[right][b][u]TIMESTAMP:[/u][/b] AFTER 6PM, FOLLOWING ‘AFTER THE BLOW-UP’[/right]
[color=gray][center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220930/311b2ed0003b9fa678e0af5db4420b25.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/AJi71UU.png[/img]
[sub]A [@Venus], [@Aces Away] & [@LovelyComplex] Collaboration
Featuring [color=a23019]Molotov[/color], [color=de5f1f]Demo[/color], [color=887b6e]Taz[/color] & [color=EA60A5]Tiffannie[/color][/sub][/center][hr][hr]
[indent][indent]The rest of the day waiting for TNT as the signs of the storm slowly grew into the storm itself was filled by its own little cloud that settled itself over the Dawson living room. Ransom had called them earlier and confirmed that the wayward son was at Pietro’s Pizza with Mamba, so all that had been left to do was sit Tiffannie down and have the much needed conversation. After they’d explained everything, from his and Conan's life before his parents’ arrests to their time after when the Dawsons first brought them in. They explained about his IED and how Conan had been the only one that could truly [i]stop[/i] the blind raging in its tracks. Demo explained in minimal detail Conan’s death and how it had left a dark scar on the surviving members of the Dawson house, while Molotov clammed up at the mere mention of their late brother’s death, his eyes darting to the liquor cabinet as Demo kept a firm hold on his jittering leg. They even explained how different he’d seemed lately, filled with a happiness that they were reluctant to report they thought had been snuffed out alongside his brother’s life.

Molotov glanced at Tiffannie where the other blonde was perched at the edge of Demo’s recliner, her gaze on her cards as he finished dealing for the first round of Uno. It was an old deck, and a few cards were missing, but they were making due with what they had. Their power had gone out when the storm picked up and they had candles and flashlights placed all throughout the living room and kitchen. The conversation had ended when the girl had still remained adamant about being in TNT’s life if he still wanted her in it, and by extension risking exposing herself to him in that volatile state. Tov hadn’t said anything since then, caught up in shuffling the deck his father had shoved into his hands with the suggestion they play something to lighten the mood.

This girl had come out of nowhere and somehow found her way into a very special place in his brother’s heart, and while he was happy for TNT to have found another person in his life willing to fight tooth and nail to be by his side, his no longer alcohol-laden brain couldn’t help but think of all the ways she could hurt him with a single look. A single shred of fear shown during his rages stays with TNT forever, leaves his brother feeling like a monster for his disorder instead of the survivor that he is, and if this sheltered, bubbly Barbie can’t handle what she sees then Tov’ll be right back to round one of picking up the pieces of his broken brother. There’s only so many times he can scramble to keep both his brother and himself intact while promising to do better all at the same time. Dealing with problems meant smoothing the bumps out with a cup of whiskey and gaining motivation to continue with a few shots of tequila, not riding off last night’s hangover and desperately restraining himself from any more glances to the locked cabinet in the kitchen.

[color=de5f1f]“So, Tiffannie,”[/color] Demo spoke up, bringing Molotov out of his reverie at the perfect time for the older blonde of the group to take his turn, dropping a green reverse card over his father’s card and forcing Demo to lay another down himself. [color=de5f1f]“What do you like to do? I don’t think my boy ever told me about a hobby or trade when he’s spoken of you.”[/color]

[color=EA60A5]"Well,"[/color] Tiffannie replied, neatly placing a green card atop the one Demo had just dropped onto the growing pile. [color=EA60A5]"I guess it’s different depending on where I am. If you would've asked me this question in California, I would've told you that I like to hang out with my Mamma and my friends, going to the beach, the harbor, the mall, the thrift stores, DisneyLand, the food trucks, to get coffee or food, cheerleading and dance team after school…”[/color] she trailed off, feeling a painful twinge in her chest as the memories of her time in Los Angeles flooded to the forefront of her mind. The coffee and mani-pedi dates with her mom, the sleepovers with her friends, the days spent bathing in the salty waves and under the bright rays of the warm California sun, followed by walks down the harbor and laughs shared in between meals… Even with how happy she was during her hangouts with Chase, Tiffannie still missed her mamma, her friends and her sunny life back home. Staying in Edenridge had never been a part of her plan. When her parents had agreed to send her to her uncle’s home, it had been with the underlying expectation that she would be back once things calmed down and after they deemed she had ‘learned her lesson’. And yet…

