Good Morning Meyer's

Living in his little sisters room didn't get easier ... he hated waking up to the powdery pink shade in the morning and her One Direction posters did nothing for him ... His boyfriend was there though, in a small-double bed, beside him, curled on his arm which had now gone dead. Living in a pink powder puff room could be worse, at least he had good company. Leith gently wriggled free and slid out of bed without disturbing anyone. Quietly tip-toeing to the bathroom down the hall grabbing some clothes from one of the boxes in the hall, there wasn't enough room in Bailey's room for a drawer for Leith and Ceren's clothes, so the boxes were stuck in the hall. Still, it beat getting into huge debts with his rent since he lost his flatmates, he didn't like the thought of living all on his own so the company wasn't all that bad. It had hangups though ... no privacy, no space, his moms new boyfriend, Richard, was overbearing and aunt May could be a bit manic from time to time... The mornings were best though, they were quiet compared to the rest of the day. No one else was up this early.

He showered and dressed, getting up early meant there wasn't a queue for the bathroom and the water didn't go cold, so he didn't mind at all. He was a bit of an early bird anyway. Dressed and ready, he went downstairs to grab breakfast to find his aunt May was up. What a surprise...

"Leith do you have to do that at the breakfast table?" May asked as he wrangled with a contact lens.
"Well no, but it's not as if everyones up eating breakfast" he pointed out ... things tended to get ... crowded during meal times when everyone was around.
"It just freaks me out watching you poke at your eyeball like that" May frowned, handing Leith a glass of juice.
"Thanks Aunt May." he blinked the clear lens into place.
"Are you working at Coffee Bean tonight?" she asked.
He nodded his head, "Probably, I've got a lot of work to do in the garage anyway."

Leith began working in the garage as a teen and they just kept him on, training him up, now he was one of the best in town, he was in popular demand and usually pretty busy at the garage.
"Will you tell Ceren I can meet him for lunch today if he wants?" Leith said, he'd check his phone during his break and if Ceren wanted to, he'd drop over to the college campus for lunch.
"I'll tell him" May replied, but her tone wasn't exactly elated ... they were still working on things.
"Look ... I know you aren't ... enthusiastic about it, but ... I'm glad you accept hi-Us. It really means a lot" Leith said sincerely. Richard's disapproval made things pretty tense, PDA's were pretty much banned when he was around, May seemed to just go quiet. Bailey rolled her eyes and mumbled "gross" but she'd likely have done that if Leith was with a girl anyway. Taron seemed to like Ceren well enough though so it could have been much worse, would have been better if the adults in the house were half as accepting...

"I'll be back tonight for dinner" Leith said, finishing off his breakfast and kissing his aunt on the cheek goodbye.
"See you tonight" May said, picking up the plates to wash. The others would be getting up later so she'd only have more dishes to do later!

Bailey rolled out of bed, oversized One Direction nightdress all crinkled, her blonde hair sticking up at all angles. Leith moving home had its advantages ... He adored her and she took advantage of his wheels, convincing him to drive her places, of course, he also worked, but Ceren had a car too which came in handy. Today she decided she wanted a lift to school, and since Ceren shared her room, she decided he had to share his car.
"Wake up" she commanded, launching a pillow at his head. "I want a lift to school after breakfast" she yawned. "Its the least you can do for taking up all this space" she rolled her eyes. She didn't hate Ceren, but she was a teenage girl who didn't have her own space anymore, as far as she was concerned she was entitled to be a bit sassy about her personal space invaders, Ceren and Leith, especially when they wouldn't go to sleep at night because they were talking about something stupid she didn't care about.

Home is where your heart is,
Waking up in someone else's house.
Family is with whom your heart lies,
Lying beside him in his bed.

It has come to this. A life where she found herself in the arms of another man, in his house and upon his bed. There he lay beside you, his body betraying his age just as your did your years. The kids had May, and Leith was old enough to fend for himself, but still he was your child. He worked, he was the man of the house now. He had even started seeing someone. And Taron, well he was on his way there, a few more years and a college degree. She had managed to put the eldest through, and yet Bailey would have nothing left. Bailey, was it tough for her? Thank goodness for May, the girl needs a female influence in her life, a mother who could be there. And not here. But Leith, oh Leith, her first child all grown-up now a bit of his father in him, and her own contributions. It was okay, he would do fine, and yet why could you not let go? Was it because you felt his silent screaming? Angst and worry bottled up within his delicate heart? Hardened perhaps by the need for machismo, but she knew her son too well. Just as she knew the man beside her.

Richard Pryce. A business mogul with a stock portfolio as big as his ego. Well, he had every right didn't he? On the account of his bank account alone? Of course he inherited his lion's share after his father passed, Richard had managed to out maneuver his older brother, dividing the lots rather nicely as Victor took a failing market of real estate, and while Richard reinvested into auto dealerships. The move paid off, and soon enough, nearly everyone in the greater metropolitan area was driving a car from a Richard Pryce dealership. A shrewd man, ruthless even some may say, but she knew he eyed her. Ever since she meet him on that day they went to deal for a car for Leith. Look the part she told her eldest, look like you can afford it and they'll give it to you. Walking out with his eyes gazing over her body, manager by his side, she remembered that look, she's seen it too many times with all the men she had in her life: wanting entitlement.

And so here she was beside him. Beneath the sheets of a night spent in his company, listening to him muttering sweet nothings into her ear. It was not love, there was no love. He wanted her, just like any other girl he was with, and she needed him to support her family. Even if she did not become the next Mrs. Pryce, the man was getting on in the years himself, and soon he would be dating someone half his age. Until then, all she could hope was that no one would judge her for being with him. That her family, they would understand why Mom was with him. This man who had been very explicit about his opinion over Leith and Ceren. Sure she did not understand it, but she loved Leith enough to allow Ceren in. But what did she know about love? How could she speak of such things after lying with him?

"Morning Meri." His voice dripping with venomous honey, filled and inflated with his sense of worth. Vanity beyond a mirror, a trophy that she was to him, his hand placed around her handles. "How was last night? The way yo-"

"Amazing Rick, but I've got to go back, May's waiting for me to take care of the kids." She interrupted his self-glorification in the most backhanded and politest way she could. "I'd stay for a drink but Bailey's got class and Taro-"

"Alright fine, take the bottle on your wait out if you want, Kristoff will drive you back." He yawned and waved her away with a few pats to her shoulder as Meredith rose from the bed pulling the sheets across her chest. There was no modesty to be afforded in the presence of one so boastful, yet perhaps it was ironic that she of all people should want modesty when she dreams of more than her modest home. This place was a villa, acres of land across town, gated upon a hill, landscaped with beautiful gardens and water features. Empty rooms which seemed to have no purpose but to be, baths with showers and hot tubs, walls which hung with ugly modern art. A home she wished for herself and her kids, a place to call her own. "Dinner later tonight? Six O'clock? Make it Five. We'll try out that new place on 5th. Wear something Delicious Got it Sweets?"

"Oh Rick, I was hoping to see my family tonight, May can't handle them all by herse-" An excuse just to get away from another night of this. Or was it? No, she missed them truly, guilty that she was here more often than there. Enjoying the pleasures of wine and dine, of movies and as much as she hated to admit it, Richard was not all too bad. For a hedonistic narcissist.

"Fine then, bring them along, but only your family, I don't want your boy bringing that skank-fairy. He's not going to take my family name if he's still with that boy. Tell him to go screw a girl first Merie, then I can call him my son, hell if he's got trouble looking for one, I'll send a call girl to him and he's going to enjoy her or else I'm cutting his queer-ass off." There it was. The ranting of man who values nothing more than his ego. Of course he would know a call girl, of course a man of his character would prefer hate over love. Yet it was only because of his own pride, as to not tarnish his own name.

---

You got that Meri? The last words still echoed in her ears as Kristoff the driver opened the door for her. Meredith thanked the young man, who seemed to smile in kind, yet never spoke a word to her. Maybe he just was not the sort of person to speak a lot, or maybe he's worked for Richard long enough to realize all the man ever did was talk about himself. It was hard to get a word in edgewise when you're being suffocated by such superbia. Slowly she walked to the door, sighing as her heels clacked through the old porch steps. It was too small for them all, May moving in was a blessing but, well, at least Bailey was safe with Leith around. Not that she was concerned about Taron, but a boy his age...

"Morning May, did Leith leave already? Are the kids still here? Ceren's got to start pulling his weight around here you know it's like having another kid." A half-joking laugh as she tiredly set her purse down on the counter, along with a half-emptied bottle of wine. "Rick sends his regards, oh and I guess we are all invited to dinner at five... Well, except for..." her eyes darted towards Bailey's room. Another sigh escaped her lips as she sat down beside her sister, uncorking the red and pouring it into a glass meant for orange juice. No need for fanciness here, medicine did not work better in a tall glass or a short one.

"Do you want him May? I mean we're practically the same right, and you're younger too. He's wealthy, decent looking, and not too bad in the sack either. Am I crazy not to want him sis?" Perhaps a bit too much wine...

What Sisters are for

Bailey wasn't exactly sheltered from what was going on with her mother and her brother. She didn't say anything but ... her families lifestyle caused some difficulties for her at school. No one knew, but the bitchy girls called her names between class periods, passed hateful notes to her and sniggered when she walked by. A couple of times Aunt May slept in and no one made lunch for her and she had to try get money to buy lunch. She tried to play it off but the other girls eventually figured out.
"Did your gold-digger mom forget to make lunch for you again Snailey?"
"I bet her mom doesn't even come home at night, she just hops from one businessmans bed to another"
"Maybe her fag-brother could make her lunch"
"He's too busy being a fudge-packer with his boyfriend to make her lunch"
"Maybe it runs in the family. Are you gay too Snailey? Do you like kissing girls? You're so gross and ugly and fat, no one would like you anyway"

Crying alone in her room didn't work ... not since Leith had to move back in, and brought Ceren with him. More often than not one or the other of them was home. Leith worked a lot but Ceren studied, he wasn't out as much as Leith was, but he was still someone there. Bailey had told her family she'd joined choir, just so she could lock herself in the school toilets after final class and cry for a bit before putting on a brave face and going home again.
The bullies didn't know how good Meredith was ... Richard was ... alright, he didn't like Leith, and that annoyed Bailey, but aside from that, he was ... bearable. Bailey put up with him, Leith kept his distance. If he made their mom happy, they just had to put up with it and that was that. Finding out about the bullies would crush Leith, and Bailey couldn't bring herself to tell her mom about the nasty things the girls at school said. They didn't understand, they couldn't understand or find out.

Ceren wasn't so bad either, Leith always spoiled Bailey, she couldn't bear for anything to ruin that and Ceren making Leith happy also made Bailey happy. Leith done his best to keep Ceren and Richard completely separated but they'd crossed paths eventually and it had done a number on him, probably Ceren too. Leith wasn't himself for weeks afterwards, then eventually he just pretended it never even happened but Bailey knew he remembered every single detail. Mom had tried to talk to him about it one night and he completely shut down the conversation, he couldn't talk about it and no one had tried since. He'd been out for a while, nervous at first, but then he grew comfortable and confident. Richard had been a huge knock back for him, as if the supportive net beneath him had been ripped out from under him, even though as far as Bailey was concerned, Mom and Taron and Aunt May were always there for him.

May was cleaning up around the kitchen when Meredith came home. "Ah, the wanderer returns, good night was it?" she asked. Being a beautician meant she was a maven for gossip, then again, she'd been that way before becoming a nail technician so it was probably just her personality. She was a dreadful gossip but at least with the family, she kept every secret safe. She owed Meredith a lot, letting her move in so she wasn't alone after her partner passed away. Though May didn't have kids, she adored having Meredith's kids around her, there was almost always company, it beat her silent apartment and all the memories of her former flame. The least she could do was help around the home and be a listening ear, goodness knows the family needed one from time to time.
"Leith's gone down to the garage, he's working at the coffee shop tonight as well, everyone else is still in bed but I heard noise upstairs so one of them is getting up" she explained. Her heart ached for her big sister, who loved nothing more than her kids and providing for them and making a bright, happy home. Her ex-husband leaving had been a bit of a knock back, but she'd soldiered through and made ends meet and done her best. May couldn't help but applaud her for her strength. Leith had been troublesome in his teens, his sexuality tormented him, and now Bailey was in her teens too, more toruble would come, at least Leith could help out now, when Leith went through his rebellious phase, Meredith was facing a teenager for the first time, now she had experience and backup to help with Taron and Bailey when they acted up.

