Pawned Virtue - #wattys2015 BK4 TPBS - Completed 1st draft

-93-

Not edited. Tissues? Following on from the previous chapter... you decide... and Hugs xxx

Tears were finally dried and words spoken with truth and honesty in such a way that Gemma finally starting to believe that miracles can and do happen. She was surprised ar how easily the brothers... her.. their... brothers got along. It was as if they made an effort without doing a damn thing.

She sat quietly and watched Christopher and wished he were able to be a part of this. She knew he understood who they were from talking with him before they came outside. His eyes lit up as he looked over the photos that their father had given him. He'd been excited and almost dragging them to the door that led to the garden. He was here as much as he could be in his own mind.

She couldn't help but wonder if their new found family understood the importance of him being in the garden with themat all. Over the years of coming here to visit she'd seen the children who'd been born with autism and now lived in the home as a collection of jigsaw puzzles with pieces that never seemed to quite fit but fitted together perfectly.

Many had phrased it as a puzzle with a piece missing. She didn't see it like that. She saw her brother. A little boy in many ways but still, she would never be her mothers daughter and walk away in disgust to forget about him. To cast him away as if his life was expendible as so many others did. It sickened her to her heart.

Their mother was a person Gemma inspired not to be. An absolute bîtch who cared for no one but herself. It'd taken her a long time to accept that Ellie was never going to change, that her first and for most priority was herself. She'd seen it as a child and it carried through into her teen years.

Her mother, Ellie, was so full of promises that were never delivered that Gemma stopped asking. She hardened her heart and the only person she truly let in was Chrisopher. Even her father had a fenced off place in her heart. She knew he cared, even loved her but she was a mistake, a consequence of the affair he'd had with her mother. He was forced to have her in his world... she didn't ask to be born!

Christopher still sat playing as she watched while lost in her thoughts and trying to push back her aching heart.  Her face showed another story. The stone look a signature to her thinking of her mother and all all her disappointments.

She had to admit that her father had kept her in line while he still lived in the country. Life wasn't all that bad while he was watching over them. He'd rescued many embarrassing and hurtful moments through her child years but the one that always came back, that plagued her dreams, possibly because she'd only been six at the time and everyone knows the hurts of childhood live with you forever,  it was that one that started her seeing her mother for who she really was.

It was her sixth birthday. Her mother had promised a birthday party fit for a princess like her. She lied. Her promise didn't mean a thing, not a damn thing, and as the time for the party got closer and nothing was prepared Gemma started to panic. A six year old little girl with dreams of the most perfect day with friends who'd all been invited.

She recalled Ellie handing her the phone and telling her it was her father. The smell of alcohol would linger long after Ellie left the room. She remembered trying to be tough and grown up she talked.

It was her father asking her if she was looking forward to her party that broke down her defences. The words 'It's not ready' were met by silence and then some very precise questions that had Gemma crying over the phone.

As a small child she didn't realise the magnitude of what her father did for her that day but as her friends arrived they were met with a princess fairy who gave the girls all wands and the boys got magic sticks and fairy elves led them to the back of the house where they all screamed at the magnificent princess jumping castle that was blown up and sitting off to one side with all kinds of other princess and prince activities spread across the lawn.

Her father's arrival had been unexpected as he'd told her he had business that day but would see her later. She found out yeara later that he'd walked out of a meeting to organise her party. She remembered him holding her close after she ran to him and saying the words 'Happy birthday Princess'.

Her father's hand squeezed her shoulder and she jumped back to reality with a start.

"Hey princess" he started softly as he say down beside her "how're you coping with all this?"

Gemma blew out a deep exhale.

"Well... it's... they're..." she was lost for words and Marcus grinned.

"Yeh they are but they're good boys. Family means everything to them."

A tear formed and Gemma quickly gulped back the knot that bound her throat.

"I never expected.. never imagined..." she turned towards him suddenly "why? Why would they care about Christopher and me? I mean we're just a dirty little secret for you.."

"No way in hell are you a dirty secret Princess!" Marcus shook his head quickly "I know I never handled this whole situation well but I'm proud your my daughter. As for Christopher? He's my son and just as important. Biologically he may not be mine but in all things family he's my son just like Maxon, Damon and Grayson accept you both as family princess. Family is blood but it's also something much more important." Marcus paused before continuing " Family princess are the people you want in your life. The ones you choose to let into your head and your heart."

"It's true" Damon came to stand near them "blood or not little brat you are our sister. It's a pity we didn't know about you sooner"he looked pointedly at Marcus who flinched and nodded to acknowledge his mistake "but we know you now and like it or not we don't walk away from those we love."

"You don't love me" Gemma scoffed "You don't even know me."

Damon smiled widely and Gemma felt confused by his reaction.

"Love starts with caring little brat and you just got a hell of a lot of people who care about you and our little brother. Get used to it."

"We need someone new to pick on" Maxon smirked "Tara's starting to get used to us and not reacting all that much any more... so you're it."

"But.."

Lucas smiled at Tara and kissed her hand briefly before letting go and standing up.

"What these" he pointed between Maxon and Damon "idiots are trying to say in their seriously old way"

"Hey!" Damon exclaimed

"What!" Maxon swung to look at Lucas and narrowed his eyes.

"As I was saying" Lucas grinned "Gemma and Christopher Porter... welcome to the family. We're keeping you both."

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