[color=EA60A5]“Most of my time here at Eden has been spent taking care of Auntie Silvia and hanging out with Chase. He’s made things so good for me since the day we formally met. I feel really lucky to have found him,”[/color] she told Demo with a smile as soft, tender and warm as the feelings she had for his son. Chase really had made a world of difference in the short time they had spent together. In the beginning, although she'd been grateful for the opportunity to bring some peace and comfort to her Auntie Silvia during the most painful moment of her life, Peach had desperately yearned to return to Los Angeles. But the more time she spent in Edenridge, the more attached she grew to the place. The time away from home and the people she’d come to meet gave her a different perspective, given her space to grow and prompted her to truly evaluate her plans for the future. In just a few months, Tiff’s mindset has changed from a spoiled, naive rich girl mindlessly spending her days hanging out with friends to that of a young woman who wanted to learn to be independent, earn a living of her own and live a life with true purpose… With Chase as her companion along the way. Before [i]the blow-up[/i], that is. Now she had no idea where they stood.

Pushing the intrusive thoughts aside, Tiff decided to change the focus of the conversation. [color=EA60A5]“What about you? Chase said you were a mechanic?”[/color] the blonde inquired, visibly eager and interested to know more about her friend’s family.

Tov sent his father a sideways glance before returning to his own cards, wondering how the older man would reply. Would he just confirm her question and leave it at that? Would he give this girl a deeper glance into their lives since they’d already explained so much of Chase’s own to her? Even with their little conversation earlier, there was still so much that Tiffannie didn’t know about him, about them, and about Edenridge in general. From the sounds of it, she’d barely spent time outside the Belmonte residence aside from her outing with his brother this past month or so. 

And her [i]life[/i]. Jesus. He thought the Northie’s lives sounded pretty lavish, but it seems even they have nothing on the rich LA lifestyle. As a kid from lower class Maine, and then even lower class South Edenridge, he couldn't even imagine half the things she’d probably done on a daily basis. And for her to go from all that to having an introvert’s life, taking care of her sick aunt in some small cursed town in Massachusetts? Christ, he almost felt bad for her.

[color=de5f1f]“Sounds like a tough change,”[/color] His father settled for after a small, respectful pause. [color=de5f1f]“But hopefully you’ll be able to make the best out of your situation. I’m glad that in part Chase has helped out with that, and I think you should know that you’ve helped him just as much. I know it doesn’t seem like it with what happened this mornin’, but you’ve opened him up from where he’s been closed off for years,”[/color] Molotov felt his face burn with shame when he caught Demo’s gaze on him in his peripheral vision. The message was clear to him, even if the ex-serpent never meant to send it; [i]Now if only this one could start climbin’ outta his own early grave.[/i] Tov picked his rootbeer bottle up from the table and hid his red face by taking a sip and raising his cards a bit higher. [color=de5f1f]“And I just wanted to thank you for having that effect on him, even if you didn’t mean to.”[/color]

[color=a23019]“Lemme just turn on the waterworks in here,”[/color] Tov mumbled into the mouth of the bottle, feeling a bit of his guilt recede when Demo reached out to ruffle his hair before gently pushing him away, allowing his son to dramatically rock back towards him on the return and playfully bump into his shoulder. Tiffannie giggled at the exchange.

