Sweetness

The House

Sitting at the counter, eating the freshly made pancakes that Dad has showered Dom, Helena and myself with. Even dog friendly ones for Kipper and Rosie... something's up. He doesn't make us or spoil us with pancakes unless something is going too happened or has already happened, it's a sort of 'calm before the storm.' A warning if anything. Has someone died? Are they going to split up? Helena looks tired, is she pregnant? That would be exciting, I need a sibling to boss around. What is the secret he possesses? I need to know!

Helena clears her throat from the living room couch, as if to tell Dad to get on with it. Dad places his cup of coffee off to the side of the stove in our modernised yet country-industrial styled, open spaced kitchen. The whole house is open plan living. From an architect's perspective, it is the 'perfect family home.'
Dom isn't paying attention to any of the actions between Helena and Dad, or he's just choosing to observe while stuffing his face in his newly washed clothes from the dryer.

It's good that he lives with us and by living with us I mean that he kitted out one of those shipping containers with; a functioning kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. All is fitted out with the finest techy shite anyone could ask for. Dad was the one to bring up that Dom should place his home in our backyard come to think of it. We have plenty of room and Kipper has his own little area, of which he guards from any birds, animals or people he doesn't like.

"Mavis-Rose, do you want to give us a few min..."
"No. Whatever you have to say, say it in front of all of us. She knows more than you would think." Dominic's reaction caught me by surprise. I'm not even half way through my pancakes either, so I'm going anywhere
"Mavis-Rose? Do you want to stay?" Dad's eyes are crystallising, not of tears but of something no one knows. I don't know. Dom doesn't know. I'm not even sure if Helena knows. The only thing we do know is that it started after Mum took off and that was years ago, we know something isn't right when he starts to get this crystal look covering his faded green eyes
"What is so important?" Dom asks hurriedly
"I have been thinking about this for some time and I don't know or see any other resolution to the issue at hand" he's mumbling and pacing, this is bad "I believe it is in everyone's best interest that this matter be taken carefully and all provisions to keep it from the folks in town, whatever excuse we can think of just go with it and..."
"Dave, stop with the bullshit would you?"

We all know where this is going, the dogs have even taken themselves out onto Doms covered door way. I don't like this...
"Dom... we've been mates since we were kids, I don't want this to ruin that" the crystals are multiplying, it's like the colour of Kida from Disney's Atlantis
"Then tell us what the hell it is you want to say!" Dom's is in to him now
"You need help! I watch you for hours on end crying and drinking at the club rooms every Saturday night. You think you're invisible but you're not. You need to go see a Psychologist or go to rehab or something. If you need it, Helena and I will pay for it but you need to get help Dominic. For everyone's sake... Yes, I know you lost Ginny but you need to straighten yourself up. Mavis-Rose can't keep bringing you home every Sunday morning, it isn't fair on her!" Dad and Dom are face to face. Only inches apart. Oh shit...
"Dad I don't mind. I've got Kipper and Rosie with me anyway, I take them for walks remember?"
This is getting too heated, I look to Helena for support and she is trying to signal Dad but he's too focused on Dom. Dom is staring at Dad like he's about to kill him.
"Enough Mavis-Rose! This is not for you that is why I did not want you to be here!"
Helena holds my shoulder steady with her soft, mother-like touch. That's it, I'm done with this. I stand up, place my hand on Dom's shoulder and whisper "Sorry Dom, I shouldn't have dropped the clutch"
"It's alright kiddo, I can handle him" he says with a smirk. I kiss his forehead and walk down the hall towards the stairs, without looking at Dad. Here's to another fun week at home.

I closed the door softly knowing that they were expecting me to slam it. I can see Helena telling Dad to apologise to everyone, even though I can only hear muffled noises coming from down stairs I know what she is saying.
Helena has been everyone's saving grace, she brought Dad out of one of the darkest and isolated places, no would have known how it felt if they hadn't gone through the same pain. She brought him into the light. It was from that day that Dad knew she was his second chance in this world, the other part of belonging which had been ripped from his soul the day my mother, the woman who he thought was his one and only left him and their little girl for dead.

Two knocks at my door and the door creaks open. Dominic. "Can I come in?" he whispers, taking precautions because he knows I don't like being woken from my slumber, "what's in it for me?" I mumble from under my fortress of pillows. I set myself up like this to feel safe in my own room. I just want to be away from everything and everyone. Dom falls onto my bean bag and looks up at my beautiful fortress of pillows, blankets, toys and plushie things, all of which I am highly proud of
"How about some Milky Ways, Skittles, Maltesers and Cockta?"
"The German Cockta?"
"Is there any other?"
"You are one in a million, Mister Dominic"
"Always have been and always will be"

I crawl out of my little haven of my sweet smelling perfume covered abode and relax at the end of my bed, facing Dom. He turns on the TV in the corner of my room and House Husbands comes up. Score! Dom playfully yawns and pretends to go to sleep, my chance to get my Maltesers has arisen. Being the lazy person I am I reach for the red tub of heaven from my bed, I am so close to wrapping the tip of my fingers around the handle but Dom grabs my wrist and pulls me off the bed and I land on my stomach with a loud thud. Arsehole. There he is laughing away and I'm the one with a bruised stomach, something else to add to my destruction.

"Sorry Rose, here, let me help you" Dom sincerely lifts me by my elbow
"How do you fall for that every time?" he asks with that stupid grin
"I do not!"
"Do too!" I actually do but it's just part of our routine when something goes down, he's the fourth person I go to if he's not home. Behind Totti, Heath – if he were still here and Seamus.

All of a sudden the colour goes from his face and his eyes are fixated at my pyjama shorts which are now stroked with rounded lines of blood. Fuck.

"You promised you had stopped... You promised you would stop. How old are these, Rose?" my mind is blank and my breath suddenly hitched. White spots form in my eyes and Dom is nothing but a silhouette. I can seem him reach for me but it's all too late. Not again, not now.

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@covers_101 made the cover, thank you!