With a soft and gentle moan I could faintly hear the soft rustling of sheets before a hand was sliding over my naked hip and resting on the centre of my stomach. A lazily smile slid along my lips as I snuggled down into my makeshift bicep pillow. A gentle kiss was pressed to my shoulder blade as a hand ran in soft stroking massage on my flat stomach.

Was I still dreaming? I thought with a dreamy yet lazy grin.

“Morning beautiful.” He husked behind me nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck as he inhaled deeply before brushing a kiss across my delicate flesh.

I smiled as I hummed in pleasure nuzzling back into my heavenly smelling pillow “Morning handsome.”

“Don’t ever move, ever.” He murmured deeply into my ear as he clutched me tighter, pressing his front to my back closer and a lot more intimately. I could feel every pane of that luscious body.

“Mmmm,” I hummed with a lazy grin I honestly could not get rid of “I’m certainly not arguing with that.”

“I love you.” He cooed kissing my shoulder as his hand continued massaging my stomach making me shudder “And just so you know, last night was the best night of my entire life.”

I looked at him over my shoulder as I stroked the hair out of his eyes “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” I whispered.

“I honestly cannot believe that I finally am right here, with you in my arms.” He murmured softly in awe, he was utterly over the moon as he looked at me as if I was the entire universe.

I smiled softly “Mmmm, I thought it was all a beautiful dream.”

“You’re all mine.” He husked nibbling on my ear.

I gasped feeling breathless, how could he always make my heart skip a beat? I melted into him, wrapping my arms around him as I pulled him murmuring breathless against his firm lips “You’re my everything.”

Before we lost ourselves in each other, melding together as one.

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“What?” Erin and I both exclaimed simultaneously in alarm, our heads snapping over to them as quick as a whip.

The boys’ expressions were almost terrifying; they looked so serious and firm. There was no tenderness, no calmness and there certainly was none of the love and adore I was showered in this morning when I had woken up in Liam’s arms. Eli leant against the doorway with nothing but a stern and strict face whilst Liam leant against the doorway arms folded. I couldn’t help but absently realize that there were no drinks in their hands.

Liam nodded tersely “We called the police.” He reiterated his voice void of anything.

I glanced quickly over at Erin the two of us sharing a dubious and terrified expression. My heart was in my feet and my gut was churning with cold blooded dread. My heart pounded and my mind raced unable to grasp what they’ve said. They called the police? Ran through my mind over and over again trying to understand what that meant.

“Liam,” Erin began looking at him with pleading eyes, begging for answers but he stayed simply void “Li.” She begged looking like a lost puppy begging for affection as she turned to him.

I watched as his expression softened with that face, not that I could blame him, that look couldn’t melt even the coldest heart. The look on her face not to mention the unsettling feeling churning in my gut had me wanting to reach out for her and protect her, she looked like such an innocent and fragile. I reached out and squeezed her calve reassuringly since it was the closest thing.

I turned back around to narrow my eyes back on the boys “You both better tell us what the heck is going on so help me…” I trailed off with a snarl; I was in my furious and protective mode.

First the boys were obviously keeping secrets from us and now this cold rude front? I couldn’t deny it wounded me a lot. Especially after I had finally handed my heart over to Liam, was it true what I’ve always been thinking, no one could ever love me? Every part of me didn’t want to believe, this was Liam we were talking about, yet here they were keeping things from us too…

"You two aren't the only ones that love to keep secrets and go behind people’s backs." Liam spoke up finally, filling this tense atmosphere that had the back of my throat tickling.

I watched as Ez flinched and I couldn’t deny I didn’t feel like I’d been struck. What kind of thing was that to say? It wasn’t like we loved keeping such secrets not to mention all the horrendous things we had gone through. We’d done it to protect those that we loved. How could they say such a thing, especially from the ones we loved and trusted so much?

I watched as recognition crossed the boys’ faces, instantly there was an expression upon their faces that we could both recognize; regret and guilt. Eli took a desperate step forward as Liam spoke up “I-I didn’t mean the stabbing in the back bit- we-“

“Don’t.” I warned holding my hand up at him as I curled back deeper into the lounge, I was terrified suddenly of him anywhere near me. I needed my space to think, to breathe.

“Just explain.” Erin shot out quick and hard, like a whip. I couldn’t deny it; the tone in her voice shocked me. I knew she had some galls, this past month was proof enough, but still it was a shock to the system. My inner bitch couldn’t help but be proud of her like some prideful mum.