[color=de5f1f]“Anyways,”[/color] The burly man continued, not commenting as Tov stayed leaning heavily against him. He was well used to the blonde's need for tactile comfort and affection. He’d been like that since the day he truly realized that this [i]was[/i] home for him now. He also knew when his son was overthinking something, and he was definitely a little wrapped up in his own head at the moment. He sighed dramatically as Tov laid down a green draw two after Taz’s turn, forcing him to add to his hand and cede his turn to Tiffannie. [color=de5f1f]“I am a mechanic like Chase said. I picked up the job at Phil’s place a little bit after me and Fiona brought Tov in to live with us. He’s a good man, supports a few other families around town by payin’ us better than he should. If you ever need somethin’ done with your car, Phil’s is where to take it. He treats everyone like family.”[/color]

[color=a23019]“He’s got a great junkyard,”[/color] Tov was still smiling at his play against his old man as he put his two cents in, thinking of the good times when their whole family would spend an entire day in Phil’s Demolition Zone honing their knowledge while also just fucking around and having fun. It was a great outlet for all of them, back then at least. He wondered if Tiffannie would be horrified by what their family used to call a bonding experience, even while knowing that she almost definitely would be; fire melts barbie dolls, make up, clothes, purses, he could go on forever thinking of how their pastime could destroy all the things she loved. Hell, he still loved his job as the Serpents’ main demo man but fire has taken what he loved too, and he’s got enough scars of his own to understand most people’s fear of the element and its unparalleled destructive ability.

But fires also kept you warm on winter nights when your gas was turned off. His parents, his biological ones, had never told younger him what present Oliver now know’s with a solemn clarity: Even when they were both employed they had trouble keeping on the utilities some months, and by the end of their lives they were jobless and soon to be homeless and they couldn’t let their son know that they were failing him so young, so they made poverty as fun and safe as they could for the child they were trying to keep in what had become a fantasy world. No gas meant the crumbling fireplace was finally used, and instead of it being too cold to sleep in his room, it was [i]We’re going camping Ollie! Let’s all sleep around the fire![/i] His love for the warmth and life of the flames had been kindled long before he was adopted by the Dawsons.

[color=EA60A5]"I don't think I've ever been to a junkyard,"[/color] Tiffannie mused out loud, placing a blue Draw 2 card atop Tov’s to skip her uncle’s turn and grant another turn to Tov. As far as she knew, junkyards were places where unusable cars were gathered, and people who needed their parts would go find them. With her Jeep being fairly new and all, she never had any reasons to even give thought to going to such a place. [color=EA60A5]“What does this one have that makes it so great?”[/color] she asked Molotov with the look of a curious child.

[color=a23019]"Oh, y'know, tons of old classic cars or just their bodies,"[/color] Oliver answered, breaking out of his reverie and fully willing to help hype Phil's up at any time. [color=a23019]"Our old buddy actually built a workin' motorcycle from scratch with just the shit Phil had piled up. It took like seven years, but he was also pretty busy the whole time. Plus the cars are stacked high and he basically made a maze outta them so that every Halloween he could decorate and have a little haunted junkyard tour for the kids,"[/color] he dropped a blue skip card onto the pile and started laughing as Demo threw his cards down and leaned back with a huff. [color=a23019]"The guys at the shop all help out, and of course the Serpents do their parts playin' the monsters and all that. I guess what makes it different is that it ain't just a junkyard, y'know? Like Phil's said, he made sure the community felt as welcomed in his shop and yard as they made him feel when he moved here."[/color]

[color=EA60A5]"Awwww, that's actually really sweet!"[/color] Tiffannie cooed, offering Molotov a bright smile. The more she learned about Edenridge, the more endearing she found it even with the many flaws people often pointed out. [color=EA60A5]"It reminds me of something I did back when I was at school last year. So the cheer team decided to do a charity activity around Halloween, right?"[/color] she began, pausing for a second to offer an apologetic grimace to her Uncle Tazzy before dropping a black Draw 4 card on top of Tov's and excitedly declaring "Uno!" while holding up her lone remaining card. [color=EA60A5]"So we gathered up some donations, dressed up like popular characters and went to the children's shelter closest to school to have a little Halloween carnival! We set up some stations and did some face painting, pumpkin decorating, played some cornhole and other lawn games, gave out food and drinks and candy… The look of pure joy on the kids' faces and the love and appreciation they showed us was worth all the work that we put into it,"[/color] she reminiscenced with a soft smile, getting misty-eyed as she remembered how sincerely grateful the children were, and how hearing some of their stories had both broken her heart and made her want to work extra harder to make the event as perfect as it could be. What were the odds that the boy she was falling in love with was once one of the children she strived to bring a sprinkle of happiness to? It was crazy how the world worked. [color=EA60A5]"I remember I came home crying to my mom because I wanted to bring all the kids home with me!"[/color] she confessed with a teary-eyed chuckle.

