"Are you sure they won't kill us for being out this late?" Trixie looked around.

"Of course they won't, we'll be fine." Cedar assured her.

"We're only at the park." Matteo lit up his cigarette as he sat at the bench.

"Hey, no smoking." Phoenix crossed her arms.

"You don't see this." Matteo waved his hands.

"I can see it you asshole, put it out."

Matteo sighed and put it out.

"Thank you." Phoenix sighed.

"So bossy." Matteo pointed.

"I just don't want you to ruin your body."

"Eh, I don't care."

"I do." Phoenix muttered.

"You care?" Matteo gasped.

"I care." She looked away.

"She cares Ced." Matteo smirked.

"Theo, leave her alone." Cedar patted her back.

Matteo hummed,"Love you really, kid."

Phoenix rolled her eyes,"Yeah, yeah."

"Look at the swings!" Trixie gasped.

"Want me to push you?" Cedar asked.

"Please?"

Cedar smiled and walked over with her.

"Thank you." Trixie sat on the swing.

"And... Go!" Cedar pushed her.

"Wee!" Trixie laughed and gripped onto the swing.

"And again!"

"How high can we go?"

"Let's see." Cedar smirked and pushed again.

"Push her off." Matteo called to them.

"I'm not mean, Theo." Cedar shook her head.

"You'd like it, wouldn't ya Trix?"

"I wanna jump."

"Don't jump." Cedar sighed.

"I might."

"No-"

But that's when Trixie was shoved off the swing.

"Yeah! Told you you could jump." Matteo clapped.

"Ow! I didn't jump." Trixie winced.

"Hey! What was that for?" Cedar turned to the older boy who was now beside her.

"I couldn't listen to your bickering anymore."

"You shouldn't have pushed her." Cedar pointed.

"I wanted her to jump!"

"But she could've gotten hurt!"

"She looks to be a big girl." He shrugged.

"What's going on?" Matteo walked up, seeing the problem.

"Someone pushed Trixie off the swing." Cedar told him.

"Can I help you?" Matteo crossed his arms.

"Oh, I'm sure you can. I've been looking for something fun." The boy nodded.

"Fun?" He raised a brow.

The boy grabbed Matteo's collar,"Fun."

Matteo looked at Cedar,"Take those two and go."

"I'm not leaving you here." Cedar shook her head.

"Don't worry, they can join in. I have friends." The boy winked.

"Now." Matteo cursed before he kicked the boy in the nuts.

The boy winced and let go off Matteo as he staggered forward.

Cedar turned and started running with Trixie towards Phoenix but the exit had been blocked by three more boys.

"That all you got?" Matteo kicked the boy down

"Turn around."

Matteo narrowed his eyes and turned. He was met by the fist of a fifth boy.

"Oh shit-" Matteo cursed as he held his nose.

"I'd get my mum to make you cookies if you leave us alone- Please." Trixie shook her head at the boys.

The boys scoffed, some even laughing as one grabbed Trixie,"Cookies won't get you anywhere, kid."

"Get off me!" Trixie shouted,"Stranger danger!"

"Aw, cute." The boy smirked,"Lets have some fun, boys."

"I call dibs on the little one." A boy grabbed onto Phoenix.

"Bite them." Trixie nodded as she pushed the boy.

Phoenix was frozen, she wanted to run, scream... But she couldn't.

*********************************

"What's the time?" Parker looked at the clock.

"Hm... Late." Erica shook her head as she paced,"They should be home by now."

"I got a bad feeling Erica." Parker sighed.

"Me too... Should I go out and look?' Erica asked.

"Not yourself. I'll come too." Parker got up.

Erica grabbed her jacket and went to put it on but that's when the door opened.

"Finally. Where in Merlin's- Our babies." Parker quickly ran to them.

Cedar hid her face and clung onto Erica while Phoenix stood quietly beside the twins.

"What the hell happened?" Parker hugged her children, hugging Phoenix too.

"S-some older boys.." Cedar sniffled.

"What did they do?" Parker looked at them all.

"They... Beat us up." Matteo looked away.

"Let's get you all cleaned up, yeah?" Parker sighed softly.

Cedar nodded, trying to hold back her tears.

"Nixie, why don't you go with mum?" She stroked her cheek.

Phoenix didn't speak but slowly grabbed onto Erica's arm.

"Poor thing.." Erica stroked her hair.

"I'll take the bathroom in my room... You take them to the other one."

"And it'll all be okay." Erica assured them.

