A fractured fairytale

95

I'd wanted to be the one to pick Rose up from the hospital but Dad told me that it made me look desperate and clingy. Not that I particularly cared, I just wanted her to know that I cared about her and I wasn't going anywhere. I'd happily look like needy little bitch if it would mean she was happy, but dad rolled his eyes when I told him this and then announced that he would pick her up.

I'd grumbled about it, but it didn't stop him from leaving without me. He'd taken mom and left to go and get her about an hour ago. Meanwhile, I'd been left on cooking duty with the rest of my siblings. Rose was coming back to our house for dinner before going home so we all moved around the kitchen, getting everything prepared.

It was one of the rare instances where we weren't all bickering. Music blasted from Violet's speaker that we were all singing along to. There was an assortment of pop music, rap, eighties classics and a lot of Taylor Swift, which I wasn't ashamed to admit I knew a lot of the words to.

And I wasn't the only one.

I shared a grin with my brother from where I stood cleaning the kitchen worktops. Between us, Jay stood washing some dishes, his back to us and his hips swaying to the music. He hummed happily as he washed up, clearly forgetting about the rest of us who had all fallen silent, watching him with a smirk. Alex pulled out his phone, knowing exactly what was coming next. Jay started to nod his head before loudly exclaiming "fuck the patriarchy." I couldn't keep my laughter contained as he passionately continued to sing along and, at my outburst, he turned and caught sight of us all watching him.

"Fuck off," he muttered, although his lips twitched up into a smile. He turned the other way, to where Alex was still recording him, and rolled his eyes. "Don't act like you don't know every fucking word as well. You were both just dancing to shake it off."

He did have a point.

Alex put his phone away and Jay went back to signing loudly and off-key, although this time not alone. Em resumed humming along and joining in when she knew the words and Vi proceeded to sing every single word of the ten minute song without a mistake. I finished off wiping down the sides and then checked on the food, finding the lasagne we had made was bubbling away nicely. "It's ready," I announced before turning the heat down.

"How much longer do you think they'll be?" Vi asked me. She'd been preparing a salad, with Emilia's help, which she now carried over to the table. So far, they'd managed to work together without arguing but I didn't hold out much hope that it would last all evening. It was probably the longest they'd ever been in the same room and not argued since Em learned to talk.

"I don't know, they should've been back by now." I pulled my phone out and sent off a text to my mom. Rose's doctors had been happy with her recovery and said she was ready to go home. I hoped they hadn't changed their minds.

Moms reply came through a moment later and I released a breath of relief. "They're five minutes away," I read out. We all started work, taking the lasagne and the tray of garlic bread out of the oven and dishing it all out onto plates. Chris and Em set the table and made everyone a drink and my parents pulled up outside right on time.

I glanced out the window, watching as Rose stepped out the car, said something to my dad and then smiled. I was so fucking glad they were close, she deserved to have someone in her life that could act as a father figure, and I knew there was nobody better at the job than my dad. He loved her and I knew he'd do anything for her. It was a relief to have someone looking out for her and taking care of her the way she deserved.

I saw the exact moment Rose caught sight of the banner Jay had pinned to the front door. 'Welcome Home' was plastered across it and her smile widened when she saw it. Fuck I wanted to kiss her. She was irresistible when she smiled like that.