"Oh ... I see" May said quietly at the non-invitation Ceren received to dinner ... Richard wasn't going to soften on that agenda that was for sure.
"Leith isn't going to like that." May wondered if it was even worth telling Leith about Richard's invitation at all, it would only hurt him to bring it up.
May partook in a glass of wine, it was too early in the day to be drinking ... alone, so she would join her sister to spare her.
"Sweetie you know I wouldn't mind, but I'm still grieving Will, it just doesn't feel right to get out there again, and besides, you were always the prettier sister we both know it so don't deny it. It's you he wants, not me" she explained. She couldn't bear to see Meri so miserable, but Richard wasn't physically abusive. He was a bit of an ass, but he spoiled her and took care of the kids ... well, some of the kids, Leith he sort of just ... tolerated, and barely at that.

"You're a mother, you want your kids, you can have a man too ... and he really is too good to chuck away" she pointed out, "Maybe you and Richard and the kids can sort something out so you can spend more time here at home. Theres room in your room for him to move in here, he'd have to find a way to deal with Leith and Ceren but it would sort out somehow, and if he's not into that ... well, he's practically got a mansion in the hills, everyone could have their own room there if you tied the knot and you know Bailey will want her own room back. She's been good so far but she's 13, once she gets her period she's not going to want her older brother and his boyfriend within 10 feet of her. Already it's just too crowded with him back but you know Leith wouldn't burden you if he had any other choice".

Leith was really trying ... Two jobs, he put in insane hours in both, but he couldn't help that rents had gone crazy and his flatmates had opted to study abroad and travel or move to another state. He couldn't afford to live on his own and Meredith wouldn't see him out on the streets or slumming in a grotty apartment in a dangerous neighbourhood either. When she heard about Ceren getting kicked out of his home just for being with Leith ... well the boxes were in the hall that week and the house had an extra two tennants. May wondered if she ought to move out to ease the strain, but Meredith insisted she stick around, considering how long she spent out of the home, it almost made sense, she needed May to stay there, Leith couldn't do it all on his own, he was only 25, he was too young to raise his younger siblings and maintain a home. Men his age were out drinking, partying, making bad decisions and enjoying themselves, not working the hours Leith did and then playing the house-maker role when they came home.

"Oh, hold that thought, I think thats Bailey, I'll go put on some eggs, you want scrambled or fried?" May asked, "You can go wake up Taron if you're not too busy necking that wine" May teased, grabbing some plates fromthe cupboard and putting on the toaster. "Oh and tell Ceren that Leith told him he's free to meet up for lunch."

Waking up to an empty bed was unusually common for Ceren lately. He tried not to let it get him down, to weigh too heavily on his mind. He knew the blonde would be home that night, a smile on his face no matter how hard or long his day had been. That was Leith for you though, always being that shining star you could look towards when you were feeling down. Ceren missed him, more so that morning that usual. His steel blue eyes fluttered open, blinking back against the obtrusive light as he found the bed empty, unsurprisingly. The mattress dipped where a muscled body had one lain, sheets crumpled where Leith as been. A soft sigh escaped the dark toned teen as he rolled on to his back to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

Not two seconds later he was, rudely, reminded of his second roommate of sorts, Bailey. A nice slap from a pillow to the face and a huffed command to drive her to school was also more common than not for the college student as his eyes, half lidded from sleep, attempting to glare at the blonde girl. "Seriously?" He groaned, more so about having a pillow thrown at him than driving the girl to school.

"Fine. Fine. Whatever," he sighed, pushing himself from the bed. His head spun, a severe lack of sleep weighing heavily on his mind. He yawned, arms stretching high above his head. They dropped back to the bed, one hand scrubbing over his buzzed fade as he slipped from the sheets and towards the boxes that contained his and Leith's clothes.

Ceren had taken to wearing a tank top and basketball shorts to bed. He felt odd sleeping how he usually would, nothing but boxers, in Bailey's room. He was much older and he sort of felt...exposed by it. It wasn't the most comfortable thing to wear, but this whole situation wasn't exactly comfortable either. It was highly uncomfortable to be quite honest.
.
Taron groaned as the alarm blared in his ears. His hand fumbled with his bedside table until it slapped onto the annoying black device. Once his room fell into complete silence he sighed in relief, sinking back into his warm sheets. His peace didn't last long though, the morning commotion beginning to start up around the home.

The sixteen year old dragged his body from his bed, shuffling off to the bathroom where he found Ceren, already dressed, and brushing their teeth. They shared their usual grunt of a greeting, Taron getting right to brushing his teeth and washing his face.

Feeling fresh he headed off to his room before turning quickly. "Oh hey Ren?" He questioned, the tone in his voice telling the older teen that he was about to ask for something. "Yeah?" Ceren asked expectantly. Taron eased on a 'winning' smile, well it worked on the girls so he counted it. "Ride to school?"

Ceren heaved a sigh, "Fine. Hurry up I do have class you know!" He called after the younger male as he'd already ran off to his room as soon as Ceren approved. The dark teen rolled his eyes before checking himself over in the mirror. He wore a plain black vneck and faded fitted jeans.

Good enough.

Ceren bounded down the stairs, pausing when he saw May and Merideth in the kitchen. He still didn't feel quite at home here. He was painfully aware of both women's feelings towards his relationship, although they were much nicer about it than his own family. He did still try and avoid being alone with them too often.

"Hey," he greeted, being as civil as possible. "Uh, Taron and Bailey are up," he informed, hands slipping into his pockets, as he chewed on his bottom lip, a nervous quirk he'd never quite gotten rid of.

Stitched thin the family binds,
A funeral shroud fraying at the ends,
The spiral after he left for the ones left behind,
The ones who upon you they depend,
First the mother, and then a son,
and now misfortune stalks the innocent one.

How blind was she to it all? Focusing on winning approval for her choices from her eldest, enough to neglect the pain of the youngest? Yet the girl hid her suffering well, better than Leith did in his moody silence. And Taron, well Taron had kept his silence too, but he was the last of Meredith's worries. Richard was her gamble, and more so right now her bread and butter, she reasoned she had only a few months left to tie the knot and become Mrs. Pryce before her luck ran out. Her savings already dwindling down, even with Richard's generous gifts and covering her credit line for her. It was just too much. May, well she was godsend in a way. Taron and Bailey, they had no reason to go. Leith was family, but Ceren, well Ceren was not family yet and honestly Meredith took the boy in because she knew Leith would hate her forever if she didn't. But honestly, 4 Bedrooms, in this house they had? Sure it was enough for when they were one family, but with two extra people...

It was hard, the mother of three and a half rubbed her temples with one hand and tipped the wine to her lips in the other. Her mind weighed heavy, her head supported by her arm which dug into the table. There was only one light at the end of the tunnel there, one gleaming bit of hope within reason and reach. That Ceren would have broken Leith's heart so terrible that he could never love again. Oh what sort of mother was she to think such thoughts? It was the wine, the wine and pressure, to wish your child be hurt as such. But love was not the romantic gesture society has made it. An arrow through the chest is still an arrow through the chest. It would hurt, there would be pain, and scars that may never fade. It is only a tragedy when those scars hurt the innocent products of such believed loved.

It was his fault for leaving. Or was it hers? Regardless of who was at fault however, she had three beautiful children. Three wonderful people to bring her joy in her life. Even though Leith reminded her so much of him, she loved him most. And perhaps that was why she loved of all the three children most. Taron was on his way too, the feature of his father starting to break through, but he had more of his mother in him compared to Leith. And Bailey, well she was all mom with a sprinkling of dad. What did they remember of him? Did they know why he left? Did Leith explain it, did he understand? Love that was true, was bound by love. It could not lust for another, want for another, be with another. She could not forgive him, and he could not bear her guilt-laden looks. Perhaps that is why he left, because of her broken heart.

So is that why when she saw Leith with Ceren, she always swallowed down her tears? Seeing so much of the man she loved and hated, in love with another man? No, though she loved to comb her fingers through his hair as she cradled Taron in her arms and watched over Bailey in her basket, Leith was still her baby. Despite the beard and body hair, of blushing when mom caught him less than decent, she saw in him the boy they raised together. A boy grown up now, and finding a love of his own. All she could wish for as a mother was that his heart was in the right place. Such that her child would never feel the pain she felt when his father stopped loving her. A single tear wiped away from the corner of the eye, before May could see into her sister's mind. May had been through enough already, and has done so much for them all.

"I don't know May. I just don't know anymore. I don't think Rick would even think of moving in with us, plus we're already over booked as it is... And Leith..." The tone of her voice fading away, "I'm not sure what to do May. Is it too much for me to want my kids to live a good life? A better life than we had growing up? But look at me Sis, Mom was there for us, me? I'm hardly there at all for them now. I just don't know May... Maybe I can convince Rick that Ceren's not that bad, I mean he makes Leith happy, and that's all I could ever want for him right now. He's a good kid May, but... I just don't want to see him struggle, he can't make it out there alone, let alone having Ceren to support too now." A long drink as needed, chased down by more rubbing of the temples, as if those fingers prayed to the gods for a miracle there.

"And besides, that's a total lie, we both know you're just as pretty. What are you wearing to dinner May? It's a Japanese place, I have no idea if the kids will enjoy it, Rick's says they cook right in front of you on a hot plate. Sounds fancy right?" Changing the subject, casually as if wishing the family issues to just disappear with a wave of a hand, or eight ounce of wine in this case. It was far too early, far far too early, but given the circumstance, she probably needed it, and even poured her sister a glass and slid it across the table.

"Don't worry about my eggs May, did you get the kids lunches? you said Leith was working garage did he need a lunch too?" Ah there was an idea, maybe Leith could work for Rick at one of his dealerships? Working up on those cars? Maybe they could bond as father and son over a business together? Maybe Leith could even be a shop manager instead of a tech? Or would Leith hate working for Rick? It was a thought, grasped as they came, fluttering innocently by like butterflies resting against the lip of the unclassy-wineglass. "Taron, Bailey! get up Kids!" Shouted downstairs as Meredith began to ascend, glass in hand before Ceren came hopping down. His Latin flair mixing in with his boyish causality chewing on a lip in a V-neck and faded jeans as he reported the kids were up.

"Morning Ceren, are you taking the kids today?" Of course he will be Meredith-wine-glass-in-hand. But how will she tell the news that the rest of the family was invited to dinner with Richard? Perhaps in the gentlest manner possible, civilly. "Leith's going to the café to work tonight, do you both have plans after? Did you need some cash if you do?" Digging around her purse for her wallet, as she counted out the dollars she had left, thirty two. Handing a two tens and two singles to Ceren. "Twenty two's good enough right?" Pretty much a big hint for Ceren to take Leith out tonight without telling the boy anything.

"Taron Honey, make sure you leave enough water for your Bailey, and hurry up there, Ceren's got places to be too!" The least she could do was hug and kiss her kids, bidding them a nice day at school before hiding away into her room to break down in tears. Tears over it all. Tears over her family, broken and barely held together by May. And the little voice in her head which shuddered at the thoughts of the boy before her and her son's activities in Bailey's room, a thought she preferred not to linger and fed away with the hope that she raised him better. Her glass finished now as she waited for the little ones to come clambering down. "Don't worry about picking them up Ceren, I'll pick them up at threeish. Our driveway's getting way to busy isn't it May?"

