Her Lost Soul 2

Chapter 17

I walk back into the living room and Riley is getting comfy on the couch. "How about a walk?" Elsie suggests. "I could do with stretching my legs."
     "Me too," Riley pipes up. Of course she does. She needs to rest not go strolling about.
    "Ri, you need to rest." She pulls the blanket off her and stands up holding her ribs.
     "Rex needs a walk and the doctor said I still need gentle exercise." I roll my eyes, she has an answer for everything.
     "She's right, honey. The doctor did say she needs to walk about." Who's side is she on? Riley will be demanding to go running before long.
    "She walks around the house," I counter.
    "Hardly, you always carry me everywhere." She starts walking and I growl. "Flynn, it's just a walk. If I feel like I can't manage, I'll let you carry me. Happy?"
     I follow after her. "No, not happy. I'd rather you stay here and rest."
     "Flynn, you're being ridiculous. You can't wrap me in cotton wool." I raise my eyebrow, that's actually a genius idea. "Flynn, you're not wrapping me in cotton wool."
    I roll my eyes that she knows what I'm thinking. She's not even looking at me whilst she's walking. "Let's not dismiss the idea completely."
     She spins and I quickly plant my feet. She laughs but then quickly stops. "I love you."
    Not what I was expecting her to say but it's good to hear. I grab her ass and pin her to my body. I slide my hand across her cheek and crush my lips to hers. "Stop that," Tyler groans.
    "They're cute, leave them alone," Elsie tuts. It seems I've lost the argument of going for a walk so I help Riley with her shoes.
    Riley tries walking up the stairs but I stop her. "What do you need from up there?"
    "Miley needs her wellies, her woolly hat, gloves and coat." I nod and jog up the stairs. Kids need a lot of things. I walk into Riley's room and look for the bits she needs.
     Once I find them I jog back down the stairs. It's just my girls left in the house. I pat the stairs for Miley to sit. She does as she's told and I slide her wellies on.
    I shove the hat on her head and she moans. "You're doing it wrong Flynn!"
    "No I'm not. You just slide the hat on a head." She laughs and pokes her tongue out at me.
    "Mommy does it different." I roll my eyes and hold her glove out for her. She slides her hand in and then in the other. She pulls her hat off and I grumble. "Mommy needs to do it."
     I get up and roll my eyes and Riley giggles. She takes my place and smooths her hair out of her face. She slides the hat on and make sure her hair is sitting properly.
    "How is that any different?" I grumble. "That's what I did."
     "Na uh." She gets up off the step and runs out the house. My sister is hard work. I take Riley's hand and lead her towards Tyler's car.
     I lift Miley into the car seat and then head around to the other side. Riley slides across and does up Miley's seat belt. I climb in the passenger seat in the front and Tyler follows Hayden in the car.
     It's not long before we are parked up at a forest. Riley helps my sister out the car and puts her coat on. Snow covers the ground, I love this time of year.
     I take a deep breath, the cold air hitting my lungs. I go to grab the lead from Riley and she just rolls her eyes at me. What? He could pull her over.
    The dog just looks up at Riley as she walks. I sigh and walk off ahead with Tyler. "Is it just me or is she moodier than normal?"
    "That kid is always moody," he groans.
     "Not my sister, yours." He laughs and I snort.
     "Bro, she's a woman. They are known for their moody behaviour." I roll my eyes, I know but one minute she's in a bad mood and then she's crying. "It's probably her ordeal and her pain. She was always emotional when she was poorly."
     "Your nana doesn't like me much, huh?" I glance back at Riley and she's lagging behind a bit.
     "Please, you'd know if she didn't. She'd literally tell you to your face she didn't like you." Something hard collides with my head and I quickly rub the back of my head. It's wet.
     I turn and Riley grins. Brat. "What?" She can't keep a straight face to save her life. Bloody snowball menace. Tyler and I bend down and make a snowball.
    "Gently," I remind him. He scoffs and we both launch the balls at her. She screams and turns her back. They collide with her back, hopefully they didn't hurt her ribs.