Liam nodded quickly, eager to please “Look, Eli and I…we’ve been suspicious for quite some time.” He began his speech slow as he tried to find the right words.

“What do you mean?” I spoke up, my eyes narrowing on them.

“I became suspicious the moment Ez “got back” with Jed.” Eli spoke up, all eyes snapping onto him as he used his rabbit ears, his face terse again “It started when Ez and I…we caught up in janitors closest.” All eyes snapped to a blushing furiously Erin who was shooting daggers at Eli. I snickered, who knew Ez was such a minx! Liam however blanched at those words looking ready to have some serious words with Eli.

Eli had the decency to be sheepish as he rubbed the back of his neck “I noticed a bruise, I honestly didn’t think anything of it. I had greater things on my mind like the fact that she claimed I was just some fucking mistake.” He cursed out like it was venom in his mouth, he wasn’t aggressive but the hurt from those words was still raw on his tongue.

I watched as Erin raced into Eli’s arms without a second to lose, her face buried into his chest as her tight grip around his stomach seemed to squeeze the life out of him. Eli didn’t seem to in the slightest deter at the touch as he crushed her back, he pressed his lips and face into the top of her head clutching her even tighter. The sight bought a pang to my heart, it was so gut wrenching and I didn’t know what emotion I felt the strongest. There was so much regret and hurt and mostly love, such wanton love as if they relied upon each other so drastically as if they were each other’s oxygen, reason for living.

“I love you.” She whispered into his chest, her voice sounding so feeble.

Eli sighed heavily and raggedly, as if he was releasing all the tension and all the other dark demons he held “I love you too baby, no matter what.” He vowed with such sincerity.

That moment alone had me searching desperately for Liam, I snapped searching desperately for him to find him standing right there next to him. I snagged up his hand and pulled him down to sit next to me, my hand clutched him tightly. Seeing such moments really made your heart ache and to cherish the finer things of life, suddenly the bad things didn’t seem so bad.

Liam seemed to be thinking similar thoughts as he pressed his lips to the top of my head, his arm wrapping around my waist as he held me tight “I’m sorry.” He murmured kissing my temple. I sighed softly leaning into his touch, those lips humming in acknowledgement. “It’s not as bad as it seems, I promise.” He murmured his teeth nibbling on my ears.

“Well what happened then? Tell us.” I whispered my breath a little shaky from those sharp insistent teeth of his.

Liam looked up over at the other pair before whistling softly snapping them out of their little love bubble, the both of them looked up at us looking dazed and disfigured. Eli squeezed Erin tighter before he fell back on the couch, Ez falling in his lap with a startled squeal making his lips twitched before he pressed his lips to the back of her head again. The need to be close to each other seemed so clear, there was the strong urge to be close for support and reassurance and I didn’t really understand it, I just knew we all needed it.

“You were saying?” I spoke up looking over at Eli expectantly, the room losing that desperation to that somber feel.

“Things kept…pestering me. I mean, all three of us were worried about Ez and talking to each other.” He paused to kiss the crown of her head again “I went through phases of uncertainty, like the whole cheating fiasco; the tears made me wonder if there were true feelings there.” He admitted softly, Ez shook her head sadly and I could tell it was a topic they’d covered before just by the way he was talking more to us than to Ez. To be reassuring she capture his hand and place a soft brush to his fingers, I watched his arms flex around him.

“I really got my confirmation though the day I got into my first real fight with Jed, on the oval when you were avoiding me, you remember that baby?” Eli murmured into her ear.

She nodded meekly as I watched her brow furrow as she thought back to the obviously haunting memory “He said some things and how…aggressive he was. It was the push I needed to figure out what the fuck was going on and bring him down.” He growled furiously.

“Eli and I had been talking and doing a little snooping, we knew you two were keeping secrets we just wanted to know what because we were terrified.” Liam piped up against me, his chest rumbling against my back.

“Putting it lightly.” Eli mumbled though we all heard.

“Not knowing…well it made our imagination presume honestly the worse.” Liam murmured wryly, there was no humor there.

“So than what happened?” Erin piped up meekly, you could see the guilt and regret coating her face; she was feeling terrible and beating herself up. Eli sensing the same leaned forward and whispered soft things in her ear and I watched as her body gradually relaxes.

“We got together and tried to figure out a way to find out the answers, keep you girls safe and most importantly get rid of those dicks.” Eli murmured his voice a lot more soothing as he rested his chin on Ez shoulder, rocking her side to side to relax her.