"We'll make sure the boys are punished."

"They'll never hurt you again."

*********************************

"Here we are... Fresh brownies and milk." Parker gave the kids a plate.

"Thank you, Auntie Parker." Cedar rubbed her eyes.

"Can you explain what happened?" Parker sat down next to Erica.

"We were at the park, and these guys... One of them pushed Trixie off the swng." Matteo began.

"They left a stupid bruise." Trixie poked her bruise.

"And then they grabbed Theo- And we ran but there were more... Then they started t-to hurt us." Cedar stammered.

"It's okay, it's okay." Parker rubbed her arm.

"I'm scared.." Trixie squeezed Matteo's hand.

"I... I tried to get to the girls but I had two guys on me... Fifth years." Matteo cursed.

"Wasn't a fair fight." Cedar shook her head.

"I'm sorry guys. We'll get it sorted, I promise." Parker assured them.

Cedar nodded before turning to her sister,"Nixie..?"

Phoenix had barely moved, hadn't spoken.

"Hey... You did a good job slapping them." Matteo rubbed her arm.

Cedar got up and hugged Phoenix, trying to comfort her. Trixie moved, letting go of Matteo and hugged Phoenix at the other side.

Still nothing, just quiet.

"You safe now." Trixie whispered.

"Hey, ma. I just finished my homework and I'm-" Frank stopped as he reached the bottom step.

"Frank." Matteo looked st hom.

"What the- What happened to you all?" Frank looked around.

"We got jumped. Fifth year boys." Matteo sighed.

"They hurt you?"

"All of us... Girls are terrified. Especially Nix."

Frank walked over and crouched beside Phoenix, pulling her into his arms. Trixie moved back beside Matteo, leaning into him. Phoenix held onto Frank and cried softly into his shoulder.

"I got you... I got you." Frank whispered softly.

"I..." She tried to form a sentence but no words came out.

"You don't need to speak, it's okay Nixie." Frank assured her.

Phoenix nodded slowly, holding Frank tighter.

"You'll get them... Won't you?" Trixie looked up at her brother.

"They won't get away with this." Matteo nodded.

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Frank shook his head.

"We'll get them." Matteo looked at Frank.

Frank nodded as he pulled both of his sisters close. He couldn't belive someone had hurt them.

Parker pulled Erica to the side and hugged her arms,"How could they..?"

"Parker, people are cruel." Erica rubbed her arm.

"They didn't do anything."

"I know, hun.." She sighed.

"They're our babies. They didn't deserve that."

"Look, well sort this out. I know we will."

Parker nodded slowly as she hugged into Erica.

"There there." Erica rubbed her back.

*********************************

Frank had messaged the people that he thought hurt his sisters. They were fifth year troublemakers and he was meeting them at the very same park.

He took off his hoodie and wrapped it around his waist as he walked. He'd ditch it if he needed to but he wanted to he mobile enough to fight without overheating.

"Frank!" A boy, Buzz, walked over.

"Buzz." Frank nodded.

"How's your summer been so far?"

"Oh, it's been great, spending time with my sisters, y'know."

"Oh yeah... What's their names again?"

"Phoenix and Cedar." Frank crossed his arms,"I feel bad for them, though."

"Why's that?"

"They came home really upset because some group of older boys jumped them."

"Poor girls." Buzz pouted,"So did you bring the weed?"

"No, but he brought someone else." Matteo walked out from behind a tree.

"Correction, I was just going to bring myself and you followed me."

"I told you this asshole wasn't gonna get away with this." Matteo crossed his arms.

"Who the fucks this Frank? Your boytoy?"

"He's my little cousin, the one you beat up like my sisters.' Frank pointed.

"They were chatting shit." He shrugged.

"Enlighten me."

"I don't- I don't remember." Buzz scoffed.

"I think you're the one chatting shit." Frank glared at him.

"So what ya gonna do about it? Tell your daddy? Get him to give me a detention?"

"Much simpler than that." Frank punched him.

"Prick." He held his jaw.

"I'm the prick? You literally beat up a twelve year old earlier."

"Yeah? And I fucking liked it." He smirked.

Frank grabbed Buzz's collar and threw him against the fence.

"Atta boy, get him." Matteo grabbed his lighter.

"So you can beat whoever up but I can't?" Buzz kicked Frank.

"You beat up my kids for no reason, this is payback."

"You said you hated them years ago."

"Does it look like I've grown to love them?" Frank lunged at Buzz.

