sober.Now.There has been no drugs or anything since then..we have proof!"

Faith was just hysterical.

I looked at her.

"Faith,relax.Look,James clearly has a loophole.Just relax."

I cant believe i am telling her to calm down when i,myself am in a serious need to just break down.

"The loophole,well i have thought about it a lot.A lot.Faith is a child counsellor.She had a very good record.Her degree is akin to human pscycology.Even Raiya is very close to her.The only way to get Raiya's custody is for you guys to get married.The court will grant Raiya's custody to Faith."

I was shocked.This was the last thing i could have imagined.

Faith was frozen on her spot.

I..getting married to Faith.Thats impossible.How can i?I never planned on getting married again and Faith!she was so new to everything.She just moved here.That is too much to ask from someone.

"You know thats not possible,James.Are you even hearing yourself.Thats just absurd.Faith and I getting married.Thats your sister,dude.You cant just let her get married to just someone.I need my daughter's custody,but like this!"

"Chris,that's the only way.I have gone through all the points and trust me,this is the only way.And yes,Faith is my baby sister.But i know one thing,she loves your daughter.Maybe more than you see.And you are not just someone.You are my bestfriend."

"James you know what i am talking about!I am not..you know everything dude!!"

I shouted at him.

"Yes!I know everything and i have seen you live it every fucking day.My bestfriend was not like this.Never like this.If we lose Raiya,you wont be sane Chris.I know it and i wont let that happen.You are the best guy i know.Faith will be happy,she will have Raiya.."

We looked at Faith.She had not said a single word.

Taking a deep breath i went near her.

"Faith,you will be taking the final call.No one and i mean no one will force you to do anything.You dont have to.I wont let them."

She looked at me.

"You know Chris,since my childhood.Atleast since i turned 10..i have craved just one thing.Actually all three of us,Grace,James and I.You know what that is?Its our parent's love.Do know why i wanted to a child cousellor?Because i never had any good cousellor to talk to as a kid,i did not want any other kid to suffer the same fate as me.I love Raiya,i well so connected to her because i can feel those insecurities,the fear,the dilemma of a 7 year old.She is just a little kid."

She wishpered.

"James,make a call to the marriage office.Right now.We will get married this weekend.If this is the only solution,then so be it."

James smiled at her and then left us alone.He knew we needed space.

"I cant give you anything except loneliness.Marrying me is dumbness."

I sighed but she smiled.

"I will have Raiya.You make a great friend.I saw it right now."

"A marriage is a big deal,Faith.Its a commitment for a life time."

"I never planned on getting married,Chris.Trust me.But right now,i cant even think of losing Raiya.Your daughter has introduced me to my own little childhood persona.I cant let her break.I love her."

"Can i ask you something?"

I had to ask this before anything.

She gave me a nod.

"Did you ever try..even to talk to your parents?James never did.I know of that."

"Multiple times.They were just not interested.They send us annual cards on Christmas and our birthdays though.Utter nonsense."

She scoffed.

"Thats just..well,we have to tell Raiya?"

I said.Changing the topic was the best thing right now.I was so overwhelmed.I needed some time to think.This was so fast and so sudden.

"We will tell her tomorrow morning,if you are free.I will go and check on her right now though.Its her bed time."

She smiled and got up.Jack followed her.

I sighed.

She understood.She knew i wanted some time.

She wanted to have it too.Probably.

Our lives were taking such turns.

Updated:)
Hey,how are you guys?I hope everyone is safe and healthy.The situation right now is just too critical.

I wish everyone a safe journey during this difficult time.
Take care guys.
WimpieKid;)