“Then Mel told me to ask about the bruises and Ez filled me in and I realized how serious it was. Ez stormed out,” he shot her a guilty glance “once you stormed out I…”

Ez’s eyes narrowed as I looked up watching him squirm “What?”

“I went through your stuff.”

“Liam!” she cried lurching to get up probably to beat the crap out of her brother, something that wasn’t new to us – they were siblings, they were bound to fight. Eli however wrapped his arms tight around her waist crushing her to him to halt her.

“I’m sorry!” Liam cried holding up his hands “But I needed some evidence.”

“Evidence for what?” she cried squirming in his arms.

“Evidence to get Jed and Falan in shit, we needed something to use.” Liam tried to explain, his voice trying to coax her.

“Use for what?” she cried in irritation, throwing her hands up.

“Evidence to take to the police.” Eli answered exactly what I suspected.

Erin slumped into Eli exhausted “I asked you not to Liam.” She tried to argue and yet her voice seemed so exhausted, or did a part of her deep down want to take it to the police?

“Ez, do you realize how many things you are asking me to let them get away with? Sex, bribery, drugs, physical and verbal abuse, non-consensual recording, practically taking advantage of Mel!” he cried ticking it off “Damn it Ez, they’re bad guys and the only chance they have of learning that is if you deal with it rather than letting them get away with it!” Liam cried in agitation, I could practically see how he wanted to shake some sense into her.

I ran my hand down his arm to twine my fingers with his and giving them a squeeze, my other hand running up and down his chest as I placed a kiss to his shoulder trying to soothe him.

“So you just went through all my private things?” She demanded, I could see the torn feelings in her eyes; a good cause versus the intrusion of private property.

“It was just your mobile, I swear.” Liam vowed with sincerity.

“Find anything?” she sang back, her voice on the verge of mocking, sarcastic and yet still right there was that curiosity and hope.

I tilted my head studying her closer; did she really want to take the boys to the police? Was she just scared to do it on her own? Or had she decided not to before because of me?

“Not much, a few rude and demanding messages off him and nothing to take to the police, it held no purpose.” Liam admitted with ease.

“Did you know about this?” Erin fired, tilting her head up eyes on Eli.

He didn’t squirm once let alone skip a beat “Yeah, I mean you left in tears and I was ready to beat the shit out of your brother. That is until he told me…” he trailed off, his lip curling.

“That smashed mirror in my room wasn’t because I was throwing my football around again.” Liam threw in with a wiry grin.

Ez’s eyes grew as she looked up at him over her shoulder “That’s bad luck you know?” she whispered anxiously.

Liam and I shared a bemused look.

“Well,” Eli murmured tapping the tip of my nose “that’s obviously not true since I got you.” He murmured with a soft smile before he nibbled on the tip of her nose.

I looked up at Liam “We’re that adorable, right?”

Liam chuckled chewing on my ear making me giggle “That giggle alone kicks their ass.” He husked in my ear making me squirm some more.

I curled my head into his body as I pulled my feet up into his lap “I love you.” I mumbled nuzzling my cheek into his arm as my fingers toyed with his shirt, watching it with fascination.

“They’re so cute.” Erin whispered watching us like we were zoo animals, pointing at us like a child; Eli’s gaze however was solely on Erin with sheer adore.

I looked up at Liam “We’re so much cuter!” I whispered in victory as I held my hand up for a high five eagerly.

“Guys seriously! Are we going to finish this story or what?” Ez piped up with amusement and irritation covering her face as Liam and I had bathed in our victory.

We halted to look up at the pair of them “Sorry.” I mumbled with a sheepish smile.

Liam chuckled nibbling on my ear “They’re just jealous because we’re cuter.” He murmured huskily in my ear making me giggle and squirm.

“Do I have to come over there and separate you two?” Eli asked with a mocking stern expression, folding his arms in a fatherly manner.

I gave him another sheepish grin “Carry on.” I squeaked.

“We went to Jed’s house.” Eli spoke up continuing on with the story.

I gaped at him as Ez gasped “Are you guys insane? You went after Jed?” I exclaimed my gaze snapping up to Liam in complete alarm.

“No, we went to see Jed’s mother.” Liam answered and I couldn’t pick my chin up off the ground, I felt so speechless. This would be the perfect time for dramatic music.

“You didn’t…attack her, did you?” Erin asked her voice small with worry.

Eli barked in laughter chortling “No baby, god no.”

“I don’t get it…Why go to his mum?” I murmured completely flawed with no answer, my brow furrowed deeply.