    Miley runs to her side. "Let's get them," Riley says. Miley is always quick to defend her Angel. They gather snow as we ascend on them.
     They lob the balls and I quickly pick up Miley and she giggle. I throw her in the air slightly and catch her on the way down. She can't stop laughing and it's so much better than her screaming.
    I notice the dog barking and Tyler has Riley over his shoulder. He better be careful with her. He lowers her into the snow. "Ty!" she whines. He flicks snow all over her and the dog tries catching it with his mouth.
I set Miley on her feet and she runs towards Riley to save her. She throws balls at Tyler again. I make balls and drop them on my girl. She grabs my hand and yanks. Shit! I brace myself so I don't crush her.
   She shifts her weight so she's on me. She flicks snow at my face and I'm too distracted with her on me in this position. Her cheeks are rosy, her nose is red.
   Her eyes shine bright in the white background. She's picture perfect. I pin her beneath me again and I lock eyes with her. I'm sure she's stopped breathing. My lips touch her cold ones, she bewitches me. "Bro!"
    Fucking hell, yeah I know. I can't help it. I pull away from her and help her to her feet. "Leave them alone, Tyler. They are cute, I will whoop your ass boy."
"Nan!" he protests again and Tyler walks ahead with the rest of them. Maybe she does like me, that's the second time she's told Tyler to leave us alone. Bring on Ruby's arrival.
Miley runs off after Tyler and grabs his hand. He tries to withdraw but she doesn't let him. I slide my hand in Riley's. She's cold but I guess that's nothing new. I see Miley talking to Tyler and he groans. He bends down and picks her up and places her on his shoulders. He's trying, that's all that matters. Miley giggles.
"Are you okay? I wish you didn't come on this walk, you should be resting."
"I'm fine, the Doctor said I needed to walk around." She stops and cough again. I grab her face and search her face. "Flynn, I'm fine." She'd say she was fine even if she wasn't. I take her hand again.
The walk was nice actually. Just a gentle stroll through the white forest was just what we needed. When we're home I change my clothes as Riley gives Miley a bath.
Abigail is unloading and reloading the dishwasher. I'm sat on the couch after Hayden puts on another lame law show. "Old man, do you ever watch anything else?"
He raises his eyebrow as he glances at me. "When you pay the bills you can decide what we watch, mush."
"You don't let me pay any bills, old man." I can see he's amused with my banter. I love that I can have a laugh with him.
"Would you let your child pay bills whilst they are at uni?"
"I don't have any kids." I doubt I ever will. Riley seems to think she can't get pregnant and I don't want to be with anyone else. I mean, I can't get hard anyway.
I never wanted kids but I would with Riley. She'd be an amazing mom. She already is to Miley. I knew she wants kids of her own. She may not explicitly say but when she has a nightmare she talks about it often.
"You're funny, mush. If you did have kids one day. Would you let them pay?" I see his point, I do. I probably wouldn't if I had the money to support them.
"Riley believes she can't get pregnant, so I doubt I'll have kids either."
"They didn't say it was impossible. She hasn't tried. There's IVF options. You guys could always adopt if not. You never know, you may find someone else."
I growl, I know he's trying to give me options but they seem moot. "I don't want kids. I'd have kids with Riley. She's not pregnant, so it's unlikely."
"You do know how it all works, right? You need to take the rubber off to conceive." He's joking with me but it's rubbing me up the wrong way.
Good job Tyler's not in the room during this conversation. "I'm not an idiot, old man. I think I've only used a condom once with her."
He scowls at me and I laugh, I couldn't help it. "Fucking hell, have you never heard of safe sex? What if you do knock her up?"
"It's my number one rule, condom, always. Except with Riley I don't care if I get her pregnant, it's just another tie to her. I see her in my future. She's all I want. What's the point of using a condom? So much better without." I laugh again even though he's still glaring at me.
"What about what she wants? Why aren't you together then if she's all you want? She's not ready for a baby right now."
