Phenomenal

15~ The Little Mermaid

Despite the minor disagreement with Brett that morning, Clarissa was glad she choice to babysit Violet.

They had so much fun.

The boys left at around four and didn't get back until around midnight. She had Violet spent all the time together having a whale of a time.

First, they went to the park and spent a good few hours racing around on the playground, either playing catch with each other or Clarissa would sit back and keep a mindful eye on her as she played with the other kids, chatting to the mums or other babysitters around.

Then they went home and had dinner - Disney Princess shaped pasta and vegetables and the only way Clarissa had got Violet to eat the carrots was to eat the broccoli.

Then they had watched The Little Mermaid until it was time to tuck Violet in.

She had the most adorable room, a mash-up of ultra girlie and tomboy. Pink everywhere; with dolls and teddies lined up next to footballs, tiny roller-skates and, bizarrely, a signed poster of a boxer that Clarissa assumed was really Darcy's.

The apartment was surprisingly, nice but very low key, functional, what was needed, nothing flashy or extra.

She could see in Darcy's bedroom as well since he'd left the door open and it mimicked the rest of the house.

Minimum needed and nothing more.

She was willing to bet that any money he earned - and the man had a ridiculous number of jobs - poured everything he earned into his daughter, who's room screamed of a girl who was doted upon.

Damien's room was the same as his brother's. The minimum needed, only at least Darcy's room said a little about his personality, his room adorned with photos of him and family - mostly of his daughter.

Damien's was just empty, anyone could have moved in there and not known if it belonged to a man or woman.

By half eight - after a bedtime story - Violet was sound asleep, hugging Pepper tightly and Clarissa was sat on the floor of the living room, books open in front of her, spread across the coffee table, working and things for her Monday lectures until midnight.

The soft rattle in the door made her look around and Darcy walked in a moment later, looking exhausted and irritable.

He glanced over at her as she straightened and gave her a weary smile before going into Violet's room to check on her.

He returned a few minutes later, dropping onto the sofa.

"Thanks for today," he said as Clarissa cleared away her books.

"Not a problem, would you like a tea?"

"No, no thanks, I'm gonna head to sleep soon."

"Is everything alright?"

Darcy shrugged, yawning. "Day's pissed off. Donny's pissed off. I'm tired."

"Was Damien hurt?" she asked, looking towards the door.

"Oh yeah," Darcy said, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. "Dumb fuck," he breathed, "He'll get himself killed at this rate."

"What?" Clarissa said, startled by the words, spinning back to look at him and he just waved it off.

"Nothing, Class, nothing..." He opened an eye and looked at her. "You gonna go see him?"

"No, I doubt he wants to see me if he's in a bad mood."

"Well, if you feel like it, check in one him," Darcy said, closing his eyes again, "better you go in a deal with him then he and Donny get in another fight. Talk about Superman versus Batman and there goes the city when they fight."

"You think they'll fight?"

"Who knows? Sometimes they do, usually they don't. Alpha males pissed Day off when he's riles and Donny's a total alpha when he wants to be. Great combo."

She looked towards the door and Darcy slowly pulled himself to his feet.

"Night, Class," he said, patting her shoulder and - to her surprise, kissing the side of her head - before walking into his room, gently closing the door behind him and Clarissa saw herself out and headed up to her floor.

Coming up from the stairwell, she headed for her flat and the door to Damien's flat opened, making her stop.

Dante came out, looking at tired as Darcy, about to close the door behind him when he noticed Clarissa and stopped.

They looked at each other for a moment, Dante's hand tightening on the door handle. A cloud shifted from in front of the moon, filtering down over them, revealing his dark eyes.

"How's Violet?"

His question made her jolt and she almost dropped her books.

"She's fine, she went to sleep around eight," she replied, catching her stuff.

"Are you going in?"

"What?" She looked up.

"Are you going in?" he repeated, looking at Damien's door.

There was a sudden, loud thud from in the apartment and they both flinched.

"Would you rather I wait until tomorrow and see him then, like last time?" Clarissa asked and Dante looked away, slipping a hand in his pocket, quiet for a moment, then shook his head and walked towards her.

She stepped aside as he approached and he held something up.

"When you can, get him to take some pain-killers," he simply said, dropping a box of Panadol on her books as he walked past. "Goodnight, Miss. Sinclair."

"Goodnight," Clarissa said, watching him until he turned out of sight up the stairwell before looking to Damien's door that was left partially open. She stopped outside it, looking at the crack in the door, into the darkness inside.

Then she walked past and walked into her own apartment.

~~~~~~

Next Up: Tuesday (schedule returning to normal)

Art/Music By: The Little Mermaid Opening Credits - Walt Disney