2.30 I'm not lonely

warning: language, partial nudity

     The beach was quiet and deserted, a chilling breeze signalized winter beeing around the corner. Small waves washed over the shore, accompanied by the dampended sounds of busy traffic from the nearby downtown. From time to time large cargo- ships could be seen in the horizon, on it's way to a dock somewhere. Despite the earlier times sending them down the main river, it had changed when the vessels got increasingly bigger, and the city grew. The river was no longer large or deep enough for them to pass through safely. But they still docked in Jericho, just far outside the downtown area.
     Seeing Ian always made Marco think about Dominic. It had been pieced together that he had went after Vera, someone had briefly seen them on the beach. The force had even investigated if he'd been cooperating with the criminals, but it had quickly been ruled out. Most likely someone had made the case with all of them disappear, or he'd been in jail by now. No doubt thanks to Milo.
     The final conclusion was that they were dead; taken by the river. As it turned out, the force officially had no idea Dominic was a meresim. After all, asking about supernatural state was illegal when intervjuing for a job. Not that it usually stopped them.

     So it turned out Marco was the only one involved that knew, or if anyone else did they didn't mention it. Atleast he no longer attracted freaks; gnomes yes: but no freaks. That he himself was one, was buried deep in the back of his mind. It was better that way, just keeping up the status quo that he preffered. And that he had a kid living at his house that was green wasn't the same thing either. Jarl wasn't a freak, that was different.
     Stretching his shoulders a bit, Marco kept looking over the river. A search had been put together after their corpses. Divers from the rescuedepartments and coastguard, even the army had searched, search with boats had done their best looking for something. But the currents got stronger the further into the river one got.
     The conclusion were that the currents had moved the bodies far away. They had however found parts of Ians uniform on the shore halfway across town. Most likely it had been torn off his body by the currents, that happened quite often. It just wasn't common that they found the remains. No bullets or signs had been found, but what had been thought to be footprints out into the water had been found, but there was no way to conclude if that was any evidence of that particular incident.

     A meresim drowning? Marco highly doubted it. Another option was that Dominic undressed before getting into the water and the waves or tide had pulled the uniform in. It's not like legs can grow into a tail wearing trousers. And uniforms didn't really rip easily. But he also suspected it hadn't really been looked to deeply into. After all, Dominic was a great cop and a good guy so it was better to push things under a rug.
     He'd never really thanked Milo for saving their arses like that either. He would die an old man with and honorable resyme intact, instead of in jail like he deserved.

     Sometimes he went down to the beach, hoping he'd see Dominic or just find a hint that he was still alive. Though Marco hadn't seen anything yet, that didn't mean he'd give up. But he did wonder if this had been how it felt like for Oriana when she'd been trying to find him. It hadn't even crossed his mind that she'd get so involved, or that she'd actually try to find him herself. She really was the one he missed the most. He missed the bickering, the odd comments and the strange joy she showed over the tiniest things. And they really could have used her help with the kids now, she always did such a great job with them. It's strange how one doesn't really tell sims what they mean when they live, and Marco was pretty sure he'd regret it to the day he died himself. How could he not have learned that after his parents died? And now his sister was gone to.

     Despite looking over the water, Marco didn't notice him before Dominic was sitting next to him in the coarse sand. Without a piece of cloth on body ofcourse, what would a meresim need clothes for? Silently looking out into the distance, they didn't talk to eachother in a long time. A sudden sour smell from the river hit them, just to quickly dissapear again.
     For once it wasn't Marco that broke the silence: She threw the gun away; he still had that soft dialect: She gave herself up. Waiting a bit incase he wanted to answer, Marco did the unthinkable of staying silent, to let his former partner keep talking: This woman betrayed your family. So I decided that letting her go to jail wasn't good enough.

      She was a traitor, so I let her die as one. Gesturing towards the water he continued: I dragged her into the water with me, pulled her under and took her to the deepest spot. Then I let her swim up to get some air. Then I pulled her under again, and just as she couldn't hold her breath any longer I let her go. He looked a bit awkward up on land again, after beeing in the water for so long: When she started swimming back, I pulled her under again. I just kept doing it that way for hours and hours until her muscles were exhausted. Then I let her go and kept away until she thought she was safe and tried getting back on land.

