Phonophobia

Epilogue.

Five years later.

"Why is there gum in my hair!" Mabel shrieked making me jerk awake from the book I was meant to be reading but I managed to sleep along the intro.

"Oh my God." I groaned softly hiding my face with the book.

I heard the door open and close, firm footsteps racking the floorboards.

"Adonis." I heard Payne sigh and a fit of giggles burst from behind me. My jaw dropped, and I turned to see the five-year-old son I have squatting behind me.

"You put gum in her hair, again." I whispered watching as he nodded and tried to muffle his giggles with his tiny hands, his pinkish-grey eyes twinkling with mischief.

Before any more interaction could happen between the two of us, two strong arms wrapped around his small chest and pulled him up, and his big eyes widened all the way.

"Adonis!" Mabel shrieked again and I sighed closing the book. "You weird-eyed minion."

"Don't talk to your brother like that." I countered for the first time, knowing that both the boys were behind me.

Behind me Adonis giggled again and Payne sighed again.

"You think it's funny?" Mabel fumed trying to walk around the sofa but I grabbed her tiny waist and secured her in my arms. She looked over my shoulder and continued;

"You won't think it's funny se ti metto le mani addosso!" 

I rolled my eyes when she finished in Italian, knowing that I couldn't understand what she said, even though I was the one who insisted on them getting used to the language since they were babies.

"Non lo farai." He replied and whatever he said made her face even redder, strand of brown curly hair matted in gum falls down her face, her pinkish eyes screaming murder.

"Now now, how about we take care of your hair first and then we'll talk about Adonis' punishment?" I broke the eye contest that was about to happen and her eyes snapped to mine.

"But–"

"Derrick is coming, with chocolate cake. You don't want to eat that cake with all that gum in your hair do you?"

She shook her head, glaring daggers at the boy behind us.

"Go get ready, m'kay?"

"Okay ma." She sighed and hopped down my lap heading towards the door.

When she was out I shifted my body slightly so I could face the figures behind me. Adonis was clutched in Payne's arm, his lips pursed into a thin line as I gave him a stern look.

"I'll go apologise." He muttered wiggling himself out of his father's hands.

"Good luck buddy." Payne said to him and they fist bumped.

Adonis left the room with a pout, the guard outside closed the door softly behind him.

I sighed for the umpteenth time today and rested my head in my open palms. Twins. Very troublesome twins I have.

Adonis Red and Mabelline Jane.

They love each other, but sometimes their interactions seem to get out of hand.

"Baybi." Payne called from behind making me tilt my head up to look at him. He leaned over and placed a kiss on my lips. "They'll be fine." He assured.

"Adonis is really getting to her, and she's going to break him one day." I groaned.

A squeal escaped my lips when he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up like I weighed nothing. I wrapped my legs around his torso and arms around his neck. It might have been five years but he hasn't changed a lot. He's still strong which is annoying because I get weaker everyday, the pickle jar proves it.

His eyes still twinkle like shiny thunderstorms. The same facial features, same annoyingly soft hair. Everything.

"She's not going to break him, he's going to break her." He said making me gasp and smack his head.

He chuckled softly and buried his face at the crook of my neck.

"I love you." He said and I nodded staring at the burnt remote on the table that was at the far end of the room.

I collected the remote from Derrick five years ago, it was the remote that controlled the bomb Bychkov had.

Greg knew Derrick was going to tell me, that's why he gave him the remote because if Payne told me his side of the story, I'd take the remote from Derrick to see why he gave it to him.

There was a note inside the remote a very short one;

Italy, I'll be back in five years time,

Gregory.

Shit, right?

That's what Payne thinks.

"Do you think he'll be back soon?" I asked quietly, playing with his hair.

He knew who I meant because his arms tightened around me.

"I don't know." He said gruffly.

He has a grudge against Greg for some reason.

I just sigh and kiss the top of his head.

"I love you too." I said and his arms tightened even more.

We stayed like that for long minutes, like some love sick weirdos, enjoying the silence until:

"Are they making babies?" Adonis whispered harshly and my eyes snapped open.

"I think so." Mabelline whispered back.

"Oh my God." Payne and I groaned in unison and he transferred me to his back allowing me to have a good view of our dumbfounded children.

And with me on his back, we chased the children.

Crazy, I know.

******

Maryam M.B ♥

Okay, I'm done. Hihihihihi.