"Hate to break it to you, she begs me to fuck her bare. I'd do anything for her. Her nightmares Hayden, they are heartbreaking. She may not say it but she's devastated that she can't get pregnant.
"I've fucked her a lot and she's not pregnant. They did the tests at the hospital. It's killing her inside. If I could get her pregnant, I'd do so in a heartbeat. My anger is the problem Hayden.
"I hurt her in my rage. I can't ever do that. I've tried the therapy, nothing works and it's worse with her. I'm overprotective, I know that. I want to wrap her in cotton wool and chain her to my bed.
"I want to keep her safe. As long as she's breathing that's enough for me. I can't ever lose control around her Hayden. A life where Riley isn't in it, it wouldn't be worth living."
He nods as if he understands. "I didn't think she felt that way. I knew she wanted kids but I didn't think she was that devastated. I can see how much you love her but would you really hurt her? More than James did?"
I don't want to test it. "I hurt my ex in my rage. I broke her jaw, Hayden. I didn't love her but I cared. I just don't think it's worth the risk. She's my world. I feel sick just thinking about when I hurt her and she needed stitches. I'd lose her just to keep her safe. What if I killed her?"
"I don't think you'd do that, son. You aren't a monster. She trusts you and she doesn't trust easily anymore. I trust you and I don't trust easily anymore. Not where she's concerned. I'd be honoured to be your father in law."
He won't change my mind but it warms my heart that he trusts me with her, especially when I don't trust myself. "Don't tell anyone I told you that though son. I like how you take care of her when she won't let anyone else.
"You're good for her. I didn't think she'd move on from James. Her drinking days it was like she flipped a switch and she changed. She wasn't my princess, she was an imposter.
"I didn't see how broken she was. I thought she'd get it out of her system but she didn't." He shivers, "When she took a knife to her wrists in the kitchen when we said she'd be sectioned. She'd always get hysterical when we mentioned it.
"She'd hurt herself one way or another. I didn't know how to help her. No one did, except you. You brought her back to us. I owe you more than you know. I'll forever be grateful to you."
Now I understand a bit more why they sent her to uni and not send her for treatment. I don't agree but I understand. They couldn't help her. I guess it worked out okay because I found my Angel. They sent her to me.
Riley walks in carrying Miley. She still looks cold. Miley is wrapped in a blanket. I glare at Riley, she just doesn't take care of herself. Abigail walks in behind them.
She settles Miley on the couch and make sure she's covered with the blanket. "Honey, I'll watch her whilst you have a bath. You look cold."
"I'll shower later Mom. I need to feed her." She coughs and holds her ribs, her cough is getting worse.
"We will all eat when you've had a bath, Lee. Flynn?" I roll my eyes and I catch Hayden's grin. Yeah, alright old man, he has some things correct. I stand up and scoop her into my arms.
She needs to have a bath and soak her ribs. "Why do you make everything so hard?" I think she loves it when I take control.
"You love me despite my stubbornness." She smiles brightly at me and I grudgingly join her. It's music to my ears that she's finally accepted that I love her. All of her, the stubbornness, the worst parts of her, her huge heart. Everything.
"Maybe even because of your stubbornness." I carry her up the stairs and set her in her feet. I turn the taps on and from the corner of my eye I notice her undressing.
She locks the door and turns. She stumbles over the dog. Bloody dog always in the way. I know Tyler specifically said he bought her for Riley to keep her company but I bet he's secretly loving the fact that he's a barrier between us. "Ri. . ."
She's got that look on her face. The look that says I want you Flynn and there's fuck all you can do about it.
"Oh come on." I'm screwed, utterly screwed and I will be quite literally in a minute. I don't have the will power to deny her.
"Ri, we can't." I'll put up my resistance. Is it really resistance when I really fucking want to? I can atleast tell Tyler that I tried. She lifts my top over my head and I let her. This is only ending one way.