Meredith covered up her discomfort well ... or well enough at least. Leith had had a hard time coming out, and of course, it had been a shock for his mother. There were arguments, tears, more arguments, then a settling period. Leith assumed she was coming around to the idea, accepting it even. Maybe he knew how uncomfortable she was but buried it well until he tricked himself into believing she was proud of him, warts and all. It was easier that way. At least he wasn't alone though. Living with his friends in the flat downtown had been fun. Certainly, the space and distance from his mother and siblings came with benefits. Being able to explore his sexuality was certainly a lot easier without worrying about someone coming home and catching him unawares. With roommates, everyone was drunk, horny or dating, modesty was pretty much left at the door and breakfast at the coffee table could feature discussions about assignments or embarrassing hook ups. Leith was positive his mom would have lost her mind if she knew what his housemates got up to. He was tamer, safer, but certainly not a virgin when he started living outside of the home.

There had been a boyfriend before Ceren, and before that, some experimenting, but Ceren was serious. That much had been obvious from the start. The butterflies, the nerves, the elation when he knew the feeling was mutual and that they'd give it a try. Unlike his ex, Leith actually introduced Ceren to the family properly as opposed to casually mentioning a boyfriend of sorts one weekend when he popped by to help Aunt May unpack when she moved into his old room. From the start it was obvious Leith had decided Ceren was the One. Meredith had been apprehensive, then again, she'd have been apprehensive if it was Taron or Bailey right? Love was a risky game, it wasn't because he was gay ... Right? Aunt May had been less subtle, immediately pointing out the age gap and a list of other concerns. The only one she didn't list was the fact they were both guys, that was the one "problem" that hung silently in the air. For the most part though ... they tolerated it, it was a start. And then Ceren was kicked out of his home. Leith didn't mention it of course, he let Ceren move in with him and kept it quiet ... then the rent went up and Leith was on the verge of homelessness and not one came back to stay with Meredith, but two.

And she'd accepted them both.

Maybe that was when Leith was convinced she'd accepted him, she was okay with it. Leith contributed what he could, but they were over-stretched, he was working his ass off but couldn't support them both, Ceren's family would have nothing to do with them. Maybe Meredith knew Leith blamed himself for that, if he'd been more careful, Ceren wouldn't have been outed and then evicted... May knew the truth though, she knew Meredith too well, she knew it would break her heart to lose Leith. Even at his worst, she'd always been a soft touch with Leith. If he and Taron both broke the rules, Taron always got the slightly firmer stare, the slightly harsher telling off. It was subtle, but May knew because she saw how Meredith had loved their father, and how Leith was practically a mirror of him in almost every way. The way he had to fidget with things, the interest in fixing cars was due to his father. Leith didn't give a damn about makes or models or flashy cars, but he liked the puzzle of figuring out how they worked. Right from the get-go when he and his father built a go cart in the yard when he was a kid.

Meredith accepted Ceren because she couldn't bear to risk losing Leith. That didn't mean it sat well with either mother or aunty though. May found it odd ... and Ceren was closer in age to Taron, it just ... it was a disaster waiting to happen. If she knew Meredith's inner thoughts, she'd have understood and agreed, as much as it hurt to wish a breakup upon Leith, maybe that would have been for the best, maybe a nice girl would come along and they'd just click. Maybe this was a bizarre phase ... though it was beginning to drag out a little too long and a little too seriously.

May patted her sisters hand and offered a supportive smile. "Meri, you are here for your kids when it counts. No mom can be around 24/7 and you've given them everything you can. Leith's a grown man now, and if rent wasn't so bad right now, he'd probably be off travelling in Europe with his friends or something. He barely came home when he was living with his mates, but he was happy and healthy there. Taron's a teenage boy and you know what they're like, they're too cool to hang out with their mom all the time, and Bailey, well, when she gets her first crush and needs to buy her first bra, then you'll be there for her. Right now, she's tipping along just fine, like other girls her age. You are practically mom of the year but you talk as if you neglect them." May shook her head. Sure, Richard was putting a strain on things, mostly with Leith which was why it probably sat so ill with her, but Meredith certainly wasn't a cruel mother, Taron even seemed to warm to Richard just a little and got a lot of much needed attention when the man was around.

"If you were here, from dusk till dawn, Leith would be with Ceren spouting off embarrassing sentimental stuff and making gooey eyes, Taron would be holed up in his room playing xbox and Bailey would be practicing makeup and hairstyles in her room." That much was at least partially true ... but Meredith still missed things. "They're normal kids, heck, even though you won't admit it, only two of them are still kids. Leith's your baby but he's a man now don't forget, Taron's not too far behind him either."

She waved a hand at the pretty comment, claiming that May was the prettier sister was like saying Taron was Meredith's favourite. A sad untruth, May was pretty, and wonderful in her own way, but Meredith just beat her on that front ... Leith, by virtue of being more like his father, had a special place in Meredith's heart that Taron just missed by a hairs-breadth. At least everyone knew about May but not about Taron coming second place. "I might dig out that dress Will got me ... Never got to wear it ... If I can still fit that is" she let out a weary chuckle. Time was healing, slowly but surely. "Bailey's fussy ... I doubt she'll be keen, I think I've heard of that place though, pretty expensive" May agreed, Japanese food sounded a bit exotic, Bailey lived on chicken wings and chips. Maybe Leith could pick up something from the chippy near his work when he clocked off and Bailey could eat at home after sitting through dinner and staring at the sushi.

May couldn't help but be impressed by her sister ingenuity at resolving the Leith-Ceren-Dinner-Crisis. Smooth and subtle, if Leith asked why he never got an invite to the fancy place, she could always claim it was a last minute thing and he and Ceren were still out ... Leith wasn't stupid, but he was still Meredith's baby boy no matter how tall he got, at least the white-lie would take the sting out of it. Meredith had a talent at juggling things, it was just a shame Richard had a penchant for tying her hands in knots to hinder her juggling. There really was no easy way to have a family dinner with the tension between Richard and Leith, neither side would yield. Leith wasn't an aggressive type, he'd simply remove himself from the situation. May knew Richard would never yield. There was no middleground, one would stand their ground, the other would walk away but neither would bend, neither would compromise.

Taron didn't leave enough hot water of course ... having two extra people in the house didn't help either, but it was Bailey's own fault for dawdling in the morning. Eventually she stomped down stairs with damp hair and a scowl, still a couple of bubbles in her hair as it dripped down her jacket.
"You snooze you lose little miss" May remarked, presenting Bailey with her breakfast. "Egg?" she offered Ceren, at the very least, the family was civil but ... it was always a tad awkward.

With a frown, Bailey tucked in to her breakfast. "Thank you Aunty May" May said sarcastically. Bailey sighed and offered a lame "thank you" in response.
"Can you let me off at the park across from school? I want to walk in with my friends" Bailey asked Ceren once she finished her breakfast. Leith wasn't the best at lying, he was hopeless in fact, but Bailey was more cunning. She didn't have friends meeting her in the park ... but she didn't want the bullies to see her hopping out of her brothers boyfriends' car. Oh how they'd torment her if they saw. Giving them less ammo was all she could do since she couldn't make them stop.

May nodded at the busy comment. Leith had to park his old pick up truckon the lawn. He got it for a steal because it needed work, but there was no way Meredith couldn't get him a fixer-upper, Richard had been generous too but the awkward banged up looking thing in the dealership was the winner. If she got him a perfectly new car, he'd have to dismantle it and get under the hood himself out of sheer curiosity. His old truck worked out a charm but with Meredith and Ceren's cars parked up too ... things got crowded, and once Taron started demanding wheels of his own ... May was suddenly glad she stopped driving after Will died. The bus stop was close by and buses came regular, and if she was stuck, Meredith drove her places from time to time and Leith was always willing to chauffeur her around too. The house was bursting at the seams, and even if it wasn't, the driveway was certainly overladen.

"Don't worry about me ... I'll get the bus home" Bailey declared. "I have choir practice after class so I'll be home late" she lied. No one caught on so far. No one asked what songs she learned, if she got a solo or when she'd be performing. No one noticed that she never even hummed around the house or showed the slightest bit of interest in singing ... So far she'd gotten away with the cover story entirely. Leith would notice if she'd locked herself in the closet to cry, she wouldn't dare risk it at home.

His steel blue eyes moved between the woman and the cash she held out to him. It didn't feel right taking her money to take her son out. As much as he did appreciate the gesture, Ceren wasn't an idiot. It wasn't a secret, at least not to him, that the family was a littl strapped for cash. They were barely staying afloat and if he took this money he was only adding to the issue. "No thanks, I uh...I can't take your money," he said politely. He flashed a polite smile before inching around the older woman. There was something off about the way she was offering up, since that wasn't something she did, ever really. Money wasn't a hot commodity around here, they had to save everything they could. "I think he works late anyways," he said as he rounded her and slipped the rest of the way down the stairs.

Ceren did his best to avoid most interactions with either female. It was just...awkward between them. Even now, months later, things still hadn't clicked. It was no surprise as to why though. All he could really say was that at least they were civil. There were those that were less subtle in their distaste for his relationship with Leith, the age gap apparently being the most off-putting thing about it all. He had to admit, that when he'd first met Leith that night his car broke down in the parking lot, he'd been tepid about it as well. He'd been more than tepid really, needing a huge push from Linda to even work up the courage to speak to him again.

He sighed softly as he grabbed his car keys and his wallet from the side table by the front door. He filtered through the worn leather, finding a ten and a five. He let out a wry huff of a laugh before pocketing the old wallet in his pocket. If they want that may be able to get them into a matinee at the movie theater. Ceren could read between the lines, Meredith didn't want them at the house tonight, and he had an idea as to why.

Richard was the less than savory character his boyfriends mother had been seeing as of late. He didn't hide his true feelings on the boys relationship like the two women that lived here. A part of Ceren respected him for that, for actually being honest about it rather than hiding behind painfully polite smiles and tense conversations. That didn't ease the blow of what he said, Leith getting the brunt of it.

He leaned against the entryway, itching to leave. His blue eyes watched the domestic family scene that unfolded before him. Bailey and May bantered as family usually did, Taron smirking as he jogged down the stairs. He nudged his sister out of the way to be the first to grab breakfast before they sat and tucked in. It was painfully domestic, like something you'd see in a Hallmark commercial or something...and there Ceren was, watching from the outside as usual.

It was in times like these that he truly saw how outside of the Meyer life he truly was. He wasn't part of the family but a boy in need of a home, a favor for Meredith's dear baby boy. He dropped his gaze, arms folding over his chest. He'd never be part of what he saw in front of him, and a part of him was okay with that. He'd come to accept that to an extent and that helped lessen the sting in his chest when he saw it every morning.

"Bye mom! Bye Aunt May!" Taron called over his shoulder in a bored, monotonous tone as he buried his face in his phone. The sound of his voice snapped Ceren back to reality, eyes flicking between the two teens once they were ready to go. He buried the stinging in his chest, the lump in his throat, and turned towards the door. "Finally," he mumbled as the trio left to get their school day started.

"Jesus, you guys take forever," he grumbled, not serious in his disdain at all as they headed out to the car. Taron shot back a quick response that left the two teens smirking at each other. The blonde skirted around his sister calling, "Shotgun," as he slipped into the passenger side door. Ceren rolled his eyes at the sibling rivalry of sorts. It wasn't a dynamic he'd ever had with his older brother. Daron was more of a father than a brother, his mother usually locked away in her room.

"Tar, you're weird as hell," Ceren scoffed as he dropped into his seat, keys shoved into the ignition. It took a few tries but he got the engine to start.
"Your car is trash man," Taron laughed as they pulled out of the driveway.
"Yeah, I know," Ceren said with a roll of his eyes.
"Why don't you ask Leith to fix it?" he wondered as he tapped away at his cell phone, talking to his friends before school.
"This is fixed," Ceren admitted, pulling to a stop at the park as per request by Bailey. "Here's your stop," he said, noticing a severe lack of others. His brow furrowed but he kept his thoughts to himself on the matter.