     Pointing out into the distance Dominic said: Do you see that area there Marco? Where that boat just passed? He nodded: When she was almost at the shoreline, I grabbed her by the feet and pulled her back in. I let her stay over water until we got there, then I pulled her under again. But this time I let her go until she almost reached the surface, before I held her there, so she could see safety just above her head until she died. In the deepest spot in the river, I stuffed her under some large rocks on the bottom. The animals that live down there have feasted on her corpse since then. They'll never find her. It was something about hearing a long time cop talking about "them", a while ago he'd use the word "we".

     Ideally Marco should have given some morale lecture about Veras kids and her family, but he hadn't gotten nicer just because he got older. Why should he? What about his kids and his family? Why should her families feelings be so much more important? It wasn't. Vera had chosen this life for herself, chosen her actions. Oriana had just gotten caught in the middle of it.      
     You're a good friend Dominic. Thank you. He genuinly meant it.

     Trying to hide the sorrow in his voice, it was easy to forget that it wasn't just Veras and Marcos children that had lost someone: How is my son? 
     Ian is a good lad, he looks a lot like you. I've tried getting Nette and him to live with us, but she's  a stubborn one. He was lying through his teeth, as Dominics wife had died of old age. But everything to soothe the conscious of a man that had done so much for his family.
     She always has been, Dominic nodded thoughtfully. Maybe he didn't really believe it, or he'd been so long in the water that he had lost track of time.

     I won't come back Marco. He said again: You may tell my son what I did if you wish, I leave it to you to decide. They said their farewell as Dominic went back into the water. Marco wouldn't tell ofcourse, Ian was to soft to learn that about his father. Watching him disappear under the surface, it still felt bittersweet. It should have been him that killed Vera.

     The yellow light from the lamps gave her skin a strange colour, but it couldn't hide the blush on her chest. Together with the sweat glistening on her skin it was a telling sign of what they'd been up to. Like a lot of girls he'd been with, Vilde had been in a bit of a rush to have sex. Not that Odin was complaining, but he'd never truly get why they didn't want to take it a bit slower and play around a bit more. He wasn't going anywhere after all. But he knew that Vilde was the girl of his dreams. She was everything he could hope for; smart, funny and kind. And she had sweet skin and soft lips.

     Keeping his arms around her, Odin stroked her hair and kept kissing her. Dad had said it was important after sleeping together. Girls could be a bit slow that way, so they wouldn't always understand that he still liked her if he'd fall asleep afterwards. Falling asleep was for old geezers, and he thought it was a bit strange either way. If he didn't like a girl, he'd never sleep with her anyway. So why the extra confirmation? All in all he'd do it anyway, mainly because he liked cuddling and feeling her breath, heartbeat and warm skin. Why was it even necessary to point out that cuddling was good? Wasn't that obvious?

     Odin knew one thing atleast as he looked into her beautiful eyes: I love you. He had been sure about that with every girl actually, but this time he was really sure: I think we should go steady, and we can get married when we age up. He wouldn't get his heart broken this time right? Vilde was the one for him. He'd make her so happy, and he'd write her little lovenotes and buy her flowers every day. They would have a beautiful little house by the river, and atleast four kids. He wanted a big family.

     The yellow light caught her eyes when she gave him a look that was starting to get familiar: Listen Odin... You're hot and all... Hot and all? What was it with girls telling him that? Vilde just continued: ...and you're a great fuck but this is to much for me!
     A great fuck? She called him a "great fuck"? He poured his heart into it, making his feelings for her show and she called it a "great fuck"?! That hurt: What do you mean "to much"? He knew what it meant, it always meant the same thing. It wasn't the first time this was happening.

     I'm not ready to think about marriage or kids, we're just teens. She didn't look at him again: We need to break up, you're just to much to handle.
     What did he do wrong all the time? He wanted a wife and kids, was it really that bad knowing what he wanted this early in life? He tried again: I can change for you....
     Get out Odin! Vilde was merciless even if he tried clinging on. He'd gotten dumped. Again.

Dad had been absolutely furious when he'd found her! He was so lame.... If uncle Marco hadn't been there Lucrecia wasn't sure what would have happened. And then uncle had told Biorns mum since they worked together. Now they were forbidden to meet eachother. Dad and Milo had forbidden them! Could they even do that?! That was so oldfashioned. What had Biorn and her done either way? They had just held hands when they showed up, dad angry as a rabid wolverine, and stupid uncle Marco had told her to listen to her dad. They were so old! And since when was dad and uncle on the same page anyway?!