"You said we can the other day." Yeah, I know what I said. I'll take her anyway I can get her. She reaches for my jeans and I hold her hands to stop her. Why am I stopping her exactly?
"Ri, it's not enough for me. I need you for an entire night." A quick fuck is not enough.
"We don't have all night anymore." She stands on her tiptoes and brushes her lips against mine. I explore her body as I return her kiss.
When my hands reach her hips I lift her up and gently deposit her in the bath. She grumbles as I turn the taps off. "Your family are downstairs." When has that stopped me?
She pouts drawing me to her lips. "They are yours too, it's a big house. They won't know."
"I get the impression your Nan doesn't like me." I kneel down next to the bath so I'm not straining my back.
She smiles as she snorts. "Oh, trust me she loves you!" Tyler seemed to think I'd know if she didn't like me.
"So what was the dinner about?"
"Well, she didn't know about me. She didn't know anything really. She said she adores you but she's with Tyler in the fact that you are dangerous for me. She thinks that I could find someone better. I think she has to as a grandparent. I think she understands that I won't find anyone better and that she will support any decision I make. She just wishes it was a healthier relationship."
Elsie is right, she could do so much better than me. I have anger issues, I'm poor as fuck. I'm one hundred percent the bad boy as she said. "You can do a lot better than me, Ri."
She scowls at me. "Not in this lifetime. Flynn, you always say I shouldn't be with you but if I did find someone else. If I could accept someone else, how would you feel?"
"I'd be livid, it would break me. You are mine."
"Yes, I am yours but you keep pushing me away! I will always be yours!" I crush my lips to hers and climb to my feet but I keep my lips on hers.
She knows exactly the words to calm me. I undo my jeans and kick them off with my boxers. I quickly remove my socks as I carefully climb in the bath with my girl.
"Fuck." I knew this was only ending one way. My cock is rock hard, waiting to bury itself inside her warm heat. "Is this what you want?" She nods and heaves her breath in. I hold my hand out to her.  "Well, you on top then." She places her hand in mind and I pull her up. I sit down and bring her to sit with her legs either side of me.
I don't want to hurt her and the bath isn't forgiving. I hold my cock in my hand and guide her onto it. It's like coming home as she slides down onto my cock. Her walls squeezing my cock like a warm blanket.
Nothing has every felt this right before. No other cock belongs in her pussy. She throws her head back as if she can't contain her pleasure, she's so erotic.
I use my finger tips to trace her bruising on her ribs. They are black and purple, how could anyone hurt a woman like this? My girl? I continue up her body to her neck. She needed me and I wasn't there.
She grabs my hand, "Don't." How could I not? He could have killed her. The CCTV replays in my mind. What's the worst he's done? She said that he's done worse. Do I even want to know?
"Riley, I nearly lost you. Give me a minute." She wraps her arms around my neck and start creating rhythm. "When I close my eyes all I see is him restraining you." She kisses my neck and I'm so wrapped up in her.
"I'm okay, Flynn. I'm here with you and I want you to fuck me." She doesn't value her life. Yes, she wants to live for Miley but if it wasn't for my sister she wouldn't care if she lived or died.
"But you aren't, he hurt what is mine. He marked you." She grumbles, see, she doesn't care!
She cups my face lovingly as I do for her. "He's never going to hurt me again. I never have to see him again. I know you'll protect me, Flynn. I am safe with you."
"You weren't safe yesterday, I didn't have control, Ri." I hate that he was the one in control. He had my girl at gunpoint, hurting her before my eyes.
"That was my fault. I should have been more careful with him on the loose." Yes, yes she should but it's not exactly her fault she had a crazy ex stalking her.
"Yes, I was so fucking mad with you." She smiles at me and I frown. She's happy that I was mad at her?  "What's so funny?"
"Well, I figured yesterday that if you were that mad at me it means you love me a lot." I raise my eyebrow at her. Hallelujah, she's finally getting it!