“Bailey Honey, what time is choir over? Is there any papers for me to sign or anything so you can be in it? Are your friends all joining too?” Choir? That was strange, but then again Meredith hardly had time to understand Bailey’s life at school anyways. Any interests or new hobbies would have barely registered in the mother’s already scattered mind. Still though, Meredith asked her rapid-fire questions, trying to wrangle her car-pool-plans into submission. Of course Bailey could get the bus, but getting a lift would give Meredith some time with her youngest daughter, much needed time she couldn’t afford to lose. There was no way she’d let this one go this time.

“4.30-ish I guess. There’s no papers, you just show up … Yeah, my friends are there too” Bailey shrugged, as if the carpool and questions were inconveniences.

“Alright, Taron you don’t mind hanging around a little bit after school do you? I’ll pick you both up after Bailey’s choir practice is over, you can hang back and get an early start on that homework” Ever the mom, Meredith had already thought ahead it seemed, thinking that dinner take longer than expected. Or worse, Richard would smother them all with more gifts as he so often felt the need to buy the family’s happiness. Parting her two little ones, a kiss on the brow for Bailey, and a less awkward a mom hug for Taron, she waved goodbye as they marched out the door, lunches packed away in their knapsacks, to school. There was some reluctance, but which kid did not have such hesitations about going to class? Things seemed so goddamn normal on the surface. As is the normal in this house, it seems. “Have a great day at school!” Shouted words echoing to chase after the three bodies that just left.

With the kids out at school, Leith probably already elbows deep in an engine at this hour, May and Meredith were left to their own devices. May drained the last of the wine in her glass, she could tell that Meredith needed a pick me up. Anyone starting the morning with their OJ glass full of wine was clearly in need of a boost (a boost of the non-alcoholic kind). But in this house of glass who can blame them?

“Whaddya say I treat you to a facial at the salon hmm? Seems like you could use a treat. I’ll get some lunch delivered from that place across the street that you like and you can just lie back, relax and tell me everything that’s on your mind. Clearly, I’m only scratching the surface” May Suggested. An open invitation others would certainly leap at, especially knowing they were going out later in the evening. Who would say no to a day to relax at a salon?

“I don’t know May … There’s probably work I could be doing here at home. Maybe I could plan something nice to do with the kids or get them a little treat or-” Meredith started. Prattling on the list of excuses she made for her sister, and more so for herself to enjoy an afternoon cozying up to a spa chair with heaven on her face. Such expoliation to draw out the toxins on her mind, what a perfect allegory and yet still she thought of ways to avoid drawing those dark thoughts out.

“With what money?” May retorted. She knew as good as any that they were skint. They had the house, but it was too small, they couldn’t afford to rent somewhere else even though they seriously needed the room. And it’s not like Meredith could just ask for Richard to buy them a bigger place, no that would be so desperate to throw away the last bit of dignity her sister had left for herself. “You need a treat yourself first. Keep on worrying like that and then you’ll have wrinkles sprouting up everywhere, neither you nor Richard wants that” May warned. She knew as well as Meredith that losing Richard this late in the game was a gamble that couldn’t be taken lightly.

You need a treat yourself

That’s rich, Meredith thought. Wasn’t she spoiled enough already? A wealthy guy buying her dresses, taking her on fancy dates, having her driven about town by a chauffeur. She was lavished in these things and yet, May thought more spoiling would fix this? She felt guilty. She couldn’t protect Leith from Richard’s barbs, and couldn’t afford to turn the man away. She half-wished she could pry into Leith’s mind and figure out if he understood, if he didn’t hate her for her choice, but then part of her was scared of what she’d find. What kind of mother let a man into her house if he said the things Richard said about her son? Bailey and Taron were younger, perhaps they didn’t know why she did it, maybe they were blissfully ignorant of the ugly truth. She could only hope. Taron seemed to warm to Richard, that almost eased her conscience, even just slightly. He needed a father figure in his life, especially at his age, though Meredith loathed to admit Richard could be that figure, she could hardly deprive her middle-child of the attention either. She really couldn’t win. And Bailey … well she just floated along where the current took her which was worrying in its own way.

“C’mon, we’re going to the salon, put on some comfy shoes and get your bum out the door” May insisted. The voice of reason dragging her sister back from the depths of crushing despair. Yes, perhaps a day at the salon was godsend, and they could catch up there together, as sisters. Facials aside, Meredith knew she needed to get some of this, even just the tiniest bit, off her chest. Her sneakers clashed with her dress but she didn’t care, for just one moment today, she didn’t need to present herself impeccably, for Richard.

---

The salon was soothing from the moment she passed over the threshold. Meredith eased back into a comfy reclining salon chair in one of the back rooms. Soft tranquil music floated through the air, oils and lotions and potions lightly perfumed the air. May put on her salon over-dress, or as she called it her “Posh-Apron”, the salon name embroidered on the lapel. She heated up a soothing face mask as Meredith hesitantly allowed herself to unwind.

“Is it dinner that has you this wound up?” May asked, smoothing a mint-green coloured mask on Meredith’s cheeks.

“Well it certainly doesn’t help, but no, that’s not it” Talking while the mask was worked out, contours shifting, but alas conversation was more important that beauty right now. For the Mona Lisa cannot talk.

“Well, then spill it. I only have a couple of clients to deal with today so I have time to listen”

“That’s the problem May. I don’t have time for my kids.”

“I already explained this hon, the kids are at the age where they don’t cling to their mothers skirt, they’re growing up and independent.”

“And miserable” Meredith interrupted.

“Well now you’re exaggerating. Leith doesn’t like Richard and I’m sure he’d rather be in his own place instead of sharing his sister’s room, but you’ve let Ceren move in with him, you’ve supported him, what more could he ask for? Bailey is a moody teen and Taron actually seems to be getting along quite well. Are you having problems with Richard? Because the kids are doing fine, are you trying to use them as a scapegoat for the real problem here because you know you can’t hide things from me sis.”

May had her points … maybe Leith would be uncomfortable at home even if Richard was out of the picture … Though that didn’t seem likely. He adored Bailey and as awkward as the logistics were, sharing his sisters room wasn’t all that bad. Richard was what upset him, and, May suspected, his suspicions that Meredith wasn’t as comfortable with him as she acted perhaps. But Richard … well, May didn’t know him quite so well as her sister and her nephews and niece. If he was the problem, she’d need a little more info to go on to get to the root of it.

“Has he said something? Are you two having troubles?” May pried.

Richard was a much needed financial anchor for the family, whether anyone cared to admit it or not. If they were having troubles, it was no surprise Meredith would be stressed out.
Meredith let out a wear sigh, May was about to get hit by a tsunami of micro-and-major problems.

“I’m sleeping with a man to try and support my family-”

“That’s not entirely true, surely there’s something there, he’s not the worst-” May attempted to justify.

“A man who calls my eldest son vile things,” there was no disagreeing with that point, “Rick always wants me around him all the time, so I barely see my kids. Who’s there to tell Leith that he’s not wrong or broken or vile? Then there’s Ceren, and I don’t approve, but what can I do? My hands are tied. Taron’s starting his own step into love but he spends so much time at his girlfriend’s house, we haven’t even had the birds and bees talk, and dammit May, it's bad enough with Leith and Ceren in the house I don’t want another one moving in or... And little Bailey … she’s just so distant. She was always a quiet one but now it’s like we don’t even speak the same language. It’s because of Richard? It is isn’t it. She doesn’t like him, that has to be it but he’s the only hope of getting her through college and she’s a clever girl. I can’t deprive her. I just want the best for them all, but I can’t… I’ve been a terrible mother May. But all I want is the best for my family, Our family, you’re just every part of it you know. I can’t possibly thank you enough for being there when I’m with Rick-”
“-Does Bailey miss me when I’m away? We should go see her Choir group one day and surprise her maybe.”

“Of course Bailey misses you, in her own little way, but you can catch up on things. A girly day, just you and her, I’m sure you and Rick can work out a day off to spoil her” watching her choir performance seemed like a good idea too. She was a quiet, shy girl, May was impressed she went to choir at all but if it boosted her confidence, everyone in the house would be thoroughly supportive.

“And maybe Taron could bring his girl over to the house and introduce her, well more than just a name, I haven’t even seen what she looks like, have you May?”

May shook her head, “He always goes to her house. It would be nice to meet her, I could cook up a special dinner or something. See sis, these are just little easy fixes, you can do this. We can have a girl-day with Bailey, listen to her choir, have a family dinner with Taron’s girlfriend over.” The fly in the ointment was Leith of course … really, if Ceren was out of the picture, they’d probably all move in with Richard by now and the other problems would sort themselves out. Juggling her partner and her gay-son seemed to be tearing Meredith in two. All roads in the mother's heart after all seemed to lead to Leith, and by extension Ceren.

Yet, it was not an issue Meredith cared to talk about. She had her reservations, and she knew so too did her sister, and probably vice versa. May too respectful to be so vocal to her sister, and Meredith too loving to be so vocal to her son. It was something left unsaid, for everyone feared to cross the bridge. It was the the elephant in the room to which the threads of the family remained tethered to. Else it would have all gone already, Ceren and Leith in some apartment someplace together. Taron soon to follow after with his girlfriend. Bailey could enjoy life with Mom and Richard. May could be there with her sister as well. They could leave this place of stress, leaving behind the bad memories, and take only the good ones they had of their little shack. Too small to fit their troubles, too big to make them easily solved.

“You’re right Sis, I… I guess so. You were always the one with a level head in the family. I’d trade in my beauty for your brains any day.” Ending it all on a joke, a chuckle shared between two sisters, oh how good it was to laugh, to think back to the past, stepping out of the troubling present and far far away from the distant future.

“Theres just one thing…” she pointed out, one problem not addressed. “What are we going to do about Ceren?” We … because May refused to let Meredith face everything alone.

“What can we do? He makes my Leith happy. I mean sure he doesn’t pay rent or help with the food, but a drive or two for a kids isn’t too bad right? Still though, I guess… I mean as long as Leith is… I mean I don’t enjoy it, but… I wish the boy would get someone more… Right. Like how you found Will, godbless his soul. I don’t want him to be hurt by Ceren, there’s something I just can’t shake off about the boy. But what can we do May? He stays around for Leith. I can’t kick him out without... And I don’t want to say I don’t trust him, but I just don’t want him ruining our family. Oh pleased don’t tell Leith I told you that Sis.”

Right … Someone right for Leith … Meredith didn’t need to say it, but they both knew what she meant was someone straight. That would be ideal.
“You’re right” May agreed, she couldn’t kick him out for no reason, Leith would be crushed and Ceren had nowhere to go. “You know I would never tell Leith” she promised. She was loyal to her sister, and they were chatting in confidence. May also didn’t have the heart to say that to Leith, it didn’t exactly help that Richard constantly reminded him though.
“Leith is a bright boy- Man” she corrected herself, Leith just shot up once puberty hit him, tall and toned, girls always looked his way and yet none ever caught his eye. “I’m sure he’ll see sense in time. Love is blind as they say, but, well … give him time.”

The hope was there. Leith would find something else, someone else and all the problems would be solved.

Bailey Gets Bullied

Bailey was more than happy to let Taron take the front seat, she could slump down in the back, no one would see her, she'd hopefully make it to class just in time so she didn't run into her bullies first. Then she'd only have to tolerate them through lunch. Today could be a good day or ... well, a less awful than usually day. Hopefully.

She muttered a "thanks" as Ceren dropped her off outside the park. No friends waiting for her, but no bullies. She slid out of the backseat and skulked through the park gates.

Maybe today would be a good day ... or rather, a less horrible than it had to be day. She could get to first period just in the nick of time, then Alice and her friends would only get to pick on her during lunch period and in one or two of her classes. She could skip the morning torment they'd saved up for her.

It seemed today wasn't to be her lucky day ... In fact, it was as rotten as always, or maybe worse so.

"Hey Snailey. Saw you getting dropped off at the park today" Alice sneered.
Shit ... they know ... they saw... Bailey's heart sank. Now they had more ammo. They had more things to laugh about, more things to tease her about.
"Was your mom and brother too busy to drop you off at school you had to get a lift from his Buttfriend-I-mean-boyfriend?"
The girls erupted in giggling.