     Unlike most girls in the sim- universe, Lucky had the best to complain to; a hopelessly romantic plantsim: I don't get it. What have we ever done to those old guys? Why's dad so against us dating? Her and Biorn would defenitly have pretty kids, so that couldn't be it.
     Jarl didn't have any answeres either, so he just raised his shoulders. He had his own loveproblems after all, mainly that no girls loved him back. Probably because of his gross leaves. And Skuld creeped the hell out of him, but atleast she'd left him alone ever since. Which he was pretty happy about, but still wondered why. Ofcourse what she had said about Bashir tugged at the back of his mind, but if Lucky wanted to ignore it, it was probably best he did to.

     It never took many minutes before Domino stomped into the room as long as Jarl was there. Turned out that Odin had opened his huge mouth and said they wanted a dog. Which he did, but he knew Lucky thought they were dirty. But she claimed she was fine with it, as long as the poor thing kept getting washed. Like all animals it did it's best trying to get into her lap, since she didn't want him there.
     Odin wasn't a complete moron. He'd just told Marco that they should get a dog because it seemed to make Jarl feel a bit better. So they did. But ofcourse letting Jarl pick a dog at the shelter meant they'd come home with a really ugly one.

     They were shortly interrupted by Domino finally settling for Jarls lap: Kind of like Romeo and Juliet isn't it? He said.
     Lucrecia didn't want it to be like that. Not that she knew a lot about it, like she cared about a play some old dude wrote a million years ago: Didn't they die?
     Yeah, but it was still romantic.
     How was that romantic: I don't want Biorn to die. Not that she wanted to die either: Maybe we should run away. The dreamy thoughts of romance was usually just a dream. But to her the idea could be real. But then there was surviving and cleanliness and that stuff.
     Between dad and Biorns dad I think you'd be found pretty quickly. Not that running away didn't seem romantic to Jarl, but he was a bit realistic after all. Most of all he just didn't want Lucrecia to leave. Biorn could leave though.

     Lucky was a bit more devious than him: Mahdis got Effie and Joe away in the blink of an eye didn't she? Why hadn't she thought about that before: Doesn't that mean that Ronin can do the same thing?
     I'm not sure if he's a full unicorn. Why would Jarl know that anyway?
     She stared into the room, an amazing plan forming in her young mind: If you're a plantsim, can't you talk to him?
     Where was the logic in that?! I'm not a supernatural! How many times would he have to say that? With his luck Ronin would probably mistake him for grass and try to eat him anyway: I'm just a genetic experiment that went wrong. He was just one big mistake.

     Right! Lucky said with a big smile on her face.
     Great... Thanks... Jarl felt sorry for himself but tried not to let it bother him. He was green, so getting comments was something he was used to.
     No, she said again putting her arms around him, giving a hug before letting him go: your not an experiment that went wrong, your an experiment that went right! If it went wrong you wouldn't have been here would you? This was so easy to understand.
      He didn't agree, if he'd went right, wouldn't there be more like him around? More.... weirdos. It was still nice to hear though: I still can't talk to Ronin. I don't even think uncle Joe can do that. He was probably just full of meds when he'd talked to Mahdis anyway.

     Maybe Effie can do it? She was full of great ideas today. There was no way she'd let her stupid, ancient dad that had no idea what true love was, stand in the way for her and Biorn. She wanted him, and he was going to be hers if it killed her! Well, maybe not kill her, but almost killed her: Where is  Effie anyway? I'm gonna phone him!
     He's just downstairs Lucky, just go get him instead! 
     Nah, I'd rather phone him! Why move more than she had to?

     It didn't take long before Effie showed up. He'd just gotten home from one of the many after- school hobbies he was active in. So it turned out the phone hadn't been a bad idea at all.
Lucky did her best trying to convince him to, but to no avail: Absolutely not! 
     Sheesh!! Lucky sulked a bit: Your such a drag Effie! It's not like I'm talking about running away for real, I just want to meet Biorn for a while without having to worry about dad finding us! Just a short while.... please...

     She gave him her best puppy eyes, knowing all to well that all the males in the house were suckers for those. Not in a creepy way ofcourse, but for some reason she usually got what she wanted that way. Expect from dad ofcourse, dad was immune to puppy- eyes and begging: Pretty please with sugar on top...

     Jarl cut in: Don't force Effie into doing it Lucky, he's probably worried that you'll get injured or.... 
     Giving one last sigh Effie did exactely what she wanted: Fine! I'll try. But I can't talk to Ronin okay? He doesn't talk, he's just an animal! Only dad thought he could talk to a unicorn: But it's really not a pleasant ride either okay? And there's no way your going far, and your coming home the same day! 
     Smiling Lucky squeezed his hand: Thanks Effie, you're the best.