“Because,” Liam murmured reaching out with both hands to stroke out the furrowed wrinkles in my forehead “we wanted to do things right.” He hummed softly, his nose practically nuzzling with mine.

“How so?” Erin piped up looking as puzzled as I felt.

“Look, he did the wrong thing but what is getting charged going to do?” Liam asked.

“Nothing.” Eli answered just as serious.

“So we talked to his mum, she was bound to realize like any good mother that her son was….going through some stuff.” Liam continued on as he tried to find such words for the monsters those boys were.

“Obviously we couldn’t do the same for Falan,” Eli provided “I mean he was kicked out of home, his parents didn’t give a shit.”

“So what did you do? What did you say?” I cried trying to picture it; I truly couldn’t picture a thing. I was trying to picture the two of them rocking up onto Jed’s front porch to talk to Jed’s mother about how…awful her son was being.

“Numerous things, but basically we asked her if she’d noticed his change and we told her everything that he’d done-“

“Everything?” Ez asked her voice a little higher with alarm. I guess she was dreading Jed’s mother’s reaction, Erin had met her a few times dating Jed and she actually really liked her; she believed she was such a sweetheart.

“Everything.” Liam conceded giving a tilt to his head.

“So w-what did she say?” Ez stuttered with anxiety, chewing on her lower lip.

“Well she got….emotional.” Liam murmured a little hesitantly.

Ez made a sound of guilt and El rubbed her back soothingly as he whispered soft words in her ear we couldn’t hear. I could understand her alarm though, she had so much regret and guilt rested upon her shoulders. She felt like she had “screwed up” so many people’s lives and caused so much heartache, now she’d feel like she’d destroyed Jed’s family and his sweet mother’s faith and love in her son. It was a thing that was bound to rest on some ones shoulder and eat at them, if only it was possible to show Ez it’s the best thing for that family, for Jed.

“But then she agreed with us when we said they needed to get help, well Liam really.” Eli murmured gently still trying to soothe a girl that was trying to carry all this guilt on her shoulders “So we than went to the police” Erin’s eyes only grew “to help him.” he added on quickly seeing her instantly tense up in alarm.

“They were sent to prison?” I cried as I started to piece it together my own voice rising, they were meant to help them not put them behind bars! Did they honestly deserve that? I needed to breathe for a second so I could wrap my head around it.

“Shhh sweetie,” Liam cooed “let us finish.” He murmured soothingly running his fingers through my hair; greedily I leant into his touch craving his warmth and support.

“We all went to the police station and told them what happened and as much as they wanted to help it was hard to do anything with no proof what so ever. Teenagers lie apparently.” Eli murmured bitterly as he continued to run his hands soothingly on Erin.

“So how did you get proof?”  I asked the pair of them frowning, what did they do, go undercover?

“We tried getting them to drop some words, to admit to us by confronting them, egging them on, even asking to buy drugs and all by trying to record it. But we didn’t get what we needed which was a full formal confession of “Why yes I do take drugs and sure I’ve been bribing my now ex-girlfriend with a non-consensual video tape of my mate having sex not to mention I’ve been abusing the shit out of my ex.”” Eli said in a light sarcastic tone that had Ez and I blanching when said so. God I was correct though; they did try the whole undercover crap.

Liam snorted “That only ended with Eli coming back with cut knuckles.”

The both of us gasped and our eyes snapped to Eli’s knuckles that were cut and grazed but from the fight he got into last night. It suddenly dawned on me that Eli got into more fights than the biggest bad ass of the school or any school.

“So what did you do instead?” I murmured still frowning as I watched Ez with a deeply furrowed brow and a strict sucked in face as she studied Eli’s knuckles so closely that she was basically going cross-eyed. She looked like one of those fish with the big crazy eyes and the sucked in face.

“The police we had made a deal with called up Jed’s mother and asked to search his room for any hidden drugs for proof since we couldn’t get any verbal confessions.” Liam explained his fingers still running through my hair soothingly.

“Did they find anything? Did Jed know?” Ez whispered looking up after brushing a kiss along Eli’s grazed knuckles.

“They found nothing, Jed was smart about it with it really; his mum confessed to having tried searching before and being caught. My guess is that after that fiasco Jed learnt not to bring any home, Falan is his source anyway so he’d probably just leave it with him.” Eli murmured softly as he placed a kiss to Ez’s temple, her eyes fluttered shut and suddenly I felt like I was invading something truly magical. I looked away and up at my own slice of heaven.

“So we made a new plan up.” Liam continued looking down at me.

