AFFLICTION- LRH

Emotions.

Maeve's POV:

I wish I could say as the night went on everything got better.

Hell, my dad was here. I finally got something I wanted.

But after Luke and I had our talk on the beach, it really edged something within me.

When we got back inside, I did everything in my best effort to shake the nerves and the pain of  today off my back, trying to genuinely enjoy my time with my father who I hadn't seen in months. But nothing seemed to work.

For starters, dad refused to talk, or even look at Luke. He did everything in his ability to pretend his existence wasn't in the house.

I couldn't blame him, of course. I mean, he trusted Luke. He helped Luke from the very start.

But I think dad feels like he's to blame as well, because with each effort he used for Luke and the boys to get away from Malevolence, it took me farther and farther away from him.

My mind was a scrambled mess for the rest of the night, and while everyone sat at the table and enjoyed their meal my father had prepared for everyone, I found myself just picking through it.

Which sucks, because he made one of my favorite dishes.

But, my hunger was scarce, and the only thing I could think about, although I tried my hardest not too,

Was Luke.

I was worried about him. And throughout the dinner, my eyes would wonder across the table to him. He seemed better after our talk, but it physically hurt me every time I saw him wince when he smiled at one of Michael's jokes, or inhale deeply from the obvious pain he was feeling throughout his face.

I'm shocked dad didn't end up breaking his jaw.

"So Maeve," dad clears his throat, placing his fork down on his now empty plate with a loud clink as he folds his hands together, allowing the boss in him to show, "you've been gone for so long, tell me things."

My leg began to shake with nerves, bouncing up and down quickly under the table. I shrug a bit as my eyes meet his, "what things?"

"Anything," dad chuckles, tapping Ashton's shoulder in the process, "have they been good to you? Have you been good to them? Any trouble from either side?"

He was joking, of course. But man, if I really wanted to be an asshole,

Now was my chance.

I think Calum caught onto that possibility, because he quickly whipped his head my way, his eyes pleading as if he was secretly telling me,

No, begging me, not to say a word.

"Well," I sigh, leaning back in the hard wooden chair as I extend my arms out in front of me, "I once took Ashton down with that one move you taught me, the one where I sling him over my shoulder? Too easy."

"No kidding!" Dad begins to crack up, turning his attention to Ashton, "did you do something to piss her off?"

Ashton eyes me annoyed, and I couldn't help but smirk, "uh, no, sir." He chuckles nervously, "we were just uh...we were just-"

"I was teaching him the move," I cut in, "he wanted to learn from the daughter of the master, after all."

"Atta boy," Dad slaps Ashton's back, "you've always been one of my favorites. Always wanting to learn new things, you're a thinker."

"I try." Ashton weakly smiles.

Dad wipes his mouth with his napkin, and for the first time since the whole fiasco, he eyes Luke, "So, Hemmings. Have you been treating my daughter the way she deserves?"