     Oh okay, so Lucky was going to meet Biorn again at a secluded spot. That was nice for her... very nice. He was happy for her; really, he was. Atleast he'd always have Domino, right?

     Marco felt a lot better after talking to Dominic. Knowing that Vera had been terrified for hours, before slowly dying made him feel a serene peace he hadn't felt in ages. He wasn't to thrilled about Ian having to grow up without a father, but frankly that had been Dominics choice, not his.
     Picking up some of the common mess around the house, Marco decided that whoever claimed that girls were genetically better at cleaning than boys, needed a good old- fashioned beating. Or maybe the girls just needed a good old- fashioned house arrest so they started pulling their weight around here in general. Not that the boys were any better, the only one that did anything was Effie.

     On his quest to find more dirt to clean up, it didn't take long before he understood that the faint music he'd heard in the background didn't come from the stereo. Odin wasn't a very good piano player, but neither was he. It wasn't all to bad though.
     It didn't matter how neutral a face he tried to pull, Marco knew all to well what was going on with the boy, feeling his heart sink in his chest. His poor boy was just to desperate. He was a pretty handsome lad, just like his dad. So how could he be so desperat? Maybe "the talk" hadn't helped at all?

     Sitting next to him on the stool, he did his best talking to the kid without beeing to emotional: What's up boy? He was still hoping it was the thing with Ally that bothered him. Wait, could that have anything to do with his girlproblems? Was it a result of mummy issues?
     Nothing, he climpered a bit on the piano, letting the thin tones die out before hitting another key.
    Is it a girl by any chance? 
    By the tears that threatend to fill his sons eyes before blinking them away, he'd hit the spot: What happened? Marco let out a small "this time" ending. That might seem a bit accusive: Parenting 101.

     Teenagers were hopeless, he had to drag it out of the boy that finally answered: Vilde dumped me...
     Who was that? Probably his newest girlfriend: Is that so? Did she say why?
     Again it had to be dragged out of him, all the time whilst the tones from the piano : Same as always, she thinks I'm "to much". I just don't get what I do wrong all the time. First they are all giggly and sweet, then when I try to get to know them they just want us to sleep together. Then they want it a few more times, but as soon as I mention going steady, they get all: "Oh, Odin, you're to much". Then they break up with me with a "you're a great fuck" comment. Like that's supposed to make me feel any better..

     Marco might be a man, but that was to much information even for him, gross!! But when he had been dumb enough to ask. And to be honest; what the hell: Uhm... Odin, are you proposing to these girls?
     No, I tell them that I love them, then that we should go steady.
     Oh for the love of.... really? If it hadn't been for that nose he'd never believe he was his own kid. But it got worse at Odin continued: Then I say that we can get married when we age up. That's when they breake up with me.

     He could have sworn he'd told the boy this before: Odin, you are a bit young bringing up things like that. Don't you want to live a bit before you settle down? Why are you in such a rush anyway?
That made the boy look even harder on the piano, before he finally swallowed some words as he pretended to answer. Marco asked him to repeat it.
     I don't want to become like you.
     That has to be the most hurtful thing he'd ever heard. His own son didn't want to be anything like him? Was he really that horrible?
     Odin wasn't done just yet: I mean, your so afraid of getting hurt that you won't allow yourself falling in love at all! I just don't want to be like that, to be alone when I'm soooo old as you!
     Thanks a lot kid.

      I'm not afraid! He wasn't!
     You are! That's what aunt Oriana said, and she was right. She kept barking to herself at times, when you were gone. Odin gave him an all- knowing look, before giving the piano all his attention again. Oh, if he could just be so sure of everything as teenagers were.
     Yeah, she barked a lot to herself. 
     I vagely remember some redhead, that made her really mad. Was she the love of your life? Then he gave him one of those massive, innocent puppy stares that made Marco feel all protective. He couldn't break his poor idiot sons heart, and tell him that there was no such thing as true love? Oriana must have shown him to many stupid cartoons. How many times did he have to go over this with the boy? It was almost as he was expecting things to change from time to time.