I smiled up at him as I reached up and brush the hair out of his eyes “What was this new plan?” I murmured hoping that it wasn’t something that bit them in the ass.

“The party.” Eli murmured and I couldn’t help but feel the cold grip me tight again as realization suddenly dawned upon me, everything was slowly but surely adding up.

“What exactly happened at the party?” Erin asked, her nose all bunched up and her tone as complex as this story.

“Numerous things.” Liam answered back lightly and honestly “We went to the party with a plan-“

“So that’s why Eli was sulking, because of the plan he couldn’t go!” I cried understanding lighting my tone as something clicked into perspective.

“You were sulking?” Ez asked confused as she looked over her shoulder at him. Eli looked sheepish as he scratched the back of his neck under her gaze, saying nothing.

“The plan was” Liam continued giving Ez a stern look as she smiled sheepishly back “to get Jed fired up; we knew that night was a big night for him. He’d already threatened Eli before you got that text message Ez plus it was a night out, he was going to party hard.”

“Drugs you mean?” I clarified.

“Yeah.” Liam nodded briskly “So, that was my job to stir him. I went to him asking for some-“

“Liam!” Erin cried in disgust just as I punched him in the shoulder.

“I didn’t actually take some.” Liam argued back irritated at our accusation “Not to mention he didn’t give me any.” He muttered bitterly making my eyes narrow on him once more “But that wasn’t the plan, the plan was discovering that if he did a substance test or even if his pockets were searched it’d be obvious he was taking drugs.”

“So you were just checking to see that you had that proof?” I clarified amazement in my voice.

“Don’t sound so surprised.” Liam quipped with a smile “We’re not morons, we had plans.” He said defensively.

“So what was your job in this plan?” Erin asked with a narrowed gaze on Eli, it was perfectly clear she did not like the idea at all of Eli getting down and dirty with their plans.

“Easy, I had to see by that fight if I could push him that much he’d confess to any of the bribery or abuse.” He admitted not even gulping under Ez’s gaze, there was absolutely no regret for his role in this all “Plus,” he added with some humor “even if he said something it gave me the excuse to get some payback and he’d still get in trouble for proof of his violence and antagonistic self.” Erin whacked him with a huff.

“So that’s why you didn’t rush to leave.” I murmured to myself, another mystery piecing itself together to my relief.

It explained his actions, how calm he was acting and blasé. If anything it was a relief to know Liam was still the same, that he truly did care. Because that one thing - a lack of care - was something that simply wasn't him. It was like talking to a stranger and it haunted me. It was nice to know he was still the Liam that I loved; there were no real demons, anger or even monster beneath his act because there simply wasn't an act. That was all the reassurance I needed to know that I knew every single thing about the man I loved; from head to toe, body to soul.

“But wait,” I suddenly gasped as one question that was still left unanswered and niggling me came to front “you disappeared. Where did you disappear when all of this went on? Why weren’t you there helping Eli?” I demanded, it was the one thing that still bothered me. How could he leave his best friend high and dry like that?

“Because,” he answered not even skipping a beat “I was calling the police. They had drugs on them and we’d done the best we could. It was now up to them to do their side of the plan.” He explained slowly, not in a patronizing way but in a way that gave us the time to grasp it and keep up.

“What was their job?” I asked looking up at him from where I was still nestled against his bicep.

“The guy we’d talked to when we went in with was Justin, he and his partner had gone to the school the same night to search both boys’ lockers for drugs-“

“Surely they can’t be that stupid.” I protested.

“You’d be surprised.” Erin muttered with a crinkled nose to all our amusement.

“Anyway,” Liam murmured in amusement, carrying on “Justin arrested the boys and took them down to the station.”

“So what were they charged with?” Erin asked fidgeting nervously in Eli’s lap.

“Justin called me this morning.” Liam nodded, I gave him a quizzical glance, when had he answered the phone? “When I was making us breakfast.” He murmured his eyes instantly softening as he ran the back of his fingers down the side of my face to my delight.

“Oh.” Was all I could manage feeling breathless and intoxicated.

“So that’s what you two were discussing in there?” Ez guessed as she gestured into the kitchen with a hook to her thumb.

“Yeah, in amongst other things.” Eli teased as his eyebrows wiggled making the both of us girls gasp and blush scarlet as we shot questioning and not impressed glances towards our own men.

“We’re kidding.” Liam said quickly at the expression upon my face.

I’m not sure why it bothered me, I mean girls share anything – hell, Ez was Liam’s sister but I still will and do tell her everything. So why was it as soon as guys shared things girls got so snarky?

