Thick As Blood {A Menendez Brothers Fic}

27. Just A Lie

The remaining hour of the session, wasn't exactly all that helpful. Simply because I knew why I was here. Another tactic taken by my father to just trick me into slipping. He knew that I knew what he had done to Aunt Clara. I know he did. He also knew that I know what truly happened to my mother. But, on those recordings Dr. Oziel had encouraged be done, was nothing but what I was emotionally dealing with. I didn't even mention Erik, Lyle, or Ava because I wasn't fueling the fire, nor was I going to allow him to do something horrible to them just to torture me.

"How did it go?" Lyle asked once we arrived at the movie theater, Ava having practically hopped into his open arms upon exiting Erik's car. I simply smiled, because I wasn't going to discuss specifics with Ava around. But I knew we'd have another lengthy conversation tonight in the guest house he was staying in.

"It was—okay. He asked the normal questions I suppose. But, I honestly wasn't all that comfortable speaking about.... Aunt Clara. Not in depth." Lyle completely understood, suddenly hugging me to him with as much love as he could muster. I could tell just how much he cared just from the mere gesture.

"We'll talk more about it tonight, okay? But for now, let's have some fun." He whispered in my ear, pulling away with that charming smile on his lips that he always seems to sport, even when I know he's hiding his true emotions.

"Sissy? Can I get gummy bears?" I immediately smiled from Ava's soft spoken words upon placing my hand in hers, her other one tightly gripping onto Erik's.

"Of course you can, peanut. Anything for my little princess." She practically beamed from my answer, Erik and I looking to one another with genuine smiles of happiness to be in this moment with our siblings. Lyle made quick work of getting our tickets for the re-release of Peter Pan, a movie very dear to Ava and I. Countless memories of watching the movie with our mom littered my mind as we entered the theater, heading to the concession stand to get our popcorn, drinks and candy.

"I'm getting everything for my girls. And maybe for you Lyle." Erik humorously said with a little smirk on his lips directed at Lyle, their incoming brotherly banter enough to cause us girls to die with laughter. And warming my heart in the process. Their relationship made me so happy. They've only ever had each other through everything. But now? We all four are in this together. And I couldn't ask for anything better than that.

"I know my Ana wants gummy bears, just like Ava. Lyle beat me to buying the popcorn for everyone. But, at least I got the candy and drinks." Erik said with a matter of fact tone, seemingly feeling accomplished that he bought said items. I couldn't help but keep the massive smile on my lips from Erik and Lyle. They both were so focused on who was buying what, just to humor each other.

"You do know I would have bought something. I don't ever expect you guys to do that for us." But I knew there was no winning that argument, judging by the response I received from my words.

"But we want to, Ana banana. You both deserve the world." Lyle so sweetly said. But they didn't seem to realize, that they did as well. They treated Ava and i with such care, that it rendered me speechless sometimes. Because in all my short years of living, I've never had anyone who would perform such sweet and kind acts towards me. But in a short span of time, I had gained two men who would do anything for us.

"You do realize that you guys deserve everything also. You're both the sweetest guys I've ever been lucky enough to know. But, before this gets too emotional, we better get to that movie." With tears brimming in my eyes, Erik softly kissed my lips before our popcorn was ready, noting the way Lyle was looking upon us with a little smile. I never fully comprehended how deep Lyle's feelings went when it came to me. Our kiss seemed to ignite something further than what was felt on the beach that night that felt like ages ago.

"Okay peanut, help us carry our stuff so we can go sit down. Okay?" She gleefully took a small drink and her candy from the counter, practically sprinting with Lyle in tow towards the specific theater we would be in for the movie. Erik and I lingered behind.

"You're going to make an incredible mom. You know that right?" I softly smiled at Erik with a little blush arising on my cheeks from the mere notion of me being a mom. I honestly felt like one, having more than helped raise Ava. I grew that protective bond with her, earning such a relationship that I could never change.

"And you're going to make an amazing dad. You're so good with Ava. She adores you, Erik. Of course, so do I." With his adorable smile that I never could get enough of, we walked in behind Lyle and Ava to sit in our respective seats next to one another, finding myself in between Erik and Lyle with Ava on Lyle's left side. In that moment, I felt as if I was in heaven, being with these incredible people in my life. My true family. I knew tonight, we'd have to talk about more serious matters. But for now, I felt..... complete.
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Tucked into bed and sound asleep, Ava looked so peaceful, something I'd always want for her. I never wanted her subjected to the horrors I knew would await us inevitably. Tonight, was not just any typical summer night. In the heat of July, it was drawing closer to a breaking point. I felt it in the air that night when I went to meet Erik and Lyle in the guest house. Careful not to signal anyone, I snuck away out the back doors and over to the Menendez's property, successfully making it without anyone seeing me. Softly knocking on the upstairs door of the guesthouse, Lyle answered the door, with Erik directly behind him.

"Hey guys. I got Ava to sleep. But, eventually she will figure out I'm not in the house." I softly smiled through my words, having told them before what had been going on with Ava for the past two months now. She's been sneaking into my room late at night, and she'll crawl in the bed with me because she's worried something will happen to me if she isn't there. When she told me that, my heart seemed to break. Only because she's living in a type of fear because of our father. How could I even think of leaving her.....?

"She would see it as a betrayal that you're here without her." Lyle jokingly said, a little chuckle escaping my lips. My eyes immediately connected with Erik, my worries seemingly forgotten from one simple look into his baby blues. But, I knew the reason for this meet up, was so we could talk things through. We had to have a game plan for the future. I just never realized how bad things would go. And what it would cost us all.