[color=a23019][i]’Charity,’[/i][/color] Tov thought with a hint of bitterness, wishing he could find her story as cute and sweet as she obviously did. [color=a23019][i]’I hate that word.’[/i][/color]

[color=de5f1f]“Sounds like you like to help out your community, Tiffannie, Edenridge could always use more of that,”[/color] Demo said as Tov went quiet with a static smile on his face. [color=de5f1f]“If only y’all were that kind to your elders durin’ Uno games. Taz, care to join me on the porch? It's got some holes I haven't had a chance to patch up but it keeps most’a the rain out and cuts the wind down a bit.”[/color]

At this point, any escape would bring relief to the Belmonte patriarch. Playing Uno and talking feelings in such an intimate, close proximity, was not something Taz had in mind when he woke up this morning. He was good at telling stories to those that came by Palermo. He was good at giving advice. He was good at listening. But when it came to direct feelings of the heart, especially when it involved his family, he found himself feeling more and more uncomfortable by the minute. [color=887b6e]“I do need a smoke.”[/color] Standing up, large and in charge, Taz peered down at his niece and then at the young man who reminded him of himself before getting out of dodge, [color=887b6e]“Next time we play poker. This game is not good.”[/color] Relieved to join the outside world, where there was open space and fresh air, storm be damned, Taz followed behind the other fatherly figure, gracious for the offer of freedom. 

When the door closed behind the two older men, Molotov sent another yearning glance towards the liquor cabinet and dropped a red two on top of Tiff’s card with the knowledge she was going to win. When she dropped her final card beaming triumphantly, he continued staring at the one he had left in his own hand for a long moment before calmly setting it face down on the table and resting his elbows on his knees.

[color=a23019]“Do you really think you’ll be able to handle what happens,”[/color] He finally asked, catching the other blonde’s eyes and holding her gaze while the triumphant smile she’d been wearing moments before was wiped clean off her face. [color=a23019]“When- not [i]if, when[/i]- he blows up again, are you gonna be able to hold your head up and look him in the eyes and honestly say he can’t scare you? Puttin’ on a good Halloween show for system kids may have made you feel good-- it may have made you wanna help people more. But this is the real in the dirt shit that you’re fallin’ into. You know that, right? T’s been through a helluva lot more than most.”[/color]

There, finally ripping the bandaid off of the elephant in the room. And yeah, he was mixing up metaphors but sue him, he never thought he’d be giving these conversations sober so she was going to have to work with what she had. This girl deserves just as much happiness as his brother does, but if she ends up getting him so twisted up about himself after he explodes that it regresses all the years of work the collective Dawsons/Taylors put into helping him heal…Well, Molotov was still a Serpent, and you don’t have a job like that for as long as he and his crew have without the ability to weather whatever storm comes your way. Eventually…eventually TNT might be, well…not [i]fine[/i], but the love of his family and friends could help him heal. However, absolutely no one was ready yet to be taking care of a TNT that damaged and rejected; it had been so long since he got close enough to anyone else to let them hurt him with their fear. It had been so long since someone outside of the family had the [i]chance[/i] to hurt him. He had to know that this girl was the real deal, that she was up to snuff with the trials ahead of her, ahead of all of them, if this lady and the tramp relationship was to continue.