“So what was the verdict?” I asked curiously, my gut churned fearing the verdict. Would I be okay with it if we put them in prison?

“Well, Justin bought them in for questioning first, giving them a chance to come clean about anything.” Liam stressed his voice sounding amused “Well Jed broke in the first five minutes.” That to be honest didn’t surprise me, seeing him get into that police car it was obvious he was terrified, he held a tough exterior but that was simply the substances talking. Erin wasn’t that stupid to date for someone that cruel.

“And Falan?” Erin asked still chewing on her lower lip nervously.

“He tried the tough guy act and didn’t break, that is until they were both asked to do a substance testing.” Liam told with a smirk on his expression “That’s when the confessions came and soon they were getting the truth even about things that weren’t drug related, such as the bribery and abuse.” Liam’s voice grew tighter again, his eyes darkening at the thought of someone using their hand against Ez.

“So than what happened? Are they being charged? Are they going to court?” I fired off quickly, my mind spiraling a mile a minute as I kept thinking the worse. Were they behind bars this very minute as we sat in this warm lounge room with the ones we loved?

“The police offered them a choice.” Eli murmured his brow furrowing making me worry more; were they uncertain that this choice was a good thing?

“Which was?” Erin drew out irritation in her voice, not that I could blame her. They just left things hanging open like that, it’s not like we were in cahoots with them or could read minds.

“Well if you stop interrupting we could answer.” Eli murmured in amusement in her ear, giving her a ticklish squeeze around the waist “The choice was rehab and clean themselves up or faces their charges in court.”

“And they chose rehab?” I guessed, both boys nodded in answer. It was a pretty easy decision for anyone to make. It was an easy way out for any of them, it just depends if they’ll actually try to get clean or if they’ll just spend their time there ‘till they can get out.

“Do you think it’ll work?” Ez asked her voice small as she chewed on her lower lip. All of us sharing similar expressions, mixed between doubt and worry, all of us were plagued with the same wonder.

“Well, if the rehab doesn’t work or they hear they aren’t participating or trying they go straight into court.” Eli explained back to rocking Ez trying to soothe her and also because I think it even soothed himself.

“They’re both eighteen too so they’re legal age, meaning if they are charged with a time sentence, it won’t be with juvenile centre but rather prison. They’ll be dealing with the big boys.” Liam added on seriously a scary feeling blanketing all of us as we imagined such horrors falling upon ourselves.

“I think Jed will take it seriously.” I murmured honestly “The look on his face as he got into that police car…he was like a scared little boy.” I said thinking back to it, at first I said such words to appease Erin who seemed like she was locked in her own personal hell but as they left my tongue I knew my words were speaking the truth.

“Yeah well Falan can rot in hell for all I care.” Liam murmured furiously, his lip curling just at the thought of him. truthfully enough, I don’t think any of us really cared what happened to Falan, he was destined in a way – I hated to say it – for failure since day one but Jed…that boy could go places if he hadn’t got caught up in such a crowd.

“How’s Judy doing?” Erin whispered softly, asking about Jed’s mum.

“She took it well.” Liam nodded gently “She knows it’s what best for him of having any chance of getting help. Some things a mother just can’t do.” He whispered sadly.

Erin nodded gently seeming so entrapped in her own world that I literally wanted to race over there and take the brunt of her own screams of blame. She was tormenting and torturing herself, if there was one thing Ez couldn’t do it was to let go and move on.

“It’s the best thing for him Ez.” Liam murmured softly as if sharing similar thoughts to me.

It honestly wouldn’t surprise me. Liam loved his twin to death, he’d do anything for her and he did; he pretended to keep a promise and kept up this clueless façade when the whole time these two boys had been doing everything within their power to keep us safe. I was so utterly relieved to find answers for his reactions; why he wasn’t so shocked, why he claimed to not be doing and everything because the whole time they were only a step behind us doing everything in their powers to help. It made me love them even more, I felt so humbled to be blessed with such protective boys.

“This way he’s going to get the help he needs and deserves.” Eli murmured softly to us all, I couldn’t help but admire how Eli – and even Liam – could be their fury and server hate towards these boys – mainly Jed – aside to please Erin who they loved. It was severely admirable how they could put someone else before them despite how strongly they felt.

“Besides,” Liam interjected his expression a mixture of seriousness, sincerity, wiry amusement and also tender love and protection “you honestly didn’t think we’d do nothing about all of this?” he asked raising a pointed brow “If we really loved you girls we would have done anything and everything to keep you safe and do what was right – and we did.”