"Did your mom forget to make you lunch again today Snailey?"
"No" Bailey insisted. Mom had made lunch.
"Really? Prove it" Alice sneered.
"Yeah, prove it Snail!"
Lisa grabbed a fistful of Bailey's still-damp hair and "squealed "yuck" as Alice snatched her bag, chucking out her things unceremoniously making snide remarks.

"Slimey-hair-Snailey" Lisa crowed.
Alice made a lewd comment about Leith and Ceren doing inappropriate things in the shower, so that Bailey had to wash her hair with a yard hose like a dog. Lisa barked at her. Bailey cringed. She knew the birds and the bees, she didn't know how gay stuff worked and even though she loved Leith dearly, she didn't quite want to know how he had sex. He had the respect to keep his sex-life totally separated from her life. She knew he was careful, appreciated it ... Now the sanctity of that privacy, Leith keeping those things private to spare her, was broken and school-bullies were throwing rude remarks about her brother in her face.
Lisa began making lewd gestures and cackling. Bailey wanted to tell her she had fat legs and a witch nose but she couldn't do it. She endured Alice and Lisa cackling and gagging at their own rude suggestions of what happened in Bailey's bathroom in the morning.

Finally, Alice dug out Bailey's lunch and tossed her bag aside.
"Oh so you weren't lying." Alice remarked, waving the lunch bag in Bailey's face. "Are you gonna cry and stuff your greasy face, Snail?"
"Yeah, Fat Snail!" Lisa chorused.
"Fat Slimy Snail, Fat Ugly Snail!"

The torment was broken by the bell ringing. Alice and Lisa cackled and walked away, parting with a few snide remarks as Bailey choked down tears, kept on her best brave face and packed her things into her bag.

This wasn't how she wanted to start her day ... this was't how it was supposed to be. She was careful, she went through the park, she didn't show up on the halls on her way to class until the last moment and still ... they got her.

She avoided class. Zipped to the bathrooms and locked herself in the stall. Her throat and chest aching and her eyes stinging as she scrubbed away the tears.

She was late to first period. Hoping her eyes weren't too red, she kept her head down and took her seat. She just had to get through lunch now, and that one afternoon class where Lisa sat behind her.

Lunch was much the same as always. She tried to get away. To hide. But eventually they found her. The torment continued same as ever. This time Karen was there too, and one of the boys from the year above Bailey's. They circled her and pushed her around.

"Choir practice" couldn't come sooner and by the time final bell rang, Bailey couldn't run fast enough to the cramped stall in the old gym toilets that was rarely ever used ever since the new toilets were installed.

It was cold and dank and dark ... but at least she was alone. No bullies to find her. No aunt or mom to fret about her. No brothers or brothers-boyfriends ... The toilet stall almost felt more "hers" than her own bedroom since her two new tenants occupied half the space.

Even now. As she wept into her lap, she couldn't blame Leith for being the way he was. He didn't even know the pain his lifestyle caused her. If he knew, he'd be crushed by it, she couldn't bear to dump that on him. She couldn't be mad at her mom for finding comfort in another guy who ... wasn't all that bad really ... rude and a bit stuck up, but he spoiled mom ... Even Leith had said, quietly, when it was just the two of them sitting on her bed, "You don't have to like him, I don't like him ... but he makes mom happy. We have to be happy for her." Even pointing out his horrible comments didn't sway Leith's stance on Richard. He made mom happy, they had to just grin and bear it.

The ache in her chest didn't ease, but eventually she ran out of tears and washed her face in the sink. Sniffing and furiously rubbing her eyes, wishing the redness would subside. It was 4.30 now. Mom would be waiting at the school gates and she had to look "normal". She had to look like she just spent her time singing with choir and chatting to friends she didn't really have.

Leith's day, by comparison, was going far better. Though he'd have liked to spend the day in bed with Ceren, exchanging nauseatingly-sweet comments, he had work. But he liked his work and Ceren would be there when he came back. He'd get a day off sooner or later and they'd make up for lost time.

Right now, he was lying on a creeper, under the belly of a car, looking up at a maze of pipes and tubes and parts.
"Cmon girl, tell me what ails you" he mumbled to himself, inspecting a piece here and there. Overalls unzipped and the sleeves tied around his waist. A stained t-shirt on on top, beat-up sneakers on his feet. Leith, more often than not, looked delightfully scruffy. Even for his Coffee-shop job, he wore faded denim jeans, an ironic shirt and the same sneakers he wore when he worked on cars. A shame really, he had the looks of a model and would scrub up well if he wasn't committed to "looking like a grease-monkey" as his coworker Linda often reminded him.

"Try it again Nick" Leith called. Nick gave the key a twist, the engine creaked and groaned but still nothing.
Leith slid out from under the car and lowered the jack. Scratching his head, leaving a black smudge on his temple, he popped the bonnet and leaned in, looking around and jiggling parts, utterly absorbed in his work.

Ceren's mind lingered on the absence of other children in the park that the teen had requested to be dropped off in. He didn't have too long to think about it though, a rather bratty quip from the blonde at his side had his attention shifting and eyes rolling. Leaving to Taron to be sassier than the gay guy in the car, a shared joke between the boys that had them laughing all the way to the high school. Unlike his sister, Taron had no qualms about being dropped off by his brothers gay boyfriend. Kids in high school were much more apathetic about those issues. If it wasn't getting them good grades, laid, or drunk, most likely they weren't really worried about it.

"Thanks man," Taron said as he flicked off his belt and grabbed his backpack.
"No problem," He shrugged off, more than ready to head off to school. He was verging on being late now. "Oh and T," Ceren caught on as the boy slipped out of the car.
"Yeah?" he wondered, brows flicking downwards in confused curiosity. "Keep it in your pants man," he teased, the fact Taron had a girlfriend being common knowledge.
"You first," He quipped back, the darker of the two showing off his middle finger, both males laughing as he sped off.

Ceren was able to slip into class just as the clock hit 8am. It was cutting it close but he made it. He flicked on the monitor in front of him, pulling up his latest coding file. He pursed his lips, staring at the screen as he checked over what he'd been working on. Whatever little slip ups he may have made the night before were fixed, which was rather annoying. They were little things here and there, a symbol that shouldn't be there, or that was eerily similar to one though it was the other.

"Hey," a voice from his left whispered. It took a moment but Ceren tore his gaze from the screen, flickering to the mocha colored man at his side before they were once again on his screen. He didn't have time to talk, working diligently to finish this damn code up. He had been hoping to finish it last week but his car services had been needed by Taron to go meet his girlfriend or to be picked up. Of course Ceren stuck under the lie that he was just hanging out with friends.

Even though the family knew that he had one, it didn't mean they knew just how much time they spent together. Knowing how precious a commodity personal space was, Ceren had no issue with it. Taron was sixteen, he wasn't going to want to divulge his relationship with his family, other than the girls name and that she was in his year. He wanted something to himself, outside of the house, the struggles, the tension. Ceren understood that, respected it, so he helped Taron get his personal space.

"What?" Ceren mumbled, keeping his voice low out of curtesy of the other students instead of necessity.
"You look tired mate," the male at his side mused as Ceren yawned.
"Yeah so?" He shrugged, blinking before his fingers tapped against the aged keyboard.
"I got something that could help," the boy mentioned. Ceren paused, attention fully on the man next to him. The other boy smirked, knowing he had the kids interest. "It's just a little thing to help you get work done. Everyone uses it," he pitched, revealing a tiny plastic bag full of a suspicious white powder.

Ceren blinked, staring at the dime bag. He was almost startled to find himself considering it. He was having a hard time concentrating on his work. He could use something to help him get this done, and get it done right. He spent half of his school day fixing mistakes he made when he was too tired to function. But..Leith...the family..."Nah I'm good," he mumbled with a quiet shake of his head. "Coffee is good with me," he lied as he got back to work, shaking the guilt of having even considered the offer posed to him.

"Well...if you ever need it," the boy hummed, slipping the small pouch back into his jacket. Ceren didn't know, nor did he want to, how or where it went. He just wanted to finish his day and go visit Leith. He wanted to shake the weight that lay heavy on his shoulders. He didn't need some 'aid' to help him get work done. He could do this...on his own. Leith was working two jobs just fine, and somehow still finding a decent amount of time to spend time with him. He could get through college.

That relief was given, a wash of emotion damn near cathartic, as Ceren pulled up to the local garage. His lips tugged into an easy smile, the giddiness of seeing that one person that made the hurt, confusion, anxiety, and all other worries melt away. That one person that, no matter what, could pull out the best of you even when you were at your lowest. It was a fluttering of a heart, a twinkle in the eye, the buzzing under the skin.

Love.

Pure and simple.

He saw him there, leaning over the propped up hood of some broken car. His muscles flexed, body painted in grease stains, clothing hanging off his body luxuriously. Ceren smiled, something he just couldn't help when he got to see the man completely in his element. His teeth dug into his bottom lip, feet dragging him towards the object of his affection. Russet brown arms wrapped around a narrow waist, hands finding home in those overalls tied so carelessly around his body. Slim chin resting on a soft shoulder, a sweet tenor voice whispered. "Wanna check under my hood babe?"

((lemme know if you wanna change/add/edit/delete anything Si!!!))

"Son-of-a" Leith cursed under his breath, though he never finished the curse. Despite his age, his “manliness”, Leith was unbelievably polite and averse to using swear words or foul language.
A gasp escaped him when hands wrapped around his firm waist, flat, toned, muscles clenched slightly from the way he was leaning over the car. A small laugh bubbled up from behind the taller, more muscular man, his lover finding it rather humorous he was so jumpy.
He was reluctant to grab Ceren with his pot-black grubby hands, and yet, nothing would have pleased him more.
"Well I guess you may be overdue a service” Leith purred, grabbing a chammy that was draped over a part of the car and attempting to rub off some of the stubborn dirt and oil.
“So overdue,” Ceren purred softly, hands sliding over narrowed hips, squeezing gently, intimately.

Dammit, it had been too long … the house was too frigid and stiff … He needed the intimacy, they needed it. Kisses and hugs and sharing a bed were all well and good, but sometimes you needed that rush, that prickling of the skin, that heat and friction … and that simply couldn’t happen at home while anyone else was around. If things got too heated, even if it was mild stuff, they had to pour cold water on themselves immediately, lest they take things too far.

Hands clean, he turned around and allowed his eyes to scan over Ceren, delightful as always. Hands settling on Ceren’s hips, the teen’s looping around the older males neck, he planted a kiss on his lips, not a promise for more unfortunately, but affection nonetheless.

"Can you give me a second, I left a few bolts loose down there I ought to tighten” Leith asked.
Ceren gave a sigh, but what could he do, it would only take a minute, he could wait. Arms loosened, hands trailing down a toned chest over the fabric of an old, thin tshirt. A low purr vibrating through him as an idea sprang up in his young man. "Maybe...I could help?” he suggested, blue eyes flicking up to Leith’s burning with a passion that needed to be sated.
"You could get me fired if you keep talking like that” Leith replied lightly, a laugh in his tone. Regardless, he lay back on the creeper, ready to slide under the car and poke around.
A light laugh, Ceren’s blue eyes watching the other slip beneath the car. Teeth dug shyly into his bottom lip, eyeing the man beneath the car. He glanced over his shoulder, no one around. Eyes fell back down, a plan forming in the devious mind.
"That wouldn’t be so terrible,” he mused, rounding the vehicle Leith was working on. “We’d spend more time together,” he chuckled, obviously joking. Ceren would never wish for Leith to be fired for such selfish wants. That didn’t mean he couldn’t toy with him.
"You know I get off work in just a couple hours right?” Leith asked rhetorically, but Ceren knew of course, not that patience played much of a role in this anyway.
He paused where knees were bent, sticking out from beneath the car. Brown hands wrapped around the edges of the small scooter helping the other slide in and out of his workspace. A quick flex of muscle, a sharp tug of the wheeled platform and they were once again face to face. “Your point being?” Ceren chuckled, not waiting for an answer before warm lips were pressed together, searing and needy and so full of love.
An expert tongue slipped between plush pink lips, tasting a cavern he’d already memorized, yet still excited him.
Leith failed to resist … then again, Ceren was exceptionally talented at stealing and keeping his attention even when Leith had other things he ought to be doing. A wrench (that fits right? lol) was dropped aside, forgotten at least temporarily as Leith’s hands found Ceren’s waist. A subtle push of his foot and the car became a canopy … Maybe his boss wouldn’t notice … at least if they didn’t make much noise, and heck, maybe he’d not be back that soon anyway.