[color=EA60A5]“I didn’t know about it…”[/color] the girl defeatedly admitted as she dropped her eyes to the ground, lips puckering up in a sad, sparkly pout. She wished she could tell Oliver that she was up to speed with everything about the guy she’d been seeing habitually for the last month, but the truth was that she wasn’t. She had no idea about the horrors Chase had experienced in his past-- but not purposefully. [color=EA60A5]“The one time I brought up the question about how he came to be with your family in conversation he tensed up and changed the subject so quickly I knew better than to bring it up again. Today’s the first time I’m hearing anything about his past that isn’t funny stories about you, your dad, and the people he considers his friends, like Ransom, Dutchess, Findley, Maya… I didn’t know how traumatizing things were for him, and it makes me feel awful that I didn’t… But that only makes me more determined to make things different.”[/color]

After a brief pause, Tiffannie looked up at Oliver, sitting up straight in the worn wooden dining chair she occupied. There was no longer sadness or shame about her lack of knowledge reflected in her face: only a fierce desire to prove to the young man that her intentions with his brother were truthful and pure.

[color=EA60A5]“I can’t sit here and tell you I won’t be scared if I’m caught up in between when he has one of his episodes, because I haven’t lived it and I can’t predict how I’ll react to something I haven’t experienced. But what I [i]can[/i] do is hold my head up and honestly say that Chase is the most wonderful man I’ve ever met in my entire life,”[/color] she declared with the utmost conviction before locking eyes with Tov again. If he had any doubts about her words, her eyes would reveal she spoke with nothing but sheer honesty. [color=EA60A5]“When other men saw me as the blonde bimbo good-time girl I was trying to be, Chase saw me for the girl I am on the inside and for everything I have to give. He’s been kind to me in a moment where I felt at my lowest. He’s listened to my problems with genuine concern and offers me advice with my best interests at heart. He encourages me to be myself and isn’t ashamed to be with me. He’s made me smile until my cheeks hurt, laugh until I could barely breathe, cheered me up when I’m feeling down, feel these giddy butterflies all over my body with his little smiles... He gives me hope that even when life plays you icky cards you can still try to get up and make the most of your circumstances. He makes me so happy… He deserves all the love, happiness, kindness and care in the world-- and I plan to give him every bit of it if he wants me to. When I say he means the world to me, I mean it. I… I think I’m in love with him.”[/color]

[color=a23019]"Oh Jesus fuck-"[/color] Tov spat out before he could catch himself, picking his root beer back up and gripping the neck of the bottle fiercely. [color=a23019]"Did you just say love? I mean, Peachy, you had me with the other shit, because T really is awesome and deserves to have the fuckin' world. He's a straight talker and he doesn't usually give a shit if the truth hurts your feelin's, and if he gives you advice lord fuckin' help you if you don't take it and somethin' happens bu- nevermind, off track, I'm focused."[/color] He was not focused. His heart continued beating at a rapid pace while he thought about all the things those words could do to his brother. They could make him, they could break him, they could grind him into shards that no amount of glue could fix and Tov couldn't have his now-only brother in that state. For months after Conan's death, it had felt as if he'd lost both brothers. He couldn't go through that again, especially not sober. He hasn’t been an only sibling for a decade. 

And despite everything running through his head right now, he still clung to the feeling of pride he got when Tiffannie spoke so highly of his brother. He’d made someone outside of their circle [i]laugh[/i] and [i]smile[/i] and fuckin’ [i]hope[/i]. Shit, he’s got this girl thinking about [i]love[/i]. It gave Tov a bit of hope too.

[color=a23019]"Look, this ain't nothin' against you. Seriously, you seem like a great girl-- even if I don't understand anythin' about how you've lived your life up until now,"[/color] [i]Privilege and money hardly ever lead to good morals or a real sense of duty, so kudos to her for that even[/i]. [color=a23019]"But I don't think you understand me,"[/color] he rolled the soda bottle between his hands and kept contact with her determined eyes. People are always so determined in honeymoon phases of relationships, but can rarely stick around for any issues that continued after. [color=a23019]"If you say shit like that to my baby brother and some shit happens, either between you guys, or [i]to you[/i] -because hey, honey: you moved to Edenridge- and I end up clingin’ to his hand in a hospital bed or pourin' dirt over his fuckin' grave, it will be made your problem whether you want it to or not. I will protect that kid to the ends of the earth and we have bled for each other and our family. This is a dangerous town in more ways than T's disorder causin' him to fling some soda cans with his friends near. We all have dead loved ones buried here, so if you say those words you better fuckin' mean it and make peace with where that puts you in Eden's nine circles of hell. We've been keepin' ourselves together for years now, so don't think you understand what kind of havoc you can cause if you say those words to him and then react like scared prey when he explodes. I'm sorry, but with the way you've got him wrapped around your finger you don't have the same liberties with your reactions as a simple friend would."[/color]