I watched as Ez’s lower lip quivered before she got up and tore over to Liam as she threw herself into his lap, not caring how my legs in his lap probably dug into her. She didn’t even bat and eye as she strangled him in such a hug, her arms wrapping tightly around his torso as she buried her face into his chest sobbing softly. The gratitude for such a deed was pain stabbing clear, the very same feeling of humbled gratitude, love and disbelief was also constricting me leaving me breathless.

“I love you.” She whispered into her big brothers chest as he wrapped his arms around her tighter, kissing the top of her head. It was such a beautiful moment between brother and sister.

I looked up for Eli to find him hesitating in his seat, I couldn’t blame him really; it was such a sweet moment I’d be afraid of ruining it too. His gaze caught mine and my eyes softened as all I could think meeting those eyes was; Ez is going to be okay, she’s going to be alright. How could she not with Eli there by her side? That girl had been blessed with her prince charming, she had certainly struck gold.

I gestured him over as I gently slid my body from the bundle of the Cormack twins limbs and walked over to a now standing Eli. I wrapped my arms around him in a hug shocking him, I after all hadn’t always been such an affectionate person let alone one who wore her heart on her sleeve “Thank you Eli, for everything.” I whispered softly in his ear, meaning everything but mostly for looking out and protecting Erin – my sister.

“I know we aren’t as close anymore Mel,” Eli whispered drawing a pang to me at the truth of his words, we had drifted apart when I drifted from the boys and isolated myself solely to Ez and parties “but I’d do anything for you. I hope you remember that the next time anything goes wrong.”

I nodded “I’ve missed you.”

“I know, I miss us talking about those blind Cormack twins.” Eli pulled back chuckling softly as we glanced at them over my shoulder.

I looked back at him before we both broke out into laughter leaning against him for support as we chortled and laughed to one another about the old days when we were praying with all our might to wake up to a new day were the Cormack twins knew we existed. And those prayers had been answered, finally.

“Hey missy, hands off my man!” a voice declared sternly behind me.

I looked over my shoulder at a mocking stern Erin with her hands on her hips; I played back with her as I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes on her “Well hands off my man bucko!”

“You can have him.” Erin teased wrinkling her nose up.

“Hey!” Liam cried in protest as he sat up straighter on the couch.

“Love you!” she sang blowing him a kiss before skipping over to Li and curling into his side deeply, she looked up at him looking like midget as she smiled childishly “But I love you more.”

Eli’s smile grew more and his eyes only softened, he wrapped his arm around her and I smiled at the sight. I wasn’t some photography nerd but I knew that image before me would make a gorgeous photo.

“Well guys, it’s been fun.” Eli declared with a big cheesy grin as he squeezed Ez tighter “But I promised my girl some lunch, so I need to do that before its dinner time.” He said softly, his voice turning tender at her giggle, they were looking at each other like love struck fools.

We wished them farewell and the love struck teens walked out the front door hand in hand, the door clicked with finality and finally we were alone. I turned back around to find Liam walking into the kitchen. I shot his back a curious look before following after him. I found his head in the cupboards and his hands pushing things aside, he was like a little kid with the munchies.

“What are you doing?” I asked amused, leaning against the doorframe with my arms folded.

“I’m hungry.” He sulked sounding identical to a sulking child.

I laughed softly under my breath as I walked up behind him; wrapping my arms around him I nuzzled my face into his back “Well how about this,” I murmured rocking side to side behind him as he twined his fingers with mine on his torso “since you made us breakfast this morning, I’ll make us some lunch.”

Liam turned around so quickly my eyes grew and I gasped softly “My favorite?” he asked with big puppy dog eyes.

I smiled tapping him on the nose “Yes, pizza.” I allowed.

Liam’s grin grew “I love you.”

I rolled my eyes, shoving him aside as I started raiding his cupboards “Kiss ass.” I mumbled.

Liam slapped my behind “I’ll kiss your ass.” He husked in my ear as he nipped at my ears, breathless I practically melted to the floor.

For the rest of the afternoon we made pizza together, Liam was utterly adorable as I taught him and had him help me make the base. It was a struggle to help him make the right choices of the toppings; he wanted to put so many things on it and things that had me looking at him funny. We were both daring people but sometimes that boy makes me wonder…

Sitting down at the table with a barbeque sauce smiley face drawn on my face by none other than Liam we ate our pizza talking about everything and anything content and blissfully happy. We laughed and giggle and Liam even tried to be a corny romantic as he fed me pizza but the moment was failed by my tongue burning.