Ben returned from his lunch break, nursing a bacon sandwich and a styrafoam cup of coffee. He could have sworn Leith was bashing away at the Volks Wagon when he’d left but … there didn’t seem to be any work going on around the hood where Ben had left him. Then he heard a sound …
"Shh- Baby”
"I can’t-”
"Wait I think I heard something-”
"You did” Ben interrupted, clearly he’d walked in on something. "Under the car? Really Leith?” Ben rolled his eyes, hoping the two figures beneath the car were decently clothed at least.

Two bodies slipped from beneath the truck, one with wide, innocent and frightened eyes, the other with a cheeky smirk painted on his lips.
"You know this isn’t your bedroom right?” Ben said pointedly, but lightly.
"I don’t even have a bedroom” Leith mumbled under his breath, he wasn’t the confrontational type … but it was bloody frustrating having no personal space.
“It could always be converted, right?” Ceren mused with a smirk plastered on his plump, pink lips, eyes flashing with amusement as he lay next to Leith, jeans tighter than before, Leith’s clothes a little looser than they should have been.
"Not likely Ceren, customers usually want their cars back after they’ve been fixed and not with new stains. Cmon, parties over” Ben gently chided.

Reluctantly … and with tremendous embarrassment, Leith brushed himself off, gave Ceren a look that was half-warning, half-apologetic, before he disappeared under the car again.
Maybe, just maybe he’d get home before the rest of the family and they could have a moment together … it wasn’t particularly likely but … stranger things had happened. Leith pressed and poked at parts till finally things started to work again, idly chatting with Ceren while he worked as Ceren sat on a clean spot on one of the workbenches.

All things in life time devours,
More precious than silver or gold,
It can be bought by the hour,
But it can never truly be sold.

If only there was more time in a day. Squeezed out or stretched, just a moment longer. A minute more to hold your beloved and tell him or her ‘I love you.” Was it so much to ask? Was it so much to do? Or was circumstance the cruel interloper who the time we have so limited? All dolled up, a world of relief, whisked away by the magic of a face mask. The years peeled back and lifted, oh if only time was truly so easy. In truth she was still old, beautiful but old. Soon her children will grow up, and like Leith leave her to live their own lives. For now however, it fell upon Meredith to hold this family together. Four o’clock, where did the time go? “Thanks May, for everything. I should drop you back at home, are you finished today? And go pick up Bailey and Taron.”

“It’s quite alright” May replied, she seemed oddly chirpy, more so than usual, it seemed bonding with her sister over a face mask had done her some good as well. “Actually …” she trailed off, “I may or may not be going out myself tonight” she flirted with the idea. She’d been hanging out with other single friends her age, getting back out there, but, also not getting back out there, just being together with like-minded individuals who’d loved and lost or who’d loved and just … fell out of love. Sometimes they went on random trips out, sometimes they pulled, sometimes they didn’t. May didn’t pull, but it seemed her grief was waning slowly and surely. Perhaps tonight someone might catch her eye. Either way, she was happy to let Meredith have some quality time with the kids- or … At least two of the kids. She didn’t want to impose.

“Oh come on May, I need you there if Rick tries anything with in front of the kids. But if you really can’t make it..” Well it was wiser to bring her along.After all, without May, Meredith was rather worried about trusting Rick with the kids.

“Are you sure? … I didn’t want to impose” May’s brows furrowed, she didn’t want to impede too much on the family space, then again … if it was what Meredith wanted, May couldn’t exactly deny her sister, she adored her and Meredith effectively put a roof over her head!

“I’m sure, plus I’d hate to have Rick order a dinner for two or something like that and split it with me romantically. The kids will probably order something they think they’ll like, and I can opt for a dinner for three with you there. I need a third wheel to make sure this evening is more about our family than him.”

May smile-frowned … Smiled because it was nice to be included in the family picture, to be appreciated by Meredith as she was, but frowning because of Meri’s concerns … Her man might make the night about him, she wanted things to be about the family. It went without saying, May had to attend, the kids meant so much to Meredith. “Alright, I won’t say no to a free meal. He is paying right?”

“Do you think we’ll let him not?” A slight chuckle from Meredith as the buildings came into view. Four twenty six, on time to pick Bailey and Taron up, with four minutes to spare. The car’s engine running as Meredith waited for the kids to emerge from school gates, her heart happy to be able to be there for her kids. This time at least.

“Bailey, Sweetie How was your day, was choir fun? Where’s your brother, I was sure he’d be done by now…”

Bailey shrugged, “Yeah, it was alright I guess” she answered, non-committal as always, her answers usually came with little “oomph” in them. May had put it down to regular old teenage angst and apathy.

“Not as fun as you thought it was? Or were the songs just too easy for you honey?” There was a hint of concern in her voice, although a mother’s voice often was far too steeped with concern. Especially in these days, when teabags are left too long in their pots, resulting in a disturbingly bitter brew. And though the tea looked invitingly dark, and felt soothingly hot, only the tongue could taste how vile it was.

“It was fine” Bailey shrugged, “Same as it usually is. Alice got the solos, she's the best in the group” Bailey said, her venom very well concealed, buried deep under layer upon layer of bullying and fear. Alice was always Queen Bee.

“Oh I think you are the best Bailey. When’s your next concert or performance? We can all go and watch.” A look at May practically said ‘they grow up so fast’ times like these were precious memories. Memories which would hopefully never dull against the sharp blade of time and dementia. She would always remember her kids, Bailey, Taron, Leith, if only she could remember a time they were all happy. Or at least didn’t know any better in the case of toddler Taron and baby Bailey…

“I don’t know” Bailey replied, maybe in time they’d forget about “choir”, or she’d claim she grew bored of it and find some other excuse to cover her tracks. Either way, Bailey knew there would be no performances, they wouldn’t see, they weren’t allowed.
“Well maybe you’ll hear soon, schools always organise all sorts of events” May said in a conciliatory tone.

The boy in question was on the other side of the road, leaning against the solid stone wall that made up the first level of his high school. One arm was wrapped around the thin waist of a pretty brown skinned girl, a smile on his lips. This one so unlike the others he showed at home. Those were lopsided, half felt gestures tinged with the slightest bit of sarcasm and contempt. His eyes were on the shorter female his free hand lifting to toy with a pretty black braid. “You would cringe so hard if you met my family,” the teen chuckled, thin braid twirling between his fingers. It wasn’t the first time they had this conversation, most of their time spent at Zuri’s home. It was one of the only places he didn’t feel forgotten.

No one worried about the middle child. No one payed any close attention to what they did outside of the home, hell even inside of the home. Plenty of dinners were skipped while he was shoved into his room to play games, that is, unless he was with Ceren. Then noses would pop in every few moments to ‘see how things were going’. God, they really couldn’t be any more transparent.

Zuri’s was different. They were treated normally, checked in on her because her parents were just kind people, genuinely asking if they wanted something to drink or eat instead of thinly veiled lies to stave off things that would never happen. It didn’t hurt that the girl herself was absolutely breathtaking.

“Taron! Get in! We’ve got a dinner to go to. Sorry! Taron’s gotta change and get ready.” There it is, the cat let out of the bag. How embarrassing to have one’s mother shouting at you from the open window. Who was that next to Taron? Was that Zuri? They looked rather strange together, the boy a half-a-head taller. Still though if Taron found something, Meredith’s mom senses went full tingle and hoped Taron was being smart about how far he was taking the relationship. If Meredith could accept Leith’s choices however, could she really be so worried about Taron? What sort of mother would she be?

May noticed the shorter, dark-skinned beauty hanging out with Taron, so that must be Zuri. May had to admit she was pleasantly impressed, so many girls walked around caked in makeup with their skirts hiked up halfway up their arses, but Zuri seemed fresh, naturally quite pretty without a great deal of fuss. If appearances were anything to go by, Taron had done quite well with Zuri, but then again, she’d never really met the young girl, sometimes the sweetest looking girls could be rotten to the core. May hoped Zuri wasn’t that type of girl.

“Um, Taron, I think they’re waiting on you” Zuri said with a shy smile, pointing toward Meredith’s car. Taron huffed, all hopes of escaping his barely coping family tossed right out the very open window his mother had shouted at him from. Could she be any more annoying? He didn’t dare ask, for fear it may actually come true.
“Unfortunately,” he huffed, an irritated glance cast his mother’s way before it softened as he looked at Zuri. The girl was abnormally sweet and understanding, like a breath of fresh air in his overcrowded home. “I’ll call you afterwards?” He spoke with a hopeful tone. Zuri smiled, nodding in affirmation before her lips met his cheek. It was chaste, much tamer than other kisses they’ve shared, but still made his stomach erupt with butterflies. He smiled, before heading to his car, waving at his girlfriend before dropping into the backseat, smile gone and a mild glare pointed at his mother. “Could you be any more embarrassing?” He spoke, clearly annoyed by her less than...inconspicuous arrival. “Texting is a thing.”

---

A mother’s hand armed with a pen. The ball rolling ink over the paper pad, curving upwards, then sharply downwards, a turn abruptly done before rising to the right and curling left into the divot. A heart, a symbol so often used in these times its meaning lost. Was it a friendship heart? Thrown at the end of a line between close friends? An endearment or excitement, an innocent cuteness meaning nothing more than friendship? Was it a motherly heart? Filled and overflowing with the care for her child? The remainder of safety and comfort, a caring symbol of a mother’s love. Was it a lover’s heart? Something which means more than the other two, much more. Of which it was clear by her message, to which she had attached the money Ceren had turned down.


“Taron, Bailey! Are you both ready?” Peeking out the door, Meredith could see Kristoff waiting by an SUV. Six seats, Meredith, May, Leith, Taron and Bailey, with Kristoff of course as driver. Richard must have already been waiting at the place. At least they were spared the conversation with Richard in the car, and Kristoff was never much of a conversationalist. Meredith could ask him all the questions she wanted and the man seemed to only reply with an indifference to everything, or a rare nod or directional hand gesture. Meredith assumed he was a mute. “Come on kids, Kristoff’s waiting!”

Bailey sloped down the stairs, wearing one of the “dinner dresses” Meredith had stashed in her wardrobe when Richard first came on the scene. “Looking presentable” was important apparently … despite the lovely knee-length dress, Bailey still wore a pair of converse sneakers that didn’t match. She didn’t really care much about getting dressed up or glamorous … she didn’t feel pretty enough for all that fuss. Her hair was scooped back into a messy loose bun. Her head and toes didn’t match the lovely dress in the middle at all. May frowned when she noticed Bailey’s lazy appearance, but what could she do? May on the other hand looked quite swanky. The beautiful dress Will had gotten her still fit (actually fit a little better now, she’d lost a couple of pounds), hair swept back off her face, a subtle dusting of bronzer gave her a healthy glow and glossy red lipstick completed the look.

Taron bounded down the stairs, nose in his phone. His fingers flew over the screen as he texted, who one could only assume, was his girlfriend. He wore a button up shirt and black slacks with black leather shoes. It was minimal, seeing as neither child actually wanted to go, neither really put much effort into dressing. Sending off his last text, phone slipped into his pocket, Taron was the only one who dared question anything his mother did, especially if he didn’t want to do it. “Why do we have to go to dinner so you can make googly eyes at your boyfriend again?” he wondered with an air of nonchalance as he made his way to the door. This whole thing was stupid and he much rather be at Zuri’s or hanging out with Ceren, not that his mother was a fan. Honestly, he’d rather be anywhere but with his mother and her boyfriend at dinner.

---

irasshaimase!