     Sighing internally, Marco swallowed his pride. He'd do anything for his kids: Esther, yes, yes. She was the ...love... of my life. But it just wasn't supposed to happen. 
     Is that where mum came in?! Then those huge, innocent eyes again. How could a teenaged boy be such a sucker for romance?
     Yes, Ally was everything I needed after Esther and I divorced. He was such a liar: Your mum was fun, casual and easy to be around. That was true atleast, but hadn't they talked about this before?
     What about Skulds mum then? Where does she fit in with everything? Damnit, this kid was going to be the death of him.

      Nawar was.... unhappily married. We worked closely together and found eachother that way. But she chose to stay true to her husband. In death that was, but he didn't need to know that. Damn those kids!
     But then you are afraid. Grown- ups were so stupid. How could dad not see this as clearly as he could?
     No I'm not. Marco wasn't afraid of women, what a dumb thing to say.
     Yes you are! I mean, mum was emotionally unavailable, she had to have been since she never bothered contacting me. And this Nawar was married! It's like you pick women that you can't fall in love with on purpose. You're afraid of falling in love, because you don't want to have your heart broken. Odin felt like a wise old man. Dad would probably be thrilled to hear the truth.
     Go to your room. This was the best part of beeing an adult. When in doubt; ground the kid.
     But... Dad!! Vilde just broke up with me!

     STOP TELLING GIRLS YOU LOVE THEM THAT SOON!! PROBLEM SOLVED! GO TO YOUR ROOM!! Why wasn't that little punk listening to him?
     HOW WOULD YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT ANYWAY! YOU DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD!! THE ONLY THING YOU KNOW IS HOW TO FUCK LIKE SOME EMOTIONLESS MACHINE! Odin regrettet it almost as soon as the words came out of his mouth, but it was true! 
     There was a little punk that should be quite happy that he didn't hit kids right now. Marco went just a tad to close to his own son. Lowering his voice nearly to a whisper, his voice shivering with anger as he went: go.to.your.room.now. Leave the phone here....

     He heard Odin stomp up to his room after giving him his cellphone. Damned kids think they knew all. Like he was afraid of anything! He was awesome, that's what he was. And just to make matters worse, he heard Effie and Jarl getting back. Turning against them he simply said: Jarl, your staying in Effies room tonight! Odins grounded. 
     But...
     NO BUT, OR YOU'RE BOTH GROUNDED!!!
     yes sir.... He even heard them calling him an old geezer as they went up the stairs.

     Marco was in a foul mood this evening for a change. He'd argued with Odin from what he understood. But wasn't that usually what teenagers did? Argue with their lame and old parents? Bashir wasn't feeling to awesome either, Lucky was angry with him and had stayed in her room all day refusing to talk to him. He'd let her stay there, stopping himself several times from going. He wasn't sure if it was the best thing to do, but he was giving her space. That was right, wasn't it?

     But she had to eat something. She couldn't just not eat for an entire day, and he was her dad. He knew what was right for her. And it wasn't right for her to be with the Milospawn. It was his fault that Oriana was dead. What if they turned her against him? Or told her what part he'd had in it? Then she'd hate him, and he'd never see her again. He wouldn't hold his grandchildren when they came along. He wanted to hold his grandchildren damnit, but they couldn't be his grandchildren to.

     Knocking on the door, he carefully opened it: Lucrecia? No one was there, not even that eel Skuld. It was completely empty. He could have gotten worried, but Bashir was more angry. There was no doubt that she had snook out to be with that boy again. Against his direct orders! What was it with anything female never listening? 

     Where is she? It smelled foul in this repulsive dungeon, like evil, cherry lipgloss and hairspray.
     Skuld barely bothered taking a short look over the shoulder at him, before casually shrugging her shoulders. Bashir went just a tad closer to her: Where is she? You share a room, where is she?
     I don't know, she answered with her nose down in that strange apparatus. What was that crap anyway?
     Listen to me you little psycho; tell me where my daughter went or I'll make sure to tell your dad what you like to do with your brother.

     Atleast she turned around, even if he'd highly preffer her keeping her back against him. There was something seriously wrong with that girl, but it wasn't in Bashirs nature to fear a little kid, not even when she answered him: Are you threatening me? Keeping her voice low and soft, it was a constrast to his own: Tell dad whatever you like, he'll believe what I tell him. So how about keeping that for yourself, or I might be inclined to tell dad that "someone" makes me do "stuff".... You know how daddy feels about these things don't you? Did she just threaten to claim he was a pedo of sort?