“How’s your tongue sweetie?” Liam murmured passing me a glass of orange juice.

I smiled at him “Your kiss made it all better.” Dipping my finger in the sauce I drew a saucy line up the bridge of his nose.

“I told you I had the magic touch, don’t you remember?” he murmured teasingly as he wiggled his brows making me blush and giggle looking away.

“I-I need to tell you something.” I admitted softly my voice filling the silence as my own personal thoughts finally convinced me enough to suck up the courage and get this off my chest.

“What’s up gorgeous?” Liam asked giving me his full attention after he drew another saucy love heart on the top of my hand as if trying to give me that little bit more strength to carry on and it did, it really did.

“My mum called me back.” I whispered softly looking up at him nervously as I chewed on my lower lip “You know….after I confronted her.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, he wasn’t mad he was just wondrous and I could tell worried of my own feelings about all of this.

I shrugged fidgeting with my hands as I ran one of my pinky fingers absentmindedly around the rim of the glass “I don’t know…I kind of needed my own time to come to grasp with it too.” I admitted softly.

“Well, what did she have to say?” he asked gently reaching over as he unhooked my teeth from my lower lip with the pad of his thumb.

“She was…she wants to take me out for a lunch. She tried having just a nice conversation with me and she said she didn’t want to have such a conversation over the phone but she made it clear that she desperately wants to start anew and make up for all of her wrongs. I mean,” I paused taking a gentle breath as I thought back to the awkward conversation that nevertheless left me feeling a little warm…hopeful? “I she was trying to hold back the tears a lot but she was…she sounded sincere.”

“Oh, that doesn’t surprise me.” Liam murmured honestly giving me a soft smile of support “Your mum may have been a terrible mother for the past ten years but I know that she loves you more than anything else and it’s a damn lot of love for such a broken heart.” He murmured sadly as he ran his thumb in a soothing circle on my cheek.

“So you don’t think it’s stupid that I’m going to lunch with her?” I asked hopefully, I was worried that Liam would think ill of the idea and speak badly of my mother. I knew she had done some terrible things in regards to neglecting me, but she still put a roof over my head and did everything to keep me alive and what she thought was “happy”, I was the one that didn’t tell her how I felt.

“God no sweetie.” He murmured smiling sweetly at me “I’m worried and praying she won’t hurt you again. But I also know you’re a big girl and that she loves you. Just please don’t push yourself, take it slow.”

“That’s my plan.” I admitted softly giving him a loving smile back.

“Do you want me to go with you?” he offered me sweetly.

I smiled “That’s sweet,” I whispered “but I think this is something my…weird small little misfit family need to do alone.” I said honestly, I needed to do this alone; I needed to be strong to face such confrontation.

“You’ll do great, just remember, I’ll be here no matter what. If it gets bad give me a text message and I’ll be there in seconds.”

I smiled tenderly at him “You know I love you, don’t you?” I murmured brushing the hair out of his eyes lovingly.

“Mmmm, just like I love this pizza.” He groaned practically drooling at the mouth as he closed his eyes taking another bite.

I rolled my eyes “I mean it,” I murmured softly twining our hands together and squeezing his hand “I know you love me and Erin but what you did for us girls…” I trailed off shaking my head as my heart swelled once again at the thought “you make me feel so safe.”

“I’d fight off dragons for you.” He murmured giving me a tender smile bringing our joined hands up to his mouth and brushing his lips across my knuckles.

“Mmmm,” I hummed softly leaning closer as I brushed my lips sweetly against his own “my very own knight in shining armor.”

“You better get used to it sugar.” He said his voice having an American Southern twang that had me laughing softly under my breath.

I smiled softly, playing with his fingers shyly “You’re always saving me.”

Liam grabbed my face leaning over to lick off the smiley face off my own face making me squirm and giggle “That’s because I love you.” He murmured not even skipping a beat as my laughter continued bouncing off this house’s walls.

In that moment, the two of us laughing and squealing as we drew saucy pictures all over each other and then licked them off I’d never felt more closer to heaven, I’d never felt more weightless. With our laughter bouncing off the walls and Liam’s arms around me as he tugged me into his lap, those torturous lips sucking away all the sauce I couldn’t help but realize I’d come home. No matter what happened in the future, no matter if Jed or Falan came back, if my parents broke my heart again or even if I began to run from myself again it was going to be okay. Because I’d always have the Cormack home to coming racing straight back to, cause no matter what you always come home and this was my home.

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