He had to do this. He had to be harsh, and biting and rude and dismissive because if she couldn't even handle him acting like a jackass then she would never survive in their world. He didn't want her to lose her rainbows and unicorns and happiness, he didn't think anyone deserved to lose that, but there weren't many people that could afford to shine so bright in such a small, dark town.

As strong and put together as Tiff wanted to appear through the barrage of harsh truths coming from Oliver’s mouth, she knew the fight was lost as soon as he mentioned the potential harms that could come to their loved one. Gut-wrenching visions of Chase unconscious in a hospital bed, lying pale and motionless inside a coffin, a gravestone with his name on it, haunted Tiffannie like a nightmare she hadn’t quite woken up from. The mere idea of anything bad happening to Chase because of her was enough to shake her to her core with a fear she had only ever experienced whenever her father was on the field working a dangerous case. She had been so certain about her presence bringing positivity to Chase’s life that she hadn’t stopped to think about the fact that maybe she was wrong and it was all a scenario she’d fooled herself into thinking and her being with Chase was the worst possible thing that could happen to the both of them. She felt like a real idiot about that little speech from earlier now. 

Maybe everyone was right. Maybe she really was as dumb and clueless as they come. And maybe falling in love was a bad idea after all.

The young blonde took in a loud, deep breath in an attempt to recuperate the air that had escaped her lungs with the visions of earlier.  But before she knew it, she had buried her face in her hands and began to sob so violently her entire body was shaking.

[color=a23019]“Oh Jesus Christ really?!”[/color] Tov exclaimed, throwing his arms out in astonishment. This was exactly what he was talking about! That easy to creep in [i]doubt[/i] that had taken her over already. He didn’t expect her to start bawling, and he certainly didn’t know how to make her stop. And despite everything he said to make her face reality, he could tell that his brother was just as hung up on Tiffannie as she was on him. [color=a23019]“C’mon, stop that, I’ll get my ass handed to me if he comes home and you’re cryin’, I’m serious!”[/color]

[color=EA60A5]"I. Just. Don't. Want. Anything. Bad. To. Happen. To. Him!"[/color] Tiffannie wailed, sobbing between each word, her button nose red and tears streaming down her face. [color=EA60A5]"I love him so much and he means so much to me and if anything ever happened to him I would just [b][i]die[/i][/b]!"[/color]

[color=a23019]“Shhhh! Stop, [i]don’t[/i] say that,”[/color] Tov said, surprised at his own success at keeping the snap and judgment out of his tone and keeping it level. He looked towards the porch and saw the lights of his brother’s car shine in through the window as he pulled into their driveway. [color=a23019]“Look, don’t say that so easily, I’m serious, I don’t think anyone wants to hear someone say that to them, that they’d die. I’m just tryin’ to make sure you understand how serious things are. I know I’m bein’ a buzzkill but don’t go talkin’ about dyin’ and shit okay? And T just pulled in, so please just stop cryin’!”[/color]
[/indent][/indent]
[hr]
[indent][indent]Meanwhile on the busted porch of the Dawson home Francis pulled out his own zippo lighter, engraved just like those of his sons, and brought the flame to life. He cupped a hand around it to protect it from the wind and held it up for Taz to light his cigar, and once the other man was able to release the thick cloud of smoke into the wind Francis took a spliffed blunt out of his chest pocket and lit it before flicking the zippo closed and replacing it to its own pocket inside his jacket. He made sure to stand downwind of Taz so that the man didn’t get hit in the face with his smoke as the wind took it along, not minding the rain dripping through the roof just to the right of him. He took a long pull and held it for a second before releasing it, giving the older man the moment of silence that he was sure he needed. He wished he could give the man more, but he didn’t know how much time they had before either one of his little firecrackers appeared. Ollie didn’t seem like he was doing so great earlier, and Francis honestly didn’t want to leave him with the temptation of the liquor cabinet for too long, locked or not. And then he was of course hoping for Chase’s swift return while trying to have a serious conversation against the clock.