"That's quite an assumption. I had more hate than love yesterday." She frowns, she doesn't like that fact that I fucking hate her stubbornness and value of her life. She needs to know but I try and soften the blow because I hate upsetting her. "But you're right, I love you so fucking much. I would never forgive myself if I let anyone hurt you."
She rests her face in my neck and I flex my hips up and she gasps. She sniffles, did I hurt her or upset her with my words? Fuck! "Are you crying, again?"
"No. . ." I push her head away from my neck and wipe her tears. She's predictable. I use my thumbs to wipe her tears away.
"Why are you crying, baby?"
"I don't know." I laugh, she's emotional these days. "I love you, what if I lost you?" We're a pair aren't we? Both afraid to lose the other.
"Baby, I'm always going to be here. I will always love you." I kiss her with so much love. Nothing make sense when we aren't together. I don't feel whole when we're apart.
She taught me to love and now I can't ever imagine not loving her. Her legs start tightening. "Not yet." I'm not finished with her yet. I tease her with my piercing that she loves.
She explodes around my cock. Her orgasms come way too soon these days. She rests against me as I continue my relentless rhythm. I've sent her to her safe haven. I have a feeling she will be there awhile. "I told you, this isn't enough." Nothing is enough for me where she's concerned.
I don't think regular sex would ever be enough. It just gets better each time, almost like she's opening her soul to me with every time we connect. I suck and nip the base of her neck and shoulder.
She digs her nails into my back and I groan. Everything she does turns me on. We're never getting out the bath, so I kill two birds with one stone and grab the body wash. I lather it across her skin, massaging her glorious tit. "So beautiful."
I rub my hands across every inch of her skin that I can reach from this position. I toy with her nipple using my tongue and piercing.
She calls out and I quickly cover her mouth with my hand. "Shh, baby." She nods, she's getting better at containing it. I give her other nipple the same attention as I release her mouth.
She strokes my knee and I tremble. "Ri." If she does that again I won't be held accountable for my actions. She knows what it does to me.
She repeats the process and I flip her on her back. I don't hold back now. Water splashes over the side but I don't give a fuck. She's reeling with pleasure beneath me.
I didn't want to fuck her like this because of her ribs but Jesus Christ she knows how to get what she wants. "Let go, baby," I whisper into her ear. I nibble her earlobe.
Her pulsing sets me off and I groan. My whole body jerks as I spill into her. She's moaning beneath me but her eyes are closed, her mouth is ajar. This safe haven must be a magical place, I wished she'd take me with her.
   I gently pull out of her and kneel between her legs, I'm pretty sure she's asleep. I quickly wash myself and get out the bath. I wrap myself in a towel and look down at my girl.
   At least she's resting I guess. I look over at the dog, he's calm and content his eyes tracking my moments but always go back to her. Why has he fixed on my girl?
   I understand it, we're all fixed on her but it's unusual for a dog to just fix on someone isn't it?
   I dip my hand in the water and it's luke warm now. I don't want her getting cold again. I bring my lips to hers, I love how she wakes me up like this so, hopefully she feels the same way when I do it.
"Wake up sleepy head, not a good sign you falling asleep underneath me. Am I that much of a bore?"
She smiles with her eyes closed. "You could never be a bore. Besides, I am in sheer bliss right now." Me too baby, me too. I love our alone time together.
"Hmm." I kiss her again and then lift her out the bath. I lower her down on her feet but she's weak. I keep my arm around her waist whilst I lean over to grab a warm towel from the rack.
   Once she's cocooned in a blanket I bring her into my arms. I walk to my room with her and then lower her onto my bed.
"The hell is taking so long?" Tyler growls. Oh fuck my life. The dog jumps up on the bed and lays down next to her with his head on her tummy.
"She fell asleep in the bath. I was loathed to wake her but the water started to get cold."
"Should she be sleeping like this?"
"Well, I think the pain killers are making her drowsy. I don't think it's really bad I mean if it's making her rest then who cares? I'd happily sedate her to knock her out if it meant she was resting." Tyler laughs loudly.