     Bashir was used to be wrong about many things, but he hadn't seen that coming. Even if he probably should have when it came to her. She cut her own brother, enjoyed seeing him bleeding and whatever she had planned on doing to him when he ran away, most likely wouldn't have ended well. He didn't want to show her how uneasy he actually was, Marcos wrath was to be feared. His anger when it came to think someone might be hurting his little doll, was to terrifying even to consider. Yet he took the chance of bluffing: I've known your brother since childhood. He'd never believe I'd harm you that way. In any way.
     Carefully tilting her head, looking up at him she finally said: What makes you think I'll mention you? There's other sims in this household that are a lot more vulnerable than you.

     It hurt seeing those eyes that looked so much like his wifes. The eyes were the same, but that was the only thing. Skuld was a terrifying opponent, even for him. And as much as he hated it, he knew he had to stay in this house. Atleast until she was out of it, he owed it to the rest of them. She might be acting all tough and bad, but no matter how stonefaces the girl was, he knew something about her that she didn't want coming out. Jarl would never tell anyone, for obvious reasons. As long as he stayed, everyone else was safe.Atleast he hoped so. She wasn't dumb enough to go up against him.

     Bashir stood a bit closer to her, lowering his voice even more. Well aware of how he sounded when talking to someone he didn't like: I'll make you a deal then. Leave everyone in this household alone, and I'll leave you to do whatever the hell you're up to. Your secrets will stay your secrets.
     Or what? It was easy beeing tough when you were a teenaged.
     It was a gamble, he knew it well. But genious or not, twisted or normal, she was still young and he was a grown man with years of experience on his back. And she saw through him more than any of the other kids. She knew a lot, he just hoped it was enough to trick her: Or no one will find you.

     Her reaction was better than he could have hoped for. He must have caught her completely by surprise. Finally she walked away from him going back to that pseudoscience: I'll think about it. A psychos yes, he'd won this round. Hopefully he'd avoid any other ones. As he went to walk away she talked again: You should talk to Efraim and Jarl, they know where your daughter is.
     He was right then, she was with that boy. Or else Skuld would never have mentioned it.

     Ronin was patiently and very loudly, waiting for them, he was so different from that dragon that spawned him it was hard believing they were even related. Pretending to look at the stars was a great way of touching eacother, feeling a bit on the others desires to be physically close. Not that they didn't kiss a lot, but they still felt uncertain around the other. It was difficult beeing teens even at the best of times.

     Ofcourse it didn't take long before the innocent stargazing turned into shy kissed that eventually turned more heated. They were young and in love, and it was even more exciting when their parents didn't want them to be together! And they had almost run away to, even more exciting. Whatever discomfort they had felt at the teleportation, they quickly forgot about it.

     Leaning against Biorns shoulder, Lucky enjoyed the silence from their surroundings, now and then interrupted by a neighing unicorn. Why did he make so much noise now, he never did other times. Probably to ruin the mood. She chose to ignore it after drawing in Biorns scent again. They were practically going steady, and she knew they were going to stay together forever and ever. And, like every girl with respect for herself, she teased and tempted him to the brink of madness.

     But today was an exception, kind of. Not that she didn't drive him insane, but he was terribly stubborn this time. Boys were such a drag.
     Is something wrong? Lucky asked him. Maybe he didn't like her anymore?
     Seeing his muscles tensing, Biorn answered with that voice that made her tingle. Damn that tingling that made it hard to think straight: Maybe we should stop seeing eachother... taking one look at her face he quickly added: Not for ever!!! Just maybe until our parents get a hold of themselves? It's not that long until we age up, and when we're adults they can't tell us what to do.

      Beeing a lot like her mother, Lucky started crying: I don't want to break up! Not that they were technically a couple at all, but he didn't say anything on it.
     I don't either, but we can meet in school, and just wait to get older for the .... the really fun parts. 
     She didn't stop crying even for that silly comment: I don't want to. Wait, that is.

     Hugging her tight, he kept the hands on her back, stroking it gently: I don't either, but I think it's for the best. That way our dads will stay out of our hair, and we'll have time to figure out what we want to do. He finally let go of her.
     She hated that he made so much sense, Lucky just didn't seem to get any luck in her life. Her mum was dead, her dad was a mess and now she wouldn't get the only boy she wanted: Okay... she had to repeat herself several times before he heard.

     They decided not to see eachother again, and let Ronin bring them back home. What a waste it had been, all that secrecy all that work and she had gained nothing. And she still wasn't sure how Ronin had known where they wanted to go. Beeing a teen was terrible.