Buzz groaned as he held his side,"The little one just let it happen. The ginger? Oh  she's fiesty. I wouldn't mind-"

"Shut up!" Frank kicked him.

"Hold him down for a minute." Matteo walked over.

Frank did as Matteo instructed, holding Buzz against the ground.

"Fucking- I'll get you two back."

"Yeah yeah." Matteo blew smoke in Buzz's face before he pulled the cigarette out his mouth and burned it against Buzz's forehead.

"Aw, did you hear that? He'll get us back." Frank smirked,"You do realize that I'm doing you a favour here?"

"You warn your pals as well, yeah?" Matteo tapped Buzz's cheek as he shouted out in pain.

"I could've let our parents get to you, at least we're letting you live." Frank whispered before standing up.

"Now run along." Matteo pointed.

Buzz scrambled to his feet and ran off.

"Pussy." Matteo scoffed.

"I'd say we won."

Matteo held out his hand for Frank to shake.

Frank shook it,"Now, let's head back before we get lectured for sneaking out."

"What do mum's never complain about? Atleast my dad's cool." Matteo hummed.

"My dad's- Nah, he worries too much." Frank sighed.

"Exactly." Matteo nodded.

"Let's just go."

Matteo nudged Frank before he ran off. Frank rolled his eyes and ran after him.

*********************************

Frank slowly crept into the bedroom the kids would stay in when they stayed at Parkers, slowly going to bed.

He thought the room was quiet, everyone asleep... Until he heard crying from beside him.

Frank turned to the bed. Phoenix was shaking, curled up beside Cedar

"Nixie.." Frank walked over to her.

Phoenix had her eyes squeezed tightly shut.

"Phoenix, wake up... Nixie." Frank whispered.

Phoenix let out a small gasp as she shot up, looking up at Frank.

"You're okay... I got you. Let's go over to my bed, hm?"

Phoenix rubbed her eye,"Sorry.."

"No, no. It's okay." Frank helped her up, taking her over to his bed and lay down.

Phoenix held onto him tightly, looking away.

"Was... Was it a nightmare?" Frank fixed the covers over her.

Phoenix nodded slowly,"They're never usually... That bad."

"The boys triggered it... I'm sorry."

"I..." Phoenix sighed,"I probably scared them down there, it's been a while since my last... Episode."

"I know, Nixie." Frank sighed,"You scared me."

"I didn't mean to." She shook her head.

"I know, you can't help it. I'm sorry I wasn't there when it happened to you."

"You didn't know."

"I should've- I mean, I was studying. Which I never do."

"But you need to get your grades up." Phoenix pointed,"And smoking- You should stop doing that."

"Do you want me to?"

Phoenix nodded quickly,"Please?"

Frank sighed,"If... If it'll make you feel better."

"I just don't like seeing you and Theo hurting yourselves like that." Phoenix told him,"I don't wanna go back to that place.."

"I'm sorry, Nixie. You know I don't want that for you."

"I love you, Frankie."

"Aw shucks." Frank chuckled.

Phoenix poked his cheek before continuing to hug him.

"I guess I love you too." Frank shrugged and hugged back.

Phoenix smiled softly as she closed her eyes.

*********************************

Matteo stretched as he walked into his room, flopping onto his bed. Just as Matteo was closing his eyes, he heard a small whimper from the couch in his room.

"Trixie?" Matteo raised a brow as he walked closer,"That you?"

"I-I didn't want to sleep alone." Trixie whispered as she hugged her bear.

"Come on." Matteo sat on his bed.

Trixie poked her head up, hesitating before she walked over and sat beside him.

Matteo rubbed her back,"You don't need to worry about those assholes anymore."

"They just... They reminded me of dad." Trixie shook her head.

"I know.' Matteo sighed,"But they won't bother you anymore, Frank and I made sure of it."

"You kick their butt's?" Trixie looked at him.

"We kicked their butts real good.' He nodded.

Trixie sniffed with a small smile,"Good."

"You ready for bed now?" Matteo asked.

Trixie nodded slowly,"As long as you don't throw Mr Froggles away."

"I won't throw away Mr Froggles." Matteo assured her.

"Good. Because you did last time and it hurt his feelings."

"Well, I'm sorry." Matteo laid back.

"Say it to him." Trixie smirked and held the bear to him.

"I am sorry for throwing you away." Matteo sighed.

Trixie laughed softly and cuddled into them. Matteo smiled at her as he slowly closed his eyes.