"Hurry up bro, Miley's been driving me insane. Plus, I bought the dog for the kid and he's with my sister. Why do you think he's stuck to her?" Liar, this must be for Riley's benefit.
"Dunno bro, I don't know a lot about dogs. Maybe he senses she's in pain?" Maybe that's it, they have a sixth sense don't they?"I'll get her dressed and we will be down."
"K, don't take long." He stops in the doorway and summons me in the hallway. I roll my eyes and follow, gently pulling the door to. "Why are you in a towel too."
    "You know, I don't know why you're so interested your sister's sexual activity." He glares at me and tries punching my arm but I already expected it and dodged him.
      "Nothing has changed, Bro. You're still bad for her." I sigh, I know!
      "She started it, you know when she tries I can't stop her. Mate, she's real emotional these days."
       He scoffs as if he doesn't believe me. "You're unbelievable. You're using a condom, right?"
       "Why would I? So much better without," I joke and step back. His fist collides my arm, his hits don't hurt nearly as much as his sister's.
       "If you knock her up, I'll never forgive you."
      "Is that because you hate kids and you'll have a niece or nephew for real?" I raise my eyebrow and he scowls at me.
      "No because then she will never be able to move on from you." I don't want her to move on from me. It's selfish, I know. She should move on from me but it doesn't bear to think about it.
     "Alright Bro, I hear you. Let me get her dressed." He nods and starts walking down the stairs. I head into my room and get dressed.
     I walk down the hall to her room and find her some more comfortable clothes. I swear to god that she moans about these clothes because she just likes to be difficult.
I make my way back to my room and place the clothes on the bed next to her. I find one of my hoodies for her. I slowly lift her upright and help her into the T-shirt. I slide on the hoodie and she slides her arms through the sleeves.
     I lower her back down in the bed. It's almost like she's sedated with how docile she's being. "I hate this," she grumbles. Of course she does, she likes to be independent.
"Why? I love looking after you. In sickness and in health." I take her panties in my hands and start to slide them up her long luscious legs. 
"But we aren't married." If I had my way we'd be married already, with my baby growing inside her. My life is full of disappointment, I learned that early on in life.
Not just when my parents died but before then. It wasn't a happy childhood. My parents hardly spoke to each other, we never did things as a family.
No family games night or holidays. It was like eerie silence in our house. Once I hit my teens, I was out the house with my friends when ever I could.
Sometimes, I'd even bring my sister with me. It wasn't all my choosing, sometimes Mom would insist I take Miley. Then when we got home Dad would disappear for days.
I knew they argued when Dad left for a while. Miley was a difficult child, which is why I'm not hugely worried when she has tantrums. Mom would scream at her and Miley would scream back.
Mom would lock her in her room for hours. She'd warn me not to go into her room during that time. It didn't make sense to me that she'd do that. My mom wasn't loving, at all.
Riley though, she's a natural mother. Miley adores her, they are good for each other.
Once her panties are in place I take her hand in mine and the place my other hand over my heart. I look into her eyes. "In here you are."
She smiles brightly at me. She's breath taking when she smiles like that. I get back to the task at hand and grab her tracksuit bottoms. "I mean, I'd rather be undressing you but that's because I can't get enough of you."
I shimmy her bottoms on and then I slide on her fluffy socks. I haul her into my arms, she's still too skinny. I carry her downstairs as she clings to my neck. Miley looks at us as we enter the living room, "Mommy!" she smiles.
I sit on the couch and position Riley so she's laying between my legs, my back resting against the arm rest. Miley climbs on us and lays against Riley.
Miley lifts her clothes up and rests her cheek on her bare tummy. Not sure why she keeps doing that.
"What is she doing?" Elsie asks. The dog's nose touches her tummy and he whines. Fucking hell, this demon keeps obsessing over my girl.
"Don't know, she does it all the time," I explain.
"Sweetie, can you tell me why you do that?"
"It's a secret," Miley says and puts her index finger on her lips. A secret? Does Riley know the secret?