[color=de5f1f]“I want you to level with me, Taz. Do you trust Chase with her, or all of us to keep her safe for that matter? You know her, do you think it would work- or, I guess keep workin’?”[/color] He’d never had to deal with a situation like this before. His son had never shown interest in anyone the way he had in Tiffannie, and Francis wasn’t sure if he had ever planned for this. Fiona would have. She would have had a journal filled with sticky note tabs to quickly get to each possible scenario, and she would have looked at him teasingly and gone, [i]What’s wrong baby, you didn’t think to write your own? There’s no cheatin’ on these tests,[/i] and then she would have tossed the journal to him for him to read and by the time he got through it she’d have already had the conversation with Chase. In times like these, Francis beats himself up for not making her go to the doctor sooner, and he wonders if having their mother’s attention would have been better for the boys over his own.

[color=de5f1f]“She’s a special girl, Taz, but you know what our lives are like.”[/color]

[color=887b6e]“This isn’t about my trust,”[/color] Taz grunted, as he blew on his cigar to make sure it was evenly lit. When the entire end glowed, he nodded his head in satisfaction. He turned the cigar around and drew in the smoke through his mouth, puffing and making the most of his stogie. This is what he needed. This is what brought him peace. [color=887b6e]“Do I think your sons, or you, will hurt my niece? No. You raised good kids. He might tick but he has restraint. You see it, I see it. And if he wants to make good with my niece, he will make good.” [/color]

Holding his cigar, Taz took a step forward to scan the neighborhood and take in the misty air. It was a beautiful day, even if it was stressful getting to this place of peace. Taz had a fondness for rainy days. Without rain, nothing grows. [color=887b6e]“Ten years ago. I don’t think I told you but it was my Vivia that found a dead body in the park. I made sure they didn’t mention her name. She was thirteen at the time. First child I ever got help for but she didn’t last long in therapy. She assured me that she was okay. I know she wasn’t. And still isn’t, but I cannot tell her what to do. She is her own woman.” [/color]

Taz stuck his free hand out to feel the rain, he continued, [color=887b6e]“Because of that discovery, you were able to adopt the Warren boys and try to put their broken pieces together. From what I see, you did just that. Not perfect, of course. What parent is? And hiccups because they are rowdy boys. But they are kind, they are wise, and that’s what’s important.”[/color] Turning to look over his shoulder, back at a kindred spirit, Taz gave Francis a rarity for someone like him, he smiled, [color=887b6e]“Tiff has Belmonte in her. She might cry too much and she might not know many things like we do, but she is a fighter. And she loves deeply. Something that could ease your burden. I can’t say if they will last but I know she won’t break him. This I swear. Tiff is like my sister and will feel the storm inside him before the lightning strikes. That’s how my sister was with me,”[/color] Taz went for another leisure puff and after he released the smoke, he motioned his hands around as he talked, [color=887b6e]“I guess I ask you, do you trust that you were a good father? Do you trust you taught him well to be good to her? If you do trust yourself, we have nothing to worry about.”[/color]

Francis wished he didn’t hesitate there. The shock of it being Vivia that found the first body that led to the Jawbreaker being caught was its own, and it was something he could process later. But here Taz was, so sure of their little timebomb family around his easily bruised peach of a niece. Francis could only help that he aged so gracefully, that by the time he was in his fifties he had the calm to weather the storms his children, and maybe even grandchildren, threw his way. But today, in the honest soft glow of the porch’s serpent green light, Francis did hesitate to answer. It had absolutely nothing to do with him not trusting Chase and everything to do with the fact that the answer to [i]do you trust that you were a good father?[/i] is…complicated at best. Oliver was an alcoholic, Chase jumps forward and regresses at pretty equal rates, and Conan…