     It was easy to assume wind would've been whipping around their ears at this time a year, especially at a top like this. But it was an eerie stillness at this place, that Marco just as easily ignored. It had been a piece of cake to get Jarl to spill what they had been up to. And according to Effie, Ronin had this as a favourite spot, there were even hoofprints on the ground.   
      Oddly enough Marco actually believed him in that: Looks like they've left. He leaned into one of the large rocks that was scattered across the place, forming a circle. He'd married here, Mahdis had died here and now they were looking for Lucrecia at this very spot. Landmarks like this tended to draw lots of attention- and incidents.

     For once it was easy to see just how irritated Bashir was. When it came to his daughter, the two guys were particularly protective. Maybe because they were scared that she'd share the same fate as her mother. Bashirs shoulders didn't get any less tense: Where the hell have they gone to. It wasn't directed to anyone.
     They didn't really know where to go next. Maybe Ronins stable was an idea? Marco wasn't as worried about Lucky as he should have been, she wasn't a runaway, and that Biorn seemed like a decent boy.
     What? Bashir had turned towards Marco, getting a glimpse of his eyes following something. He knew well that the giant blonde didn't agree with his thoughts about the two teenagers. But Lucky wasn't his daughter anyway. He should worry about his own little Chuck.

     Marco had seen him coming way to late, but those glowing eyes made him easy to recognize even in the dark. Whatever Bashir felt for Milo, it was clearly mutual, but unlike him the werewolf still had his manners intact. Approaching them with a small hesitation, it was time to take a conflict that should have happened a long time ago. Damn, Marco still hadn't thanked him for saving his arse like that. Bashir should probably have thanked him to, but there was no point in pushing his luck.

  
     He decided to stay put in case Bashir and Milo decided to launch at eachother. Not that he assumed they would, they were to old for that. Maybe he could sit on them or something if things got to bad?
     After getting a bit closer, Milo said: I just got a text from Anya. Biorns back home and he says your daughter is to. 
     And how would he know that? Did he walk her to the door maybe? Bashir still blamed Milo for what had happened to his wife. It was his fault.
     Ofcourse he did. A quick and unagressive answer. If any teenaged boy had any form of decency, it had to be Milos kid. Why didn't Marcos kids have any manners? Maybe he wasn't a very good father.

     Petty criminals, mayors, syndicate leaders, corrupt businessims or werewolves... it had never truly mattered to Bashir. If he didn't like them, he didn't like them. And to be fair he didn't like a lot of sims. He'd liked Milo once, but that time was long gone: You didn't ruin enough getting my wife killed? You want my daughter out of my life to, is that it?
     If Milo was angry, he still didn't show it: I didn't kill Ori. Wondered if he actually believed it himself.
     I know that blondie. But you know as well as me it never would have happened if it weren't for you. A strange argument without any loud voices or boiling temper. Sometimes beeing disgusted with eachother doesn't need vulgarity. Which was good in Marcos opinion, because that way three old men like them wouldn't end up in a fight. No wait. The two of them wouldn't end up shredded to pieces by Milo, that's how it went.

     Oriana and Milo had been besties since elementary school, but it was easy not caring about such tiny details. His wife was dead, the mother of his daughter gone and it wasn't like he had any idea how to raise a girl. She did strange things, like crying when she saw pretty things and talked about feelings. Instead of living with his wife and kid, he shared a house with two guys and their kids: one of them a fucked up, grade A bitch, a unicorn and an ugly mutt! And that was Milos fault. It had been his idea to start this whole pointless thing, that ended with nothing at all. Other than his wife beeing dead: Your "plan", he spit that one out, Bashir rarely raised his voice: got my wife killed. And what did you get out of it? Nothing. No change, no difference in anything. You might as well have killed her yourself. It's your fault she's dead.

     Either he'd heard it before or it was something that Milo told himself a lot. It still wasn't a big reaction, but how he truly felt was impossible to read. However Marco wasn't blessed with a kind soul or understanding for others. He didn't even bother going closer to them, but just spoke: Actually it's your fault that she's dead. He'd never really approved of his sister marrying that snake in the first place: I tried keeping you away from her, Milo did the same; even my dad didn't like you. Yet you just never left did you? You knew what you were involved with, and what the consequenses could be. In Bashirs defence, a retribution like that rarely occured.