"Kid, do you want to help me feed your dog?" Miley sits up and nods at Tyler. She gets up off the couch and Riley pulls the hoodie down. She doesn't like being exposed around others which I'm glad about.
I cover her with a blanket, I don't want her getting cold as I've just got her warm again.
"Come on, Rex," Miley calls and he follows her out the room. Abigail walks in and watches Riley for a few moments.
"Oh, Honey. You're back, shall we eat in here? You look tired." She's such a caring mother. Nothing like mine was. Riley nods. "Shall I just put food on your plate for you?"
"Sure, thanks, Mommy." Will she eat it without trouble or do I have my work cut out for me again?
"You need to feed her more, Abigail. She's lost weight. Get her some water too, she needs lots of fluids hot and cold. Vapour rub should help her cough too."
Abigail rolls her eyes. "Yes Mother, I do know how to look after my child."
"I didn't say you didn't Abigail." I think Abigail is going to throttle her before the day is done. She leaves the room quicker than she came. Miley comes back in the room with the dog and she climbs onto the sofa and lays on Riley again. The dog jumps up on her too and lays his head on her stomach looking up at my girl.
Jesus christ. These two will be the death of me. Tyler leans against the doorway and I scowl at him.
He smirks at me as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking. Abigail shuffles past Tyler with a glass of water, an ice pack and the vapour rub. She passes the water to Riley and the other bits to me.
I give her look. She's throwing me to the sharks, again. I push her up a bit more and Miley and the dog adjusts to her new position. I open the vapour rub and put some on my fingers.
I slide my hand up her back and rub it across her chest. "Shouldn't Abigail do that?" I raise my eyebrow at her.
Tyler laughs as he walks further  into the room. "Yeah, okay. That's funny Nan." Elsie frowns at Tyler, "There is no making Riley do anything. Only Flynn can tell her what to do. If any of us tried we'd be decked or she'd flat out refuse."
"Deck you? Riley wouldn't hurt a fly." Considering Elsie taught her how to punch her statement is ridiculous.
"That was old Riley. She actually punched me a while ago for pushing her too far."
"Did you knock him out?" Riley shakes her head. "Riley, I showed you how to punch them just right. You should have knocked him out cold." Riley laughs but soon stops, she needs to stop doing that.
"Nan!" Tyler growls.
"What? She's my favourite, I root for her." My girl bloody laughs again but gasps. I remove my hand from her chest once it's rubbed in.
"Ri." I apply more to my fingers and shove my hand down the front of the hoodie and rub it in.
"Stop fondling my granddaughter." I almost choke at her words. This family is something else with their jokes. "Your face!" she laughs. "One thing I learned in life, is grab what you can. Literally," she laughs again.
"Nan!" Tyler whines. Fucking hell, she's absolutely terrible but I guess I do like a bit of banter. Beats being boring.
"Elsie stop making the boy uncomfortable with your crude jokes," Theodore sighs. He's mostly quiet probably for an easy life. He's entertained though by the smirk on his face.
"Don't be embarrassed, sweetie. You can grab mine anytime." Hard pass thank you. My eye widen at her comment. Tyler and Riley protest this time. I remove my hand from her chest.
I need to abort, right now. I slide the ice pack up her body to her ribs. She gasps hastily gripping my hand. "Ri, please," I whisper in her ear. She relaxes and I remove my hand.
I climb out from under her and she stays sat up as if she's waiting for me to come back. I walk out the room to the kitchen and wash my hands. "Your Mom is something else," I mutter.
"I know, it will be on the news. Family murders one of their own." I burst into laughter. She really must get on Abigail's nerves. "We love her, we do but we can only handle her a couple of times a year."
I dry my hands on a towel. "It's not so bad. It's better than the silence that used to linger in my house."
    She frowns as she tidies the kitchen. She's as bad as Riley, the kitchen is already clean. "Silence?"
    "Yeah, my parents never really spoke to each other. Looking back on it, I think they stayed together for us. He'd leave for days at a time. My mom wasn't a natural parent.