Greetings, it seemed as they entered. Haru looked like quite the place. Decorated in arranged flowers receded into hanging shelves, the smell of food wafting through the air as fires erupted from the hot tables controlled by the hat-toting, knife catching chefs entertaining diners with knifework and foodplay. It was rather vibrant, alive with the graces of the far east, with fancy carved dividers and stone-tabletops. Bottles of wine behind the counters of a long bar where men in suits clinked their stoneware cups with shouts of cheers. An old man stood behind a glass case, his hands pressing slivers of raw fish into blocks of rice, the look on his face as if he was concentrating on every single grain within his hand to marry them with each other and the fish. And to top it all off, the epitome of being a high-end place perhaps, was the hot towels the hostess offered with which was supposedly to relax with and the slippers. Oh yes, slippers for the floors were wood and guests were instructed to remove their shoes and check them in with the front, in the alcoves behind the wall and enjoy a semi-authentic experience. Oh Good. at least Bailey’s shoes wouldn’t be a problem now.

Bailey wasn’t impressed … Then again, pizza and chips was her idea of a good dinner … not this avant-garde or a-la-carte or … whatever fancy french word this high-class food went by. May was more than happy to be there though, ooh-ing and ah-ing at the talented chefs at work. Taron was being his cynical teenage self, scoffing at it all, sharing much of the same attitude as his sister.

Being requested to take off her shoes resulted in Bailey’s nose crinkling slightly in confused disgust … Who ate with their big smelly feet stinking up the room? Eww, weird. Still, she had no choice but to comply and shook off her beat up sneakers. No doubt if Richard saw the much-loved sneakers, he’d immediately demand they take her out shopping for a new pair. Bailey wouldn’t give them up easily though, they were comfortable and she’d grown attached to them as teenage girls often did.

“Will always said he’d love to see the Far East in person someday” May sighed, sadly a dream never realised. She could never hope to afford restaurants like this, she and Will had experimented with recipes at home, or gone to the small Asian market in town, this place was 5* posh-nosh, as much as sushi reminded her of Will, May was well aware that this experience was utterly unlike the kinds she’d shared with her old flame, it was probably better that way, if she were in the Asian market eating a warm sticky pork-bun from a napkin she may have been reduced to tears. This was a welcome change from that familiarity, and yet, it was nice to eat Japanese food again and enjoy it without the sharp pang of loss stabbing at her gut.

“Oh wow..” Meredith was impressed, well more than impressed: amazed. This was a place they would probably have never even imagined they would be eating at. How much does the food cost? They haven’t even given us a menu or anything to look over, was that a lobster tank around the wall they just passed by? And prawns? Langoustines? Far too rich for their blood. “Let’s make sure Rick foots the bill huh May?” A laughing jest, May stifled a chuckle as they followed their hostess to the table. Their table it seemed was behind a private screen, a sliding door of authentic paper, a shoji, which was pulled back to reveal Richard fiddling with his phone before they caught his attention.

“Meri! May! It’s great to see you all!” Well not all, Leith was missing but it seemed that was small potatoes to Richard. “Come on sit down, we’ve got the entire table to ourselves. Spread out, but you’re right next to me obviously Meri, I’ll have them clear off Leith’s spot since he’s clearly decided not to join us tonight.” Richard was already starting it seemed, taking control of the situation and asserting himself into a position of power within the family already.

“Thanks for inviting us Rick, sadly Leith had to work late, I’m sorry he couldn’t make it to this lovely dinner you’ve set up for us. May, did you want to be next to me and the kids could be on the other side? Taron you’re fine with sitting next to Richard right? And Bailey you can sit with Taron sweetie, you’re both old enough to not need mom or aunt May right? Or would you rather have Mommy next to you and auntie with your brother?” And now it seemed Meredith was all the better, quickly playing musical chairs to put the damper on Richard’s attempt to push her family around. Hopefully Richard would forget all about the missing member, and they could all have an enjoyable evening together.

May knew it was a lie … She was positive everyone knew the lie... Leith hadn’t decided, he’d been deceived, but it was for a greater good. Bailey knew it was better that Leith wasn’t here, though she’d have liked his company. She shuffled from place to place as she was bid. Quiet and moody, but at least she was an obedient little girl. May noticed her grades slipping slightly at school but didn’t voice concern, it may have been an unlucky string of tests, if it was something to be worried about, Meredith would have picked up on it by now.

Taron stared at his mother for a long moment, watching as she let yet another jibe at her eldest son slide, and for what? He didn’t understand why she put up with this, why she let Richard get away with the things he said. If it were anyone else, and he did mean anyone else, Meredith would have their heads. Everyone knew Leith was the golden child, that he could do no wrong. It was annoying beyond belief but Leith was always obnoxiously kind, so Taron really didn’t hold it against him, not really. His mother was what annoyed him, what made him feel any animosity towards his brother.

The lie that spilled from her lips only made his contempt for the woman grow. Not only was it a crock of complete bullshit, it was transparent as hell. He kept it to himself though, rolling his eyes and doing as the woman said. He felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket, mood lifting slightly as he pulled his phone out, a light smile flickering for just a moment.

“Oh, that reminds me, I’ve got some gifts for everyone. Taron, come here and help me with this box. I hope it’s something you like, I don’t know what the kids your age are playing these days so I asked the guy to help me choose the best.”

Taron’s gaze flicked up from his phone, half annoyed about being dragged away from Zuri, again, yet half intrigued. It was no secret that Richard tried to buy them. Taron allowed it because, well, who wouldn’t accept free shit? The guy was a prick and he loathed having to be here at all, but the large box was what made it almost not so bad. He still hated Richard, gifts or not, but at least he got something for being at this. A large box, rather suspiciously heavy, stacked with a thinly disguised layer of three rectangular addons over the top surface. Any gamer could probably guess what those three bulges were, and the contents of the wrapped box. It was a rather poor attempt to disguise a gaming console and three new games. A PS4, a shooting game, action-adventure and racing, all trying to pretend to be so mysterious.

“Rick, you shouldn’t have, Taron’s already spending too much time on his games-”

“Oh it’s fine Meri, it’s fine isn’t it Taron? Tell your mother you’ll still focus on your studies and whatever it is she’s concerned about while still playing your new games.”

“I’ll study or whatever,” Taron muttered with a shrug before he took his new gift to his seat, setting it beside himself, phone back out as he text Zuri the latest ‘crap’ Richard just tried to buy him with.

“And for your sister, Bailey, come here princess, I’ve got something for my Meri’s little girl… Close your eyes sweetie.”

Bailey looked at May, and then Meredith, then closed her eyes and shuffled over to Richard’s side. A handbag placed across her shoulder. Honestly a pretty-in-pink-pastel Kate Spade, slung across Bailey’s shoulder as Richard produced it from a large bag. A bunch of girls cosmetics inside the bag, nail polish in every major color, blush, lipstick, and shadow, everything a girl needs to feel beautiful and conceal all of her insecurities. Showering both kids in gifts, gifts Richard thought would be appropriate to win them over and thus show Meredith and May he was capable of being more than a provider but a good father to the kids.

Bailey’s eyes peeked open at the weight added to her shoulder. She didn’t know what a “Kate Spade” handbag was, but she knew who Richard was and knew that it wasn’t one of those knock-offs that Alice paraded around as if it was original. She couldn’t begin to guess how much the bag was worth. For a second she felt a tingle in her chest. Someone was spoiling her … Taron, Leith, May and Meredith tried to make her feel special, kind words when they had the time, but they simply didn’t have the time. Now Richard’s money attempted to fill the void in her chest that bullies chipped away at. She didn’t know much about make-up because the family could ill-afford it and sometimes Meredith would use the lame excuse “You’re too young to wear that much make-up”, even though all the other girls caked it on.
A small, cautious smile cracked across Bailey’s face. Maybe if she got good enough at her make up, the bullies couldn’t call her fat, ugly, Snailey … Maybe they’d actually like her.

“And one more thing... Because you’re a pretty princess…” Richard added, a tiara, gingerly slid into place. Sterling silver and of beautiful craftsmanship,bedazzled with glittering jewels surely imitation for a girl her age but still glamorous nevertheless, but each point capped with an authentic ruby gemstone. “There, how do you feel princess? I’m sure any boy would want to have you for his happily ever after now.” Kissing Bailey on the hand before turning to May and presenting her with a small envelope before Meredith could protest that it was all too much.

Bailey slid the tiara from her hair so she could examine it herself, before letting the dainty jewelled ornament slide back into place … Sure, she could argue that she was too old for kiddy-playtime tiara’s but … It didn’t feel like a cheap novelty toy, it was like the girls in the fashion magazines wore. She wished Leith were here. She wondered what kind of gift Richard would have gotten him. Leith didn’t appear to like things in general, give him a broken car to fix up and he was happy as a pig in shit. Broken things weren’t really Richard’s style though were they? He dealt in luxury high-end extravagant treats.

“And for you May, there’s a Seven Hundred Dollar Gift Card to Neiman Marcus in there. I don’t know your numbers.” the man said with a cheeky wink, in front of a blushing Meredith who just stood there flabbergasted at loss for words. “I’m sure you can find something that looks good on just like that dress you’re wearing tonight, you’ll definitely have to show me next time.”

May was slightly taken aback … it was a bit odd her sisters fella would spend such a ludicrous sum on her. Even men she’d dated didn’t drop that kind of cash, but it was spare change to Richard. The cheeky comment didn’t go amiss though, she’d remember that later, then again, you’d have to be blind, deaf and dumb to miss Richard’s arrogance. “Thank you Richard, this is very, very generous of you” May replied with a red-lipstick smile, careful not to be too grateful, she was after-all, the sister of the “girlfriend” and not the girlfriend.

“And for my Meri, my beautiful Meri, I know your numbers…” Richard embraced her, letting the joy of the showering of expensive gifts let him do whatever he wants to her in full view of her family as Richard nuzzled her flushed cheeks, “You look so nice in that dress, I’m almost sad I got you this one…” A black backless dress, one far less conservative than the old one Meredith wore in blue, “Good thing I got you some shoes, and something else too…” The shoes not presented like the dress which was swung around and then dropped back into the bag as Richard picked up something and made his way behind a completely overwhelmed Meredith.

A touch of cold metal dropped around her neck, the modest cut of her hemline being threatened as Richard’s hands touched the bare skin. A golden necklace with teardrop pendant sporting three diamonds getting larger as they fell down towards her chest. An expensive piece certainly, as Richard placed it around her neck. It was a very beautiful collar with which caesar claimed his list. A kiss to the back of her neck sealed the brand after his fingers locked the necklace in place. “There, I hope you like it. Only the best for my girls, and boy. Now let’s eat I’m starving.”

So many things wrong with those last words. First, Meredith hated that it was Richard who gave such a precious gift to her. Second was the ironic statement he made about starving, a fatcat like him starving as if he was blaming the wait on them. And third of course was the use of boy, not that Taron was a man yet, but what about Leith? Leith was Meredith’s boy, and by extension should also have been mentioned by Richard. But she had to let it go unless she wanted to spoil dinner for them all this evening. “I love it! Thank you Rick, you really do spoil us so, all of us.”

Richard knew that look. “I’ve got something for Leith too, even if the boy didn’t show. It’s in the bag, just take it home with you before we leave. Now, how about a dinner combo for two? The menu’s really quite something isn’t it? A full five-course meal with everything you order pretty much. Soup, Sushi, The meats cooked right in front of you, a fresh Salad, and ice cream. How about you May? Anything you see you’d like? Feel free to order Appetizers too, anything you want kids, oh and what will we all have to drink? They give you tea, but I’m in the mood for something a little more fizzy, and adult, May? Meri?”

“Bubbly sounds lovely Rick, maybe some sodas for the kids? Do they have sodas here? And I was thinking of either sharing something with May or the kids, I don’t know if the kids can eat it all, May? Taron you found something you like can you eat it all by yourself? Bailey honey? How about some fried dumplings gyoza I think? Or maybe the Teriyaki chicken and fried rice?” Concern asking for a consensus around the table, trying to just have an ordinary family dinner they could possibly never afford if it were not for Richard’s big fat thick…debit card.
“Do they have pizza and chips?” Bailey asked, high-end cuisine didn’t quite cater to her young, fast-food-loving palette. Potato chips and whatever was on top of her pizza was pretty much the majority of the vegetables that Bailey ate.