     Marco was far from happy about having his sister and cousins dead, but it still didn't change anything did it? So if to hand out blame, why not give it to those who deserved it: But you're right to.. it's Milos fault. He also knew what you were up to, and if you two fucking dumbarses had just left me alone that never would have happened. He paused a tad before continuing, just to let it sink into their skulls: And it's Jonny- turds fault, if he'd said something sooner it could have been prevented. Atleast he'd tried doing the right thing in the end, and was dead because of it: Not to mention Vera, she's the one that dealt out the damage that eventually killed her.

     What was it the doctors had called it? Irreversible coma, or brain death. Atleast Bashir had let him be a part of it. The hardest to admit was yet to come, but he'd known all along: And it's my fault- I had a bad feeling all along, but chased after it with a patience I never knew I had. If he hadn't done that, none of this would've happened.
     Dead or not though, it was in the past and they had kids that needed to mourne more than they did: So we're all to blame for Oriana dying, but it's still not the kids fault. If you idiots keep this up, your kids won't want you around for when they have kids. And you'll end up never meeting your grandchildren. That was the whole point of having kids to begin with; grandchildren. He looked forward to it. Nothing said perfection like having even more miniature Marcos running around.

     It was always difficult giving big- blonde credit for beeing spot- on with something, but it happened a lot more than it should. Not that he approved of the Milospawn, or that he blamed the guy any less. The important thing was his daughter. If she wanted to date the kid, then why not. It wasn't like he had to like the boy, and he could have a laugh at scaring him to pieces and back. He wasn't a young man anymore, and felt his age clearer than he had in ages. The years of heavy smoking hadn't given him better shape, and he wanted grandkids. That came with the stork ofcourse.
     Knocking on the door to his daughters bedroom, he'd already checked that the banshee wasn't there. Ofcourse no one answered, it was okay beeing bit of a dramaqueen.

     Lucrecia? She was lying on her bed not even worthying him a gaze, but atleast she didn't ask him to go away. As far as he heard there weren't any sobbing either, which was good; her tears scared him. Standing a bit away from the bed, he acted like he assumed a dad was supposed to: I'm sorry. If you want to date Biorn, it's okay with me. His parents are okay with it now to. 
     She still didn't move, but atleast she answered him: He broke up with me. Said he wanted to wait until we were adults.

     That was actually a bit commendable, but did that boy actually think he could get someone better than his daughter. He was insulted on her behalf: Well, now you don't have to wait until your soooo old. He teased her a bit, fully aware that she thought he was ancient.
     Smiling a bit, still with that bitter look on her face Lucky seemed to have locked herself into the bedroom for another reason: But.... 
     But what sweety? 
     Hesitantly she finally answered: Uncle Marco didn't like you, did he? 
     Hell no, he hated my guts and mentioned it every chance he got.... They got along now, even if it might be a bit late.

     Then why did you marry mum? 
     Because I loved her, and we were supposed to be a family when I got back. They had spared the kids for the mot important details, or outright lied was a better way of saying it.
     But why didn't you stop when uncle Marco so clearly disapproved? Why didn't you wait?
     How was he supposed to answer that? That he was scared that her mum would find another guy before he got back, and it was fun pissing her uncle off? Well, he didn't exactely lie, it was more like withholding parts of the truth: I didn't care about what he thought about me. I only cared that your mum liked me.

     Would you not have married her, if uncle or mums dad had asked you to stay away?
     This time he actually managed to laugh, Lucky was so sweet and naive: No, no, no. Her grandfather didn't like him either. But to the old guys defence, he understood that.
     What if grandma and grandpa had asked you then? 
     His mum and dad: I'd tell them they weren't the one marrying her, so either they approve and treat her nicely, or they won't see me or their granddaughter again. He winked at her, they'd never had much contact with them, and they were long dead now.

     But Biorn just gave up.... I was the one that had to push to meet him all the time, and "accidentally" bump into him.... Lucky hadn't even sighed, or changed the tone of her voice once.
     Yeah, I did that with your mother to, he smiled, hoping she didn't find the thought to creepy. He tried to avoid thinking about how sick it actually was: Difference was that she was a bit slow on those parts.
 

     Sitting up, Lucky finally said: I don't want to see him again. Not because of what you think, but because he gave up that easily. She wanted someone that would climb mountains to be with her! That wasn't to much to ask from a teenaged boy was it? Maybe he just didn't think I was worth fighting for...
     Looks like he won either way. Why didn't he feel better about it?

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poses: mypalsims, fanaskher, pnmai, ag, simsimi, sunny, imho, tinu, hepis

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