    "She wasn't anything like you. You're more of a Mom to me than she ever was."
    She wipes a stray tear and drops her cloth on the side and embraces me. "I'm sorry, no child should grow up feeling like that."
    "It's okay, I gained a wonderful Mom years later." She releases me and smiles.
    "Don't make me blubber." I smirk at her and shake my head.
    "I'd better get back to my girls." She nods and returns to her cleaning. I walk back into the living room and resume my position on the couch. Riley leans back against me.
"So, Hayden, how long is the kid getting?" Theodore asks. I feel Riley stiffen at the mention of James.
"He hasn't been charged yet. I'm hoping they will decline bail although his Mother is pleading insanity. She believes he is mentally unwell. If the judge accepts the plea then an evaluation has to take place and he may get a lessened sentence if it is determined." He's definitely lost his damn mind.
     I wish they still had the death penalty if I'm honest. Or they should receive the same abuse that they gave.
"Can he get off without jail time?" Better fucking not or I'll hunt him down.
"It's possible but I'm working tirelessly to stop that from happening. We have no evidence of previous assault but I am putting it into the case. We think he's been homeless and living rough all this time which in turn could have caused untold damage to his mental health."
He was always insane. Riley shivers. "He's insane for doing that," Theodore growls. I take him in and he hasn't aged well. He has a whole head of grey hair. Grey stubble and a slim build.
"Yes, I just need to make sure he's not granted bail first." Riley nuzzles my chest and I stroke her hair. She's strong but becomes weak where he's concerned. "He's not getting away with it whatever card he plays."
The dog whines. "Here you go honey," Abigail says. She's holding a plate of food and Riley sits up and take it from her. "Come on Miley Honey, let's get you some food. Everyone help yourselves to the food in the dining room."
Miley smiles and grabs Abigail's hand as she climbs over the dog and off the couch and they leave the room. Everyone else gets up but I'm not budging she's attempting to eat.
    She shoves a sausage roll in her mouth. Bugger me she's eating voluntarily. She suddenly starts coughing. Maybe she needs to see s doctor. "Your cough is getting worse, Ri."
"It's fine." No she's not but like I say she's strong. She won't admit her weaknesses but I know her.
"They said you could get a chest infection. Maybe we should go back to the Doctor's." She coughs again and I inwardly groan.
"I'm fine, I'm not going." If it gets worse I'm dragging her there kicking and screaming. I'm hungry so I grab a sausage roll off her plate. Knowing her she won't eat it all anyway.
"You're so annoying," I groan. She looks up at me with those innocent eyes. She's anything but innocent. I peck her lips because I can't resist. They all pile back with their plates of food. Abigail helps Miley back on the couch and she starts scoffing her food.
Tyler sits on the floor, leaning against the couch. Riley ruffles his hair and he hastily grabs her hand. "Lee, no," he groans. "You'll ruin it," she laughs but stops instantly.
"You're funny." They keep their hands joined. They're cute. She's completely stopped eating and it's no where near enough for my liking.
"Ri, eat more, please." She groans and pats the plate and picks up a bite sized scotched egg.
     She removes her hand from Tyler's and slowly starts turning. I quickly grab the plate before its contents goes all over the floor.
     She slides her hand up my top as she lays on her tummy. Jesus Christ. The dog lays on my leg and I glare at it. It wants to stay close to my girl but it's bloody heavy.
    Tyler puts on Santa Claus movie and Miley is watching it closely. Did she ever watch Christmas films? I think she missed out on a lot. Not just because she's been in care.
    I'm bursting for a piss but I'm putting it off because I'm comfy and Riley is actually resting. "Ri, I need to get up."
"No," she grumbles. "Stay." She's cute when she's sleepy. I stroke her hair, I guess I could hold it for a little longer. "I love you."
"I love you too, baby." Once I've finished the food on the plate I move it to the floor.
    "I love you," Tyler mocks. I shove his head and he laughs. He thinks he's so funny, I'll get him back at some point.