The end of Leith’s shift couldn’t come soon enough, work took agonisingly longer than usual with Ceren sitting there, innocently enough, but so darn tempting. Finally the shift ended and Ben and Nick waved Leith off, Leith didn’t take a moment's pause to drag Ceren over to the pick-up truck, pulling him up into the cab section of the car.
Heated kissing erupted, the shyness in their relationship long since forgotten, they’d been together long enough that hesitancy had melted away, plus, living with Leith’s family had really put a damper on things, when they finally got a moment to themselves, it was more often than not very physical and tactile. Hands and lips exploring each other quite liberally before breaking for a moment to catch their breaths.

”We should get back” Leith admitted reluctantly. Aunt May might have started on the dinner, and he didn’t like to make things difficult to her by showing up late. Little did he know there was no one home for dinner, they’d all gone to be with Richard.
”Twenty minutes,” Ceren panted softly, tugging Leith back into him. Their lips collided once more, Ceren tugging the other into the cabin of the truck. Lips moved expertly along a scruffy jaw, thoroughly enjoying the burning of short hairs scraping against his lips and tongue. He nipped along his lovers neck, smirking when he got to just the right place. Teeth sank into the curve of warm flesh, knowing he’d get Leith to agree now. ”Twenty minutes and we’ll go,” he swore in a breathy whisper.

”Uhuh- twenty-” Leith agreed, or rather, he had no choice but to agree, Ceren had located the spot that made Leith’s knees weak and he was powerless to resist and yet to build up an immunity to this damned trick.
Of course, still parked out the back of the garage,the “staff only” parking, meant they wouldn’t be disturbed or get ticketed for public indecency, Leith didn’t park out on the street where they’d get into trouble.
The back of the truck wasn’t necessarily … romantic … Heck, Leith would likely never have proposed sex in his truck if there wasn’t any other alternative. Before moving in with his mom, they had comfy, clean areas … His truck was not one of those areas, it was cramped littered with tools and parts from time to time. He kept it clean enough but it was hard to keep a fresh valet feel when he was working most of the time. Granted, it had enough space to do the deed, and relative privacy compared to his home at least.

A little over twenty minutes later, as Ceren had guestimated, they were done … Having fuck all time for fucking had made them surprisingly quick at getting off given the chance, though Leith missed being able to take his time, any time they could have was blessing enough.
He was surprised to find the house quiet when they pulled into the driveway at home.
“Mom? Aunt May? Bails? Tar?”
No responses. He looked around the silent, darkened house, flicking on lights as he went. Sure enough, on the fridge was a note from mom. Leith was half annoyed, half ecstatic.



“Cer, no one’s home. They went out for dinner.”


“Do they have pizza and chips?” Bailey asked, high-end cuisine didn’t quite cater to her young, fast-food-loving palette. Potato chips and whatever was on top of her pizza was pretty much the majority of the vegetables that Bailey ate.
“I don’t think so sweetie” May said gently, scanning the menu. There wasn’t a snowballs chance in hell Bailey would dare eat sushi or squid, maybe she’d settle for chicken katsu … at the very least it was sort of like regular western chicken … maybe she’d be convinced to have some noodles too, but she was incredibly fussy. Japanese cuisine wasn’t exactly the most popular for kids Bailey’s age in the US!! They lived on pizza, McDonalds and burritos.

Pizza and chips? At a place like this? Oh poor dear, your social class is showing. Richard smiled, looking down at the options, wedged over to one tiny corner was a more westernized flare which surely Meri was eye for her kids. Not a whole lot of choices, either something from the kitchen at best, maybe some sort of fried rice or teppanyaki’d chicken. But certainly no pizza or chips, at least to the best of Richard’s concern yet if Bailey really wanted it he was sure he could get the kitchen to prepare something special for her with a bit of pushing.

Taron's eyes were glued to his phone. He was awaiting a text from his girlfriend, barely paying attention to his family. With the new addition to his gaming devices, the idea of telling Ceren popped into his mind. Taron was sure Ceren and his brother were far too busy with each other to get a reply but he figured he may as well tell him. Ceren was his best friend after all.

Quick fingers tapped against his screen, text spelling itself out word by word. It wouldn't be a secret that they went out to dinner with Richard so Taron felt no need to keep the gift a secret. He and Ceren would just share snarky jokes about it anyways. Although, Taron would admit it was nice to be showered with gifts, shown that someone thought about him.
“Who are you texting? Is it your giiirrrllllffffrrrriiiieeennndddd?” Bailey teased, leaning over to try and see her brothers phone. She made kissy-face noises and May shot her a serious look.
“Bailey, please behave, we are at the dinner table”
“No, It’s Cer,” Taron shrugged his sister away, glaring at her from the corner of his eye. His gaze flickered to his mother for a moment, curious about her reaction before he returned it to his phone, message sent.
“Fine” he sighed.

It was going to be a long dinner. Bailey and Taron were, well a handful at times. Taron with his girl, Bailey, well she was the youngest. But thank gods for May or else Meredith would have to handle all three children tonight. Still Taron seemed to be too busy with his phone to even begin to think about dinner, Bailey was all too busy bothering her brother and quite possibly there was nothing that would seem appetizing for her.

“Taron, put it away. Please.” A stern motherly voice disapproved of texting at the table. Although Richard had his phone out and set on the countertop. Only adults evidently got to play with their phones at dinner time. Eyes returned to his mother, rolling around in annoyance. Honestly, Taron wondered if she could get any more hypocritical. He didn’t exactly listen, putting the phone in his lap where she couldn’t see, but he didn’t openly not listen either. He could practically hear Leith scolding him now.

“How about we split something Bailey sweetie? Uh I think the Chicken Katsu or the Teriyaki Chicken? Oh there’s a Chicken Katsu and Tempura Shrimp Bento combo, you get fried rice, Tempura Shrimp, Chicken Katsu, Tempura veggies, uh sweet potato salad or kombu salad, not sure what kombu salad is, and California or Philadelphia rolls, I think those are not raw fish ones right May? Richard? And house salad with ginger dressing and miso soup. Oh and look Bailey you get uh… A choice of Yuzu Sorbert or Green tea Ice cream. Wow, that’s a lot of food. How does sound sweetie? How about you Taron? Or did you want to split something with Aunt May?”

“Oh Meri, Taron’s big enough to get his own meal, and so can Bailey. What they don’t finish you can take home I’m sure. If not don’t worry about it, let the kids order themselves, May any particular champagne you prefer? Meri? We can always get two bottles and compare which if you ladies has better taste.” A light-hearted chuckle, as Meri uncomfortable laughed along with Richard as her eyes darted quickly to her sister, can you believe this guy?

“I”ll take the Surf and Turf with fried rice please. Oh and a platter of Gyoza for the table, and some fatty tuna Nigiri, let’s say eight? Maybe the kids want to try, and a Kirin for me please. Ask the ladies what sort of bubbly for the table. Do you kids want anything else? Don’t be shy, just ask Uncle Richard and he’ll get it for you. Especially you princess. That Tiara looks perfect on you, make you never let mommy borrow it okay? She might want one for herself...”

Taron….wanted to puke. Uncle Richard? Seriously? Sure, he didn’t hate the guy like Ceren did, but he wasn’t his number one fan. The Uncle Richard bit was over the top, a small smile gracing Taron’s lips as he thought of what his friend would say. His eyes glanced to the gaming console ‘Uncle Richard’ had gotten him, his smile faltering a moment. He couldn’t be that bad but, his gaze turned to the man with too much money and a smooth tongue, the things he said about his brother….

“Oh Rick, you really shouldn’t spoil them so much. All the gifts and the dinner, we’re just a simple family really…” There was nothing simple about their family. The Meyer’s, still somehow sticking with the last name, probably since it was such a hassle to go through a legal name change, that Meredith kept her husband’s name, plus the kids all had his name. There was Leith, and Ceren, Taron and Bailey, May, Meredith all living in a house meant for five. It would all work out if Ceren.. May could take Meredith’s room, Meredith could sleep with Bailey, Taron had his room and Leith had his room. Ceren and Leith, thinking of them even at a place they weren’t at, how did they manage to always be on her mind? Nevermind them for now, tonight maybe, just maybe through the magic of Richard’s bank accounts, they’d be able to enjoy some semblance of a normal family life, even if it was the good life.

“I think that selection sounds lovely Richard” May said sweetly, the sooner they stuffed themselves, the sooner Meredith could get home and put her feet up and relax for just a little while. She more than deserved that.
“Fatty tuna?” Bailey mumbled, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
“Just give it a try dear, you might like it” May suggested, trying to placate the fussy young one. “I’ll have Leith order some take out and if you don’t like anything you can have that when you get back” she whispered, Bailey perked up a little at the suggestion. At least that was one less thing for Meredith to fret about.
May tapped out a message on her phone beneath the table, quickly, discretely.


Leith would obviously find the request strange since Meredith left a note saying they went out for dinner, but he’d oblige regardless … if he wasn’t otherwise ‘occupied’ and didn’t check his phone …
“One champagne ought to do us Richard” she smiled sweetly, gliding smoothly as ever, for Meredith’s sake. “I’m sure the whole wine menu is delightful, but anything will go down a treat. How about number seven? Perrier? Sounds like it’ll go well with the gyoza” May scanned the wine list and picked a mid-range wine that wasn’t too strong, Meredith had already had a drink this morning at the house and there was no need for them to get too tipsy now. Meredith liked to keep her wits about her around Richard. Her sister nodded in agreement to Richard’s glance at his girl.
“Can I try some?” Bailey asked perkily.
“Sur-”

“No Sweetie, it’s for adults, you wouldn’t like it.” A gentle but firm no, as Meredith gave Richard a look. Really? Really Richard? She’s not even old enough to drive! Maybe if Taron ask for some Meredith might, MIGHT, let him have a sip just to see how it tastes, but Bailey? She was just a little girl, “That’s that Bailey, and I’m sure Richard wants to keep us both happy tonight doesn’t he?”
“Of course, maybe we can see if there’s some sparkling juices for you princess. Or would you like some fizzy sodas? Tell the waitress what you want to order Princess. And if you want any desserts you tell Uncle Richard, I’m sure I can convince your Mom she doesn’t have to worry about it since I’m buying after all.” Beaten and cut off at this turn, but how the tables were turned. Reading between the lines, Meredith was put back in her place by Richards slightly snarky comment which would probably go over Bailey’s head, maybe Taron might catch it, but certainly May and Meredith would understand Richard was throwing his wallet around.

“May, I’m going for the Shrimp and Salmon combo. Looks pretty nice. And not too overwhelming. Everything on the menu seems to have at least half a dozen things. Plus Rick’s got us appetizers and sushi. We might even have enough to take home…” For Leith to try. He deserved it just as much as her other kids, working hard to keep them afloat somehow, him and May both deserved this dinner more than she did.

Finally, the complicated order was made, the awkward dinner could commence. As awkward as family dinners could be at home, May thought that this one took the cake. It wasn’t right with two faces absent from the table that simply should have been there. Even though dinners at home could be filled with awkward silences, at least everyone was there (some of the time at least, Meredith didn’t make it to every family dinner but she damn well tried). Ceren was never rude at the dinner table, even though May had her reservations about the young gay couple, she couldn’t fault Ceren for his manners, she’d take dinner with him over Richard’s toxic attitude any day.

Champagne arrived and May politely toasted, what else could she do. Bailey knew things got worse with Richard and Leith when one or the other was around each other … It was almost an unwritten rule that you simply didn’t mention Leith wherever possible if Richard was in a mood. Still, she knew her brother ought to have been with them and she also knew he was old enough to drink.
“You’d probably let Leith have some” Bailey quipped as May set down her champagne flute.