Then there was the whole reason Oliver had come under his and Fiona’s care in the first place. It wasn’t like the day there was a shootout between the Serpents and the Gorta Demo and Zippo [i]didn’t[/i] have guns. When the Tomlinson family car got caught in the crossfire, bullets had already been let loose from everyone’s guns. Just because they had been the first ones to realize what was happening and call a ceasefire didn’t mean they weren’t also firing beforehand. Because of the strings they pulled to take care of him and later bring him into their homes, they’ll never know if one of their bullets were the ones that did it.

He and Fiona honestly hadn’t thought of bringing more children in so soon after Oliver but then their boy brought up the Warren brothers and they had just [i]known[/i] that it was the right thing to do. The two of them, Francis and Fiona, making a home safe for children damaged by this town. Then it was just him, and it was Charlie Taylor and Kamilla Briteson, Phil and the guys at the garage propping him up when he couldn’t stand anymore, helping him pretend to be strong in front of his boys even when he couldn’t. And they’d seen through him to his weakness anyways, joining the same Serpents that Demo and Zippos had left a few years prior. They left the gang to try and show their kids that there were other avenues, and by the end of it he had driven his sons to feel the need to hit the pavement and lessen the load weighing him down, crushing him as if he were Atlas struggling to hold the sky. He would never regret the extended family his boys created for themselves, but he will always regret not being enough in the first place.

He had never planned to do this without his twin flame. The woman that had kept his fire burning after his parents died and they transferred from Fallen Angels to Serpents, kept their  home warm and inviting to traumatized children in need of a guiding light.

So did he think he was a good father? God no, but he was doing his best. With no paternal grandparents for the kids and Conrad, Charlie, and Jade Taylor being their only other living relations, he was trying his damndest.

[color=de5f1f]“No,”[/color] He finally answered honestly in the face of the man’s smile, scratching the back of his neck before taking another hit and huffing the smoke out in a short laugh. [color=de5f1f]“I don’t think I’m that good of a father, but I trust my boys more than either of them think, believe in ‘em more than they’ll ever know. So I agree with you, Chase has a lot more restraint than anyone includin’ himself gives him credit for, and I trust he and your niece will do just fine together. With her in the mix, I think the southside might finally see some sunshine outside of Cernis’ grumpy mug.”[/color]

[color=887b6e]“[abbr=Thank God]Grazie a Dio[/abbr],”[/color] The Italian man listened in understanding. [color=887b6e]“See, you don’t lie. This is a good sign. The only thing I worry about is your son getting my niece pregnant.” [/color]

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. TNT’s old Volvo parked in the driveway and the car lights went off. The two fathers silently watched as they smoked their chosen poison. When Chase got out of his car, the rain heavily falling, he went to the passenger side and took out a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8d/67/84/8d678412ef4b8654244e5b57823f2b57.jpg]pink carrier[/url] with a white kitten inside, as well as a bag of Purina Healthy Kitten Formula dry food. Closing his car door with his foot, Chase rushed up the porch stairs. His eyes went from Taz to his father, before he lifted the crate, [color=7fff00]“Dad, I got a cat.”[/color] 

Taz was distracted by the pink collar the cat was wearing and the pink crate. He couldn’t help but snort in laughter. Simply by this, he could tell: this kid loved his niece. 

Francis’ final weighted sigh of the evening was one of sheer relief, and he simply shook the rain off his beanie as he shook his head and laughed along with Taz. He held the porch door open for his son and new charge and said, [color=de5f1f]“Of course you did, Firecracker. Let’s get y’all warm and dry inside, you got two anxious blondes waitin’ for you in there, and one of ‘em is your brother.”[/color]

[color=de5f1f][i]’He came back like always, Zip. You would’a known there was nothin’ to worry about in the first place.’[/i][/color]
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