The Age of The Masrui

Marlowe frowned, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "I- I guess so? I don't Cal, it isn't that easy is it? What these boys done was.. extreme."

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"I am loving these bed days," Ronan chuckled as he slipped back beneath the covers with Bella, placing a plate of pancakes down on her lap. "We should live like this forever."

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"But you said-"

"I know, Levi, I'm sorry." Reid groaned in frustration as he pulled his jacket on. "But your mother has to take you, your Uncle Ronan has cleared his schedule again."

“He’s probably the first person to show her kindness without any ulterior motive - if anything he showed her kindness as a detriment to himself. Her friends are all her friends because they’re all rich and her closest friends are her cousins so they’re family. This boy sounds like the first actual friend she’s made in the most bizarre circumstances.”

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“We’re lucky Rhys loves his little sister enough to keep watch.” Bella laughed softly, grinning when she was presented with the food.

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“It’s getting ridiculous.” Astrid sighed deeply, smoothing her sons hair down. “He can’t keep shoving shit onto you with little to no warning like we don’t have our own lives to deal with. He can’t disappoint Bella? Well what about us having to disappoint our son? He’s an arsehole.”

"If Bella is that bad they need to shove her kicking and screaming into an institute like everyone done to you; for the greater good even though it was torment to us." Reid muttered in iritation.

"Whats an inst- intutite?" He questioned, leaning back into his mother.

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"He'll be over joyed when we tell him about the best baby, hm?" Ronan laughed, taking her hand and bringing it up to kiss her knuckles.

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"He is part of the reason she was away from us for two months. She is skin and bone, Cal, you must of felt it when you hugged her - the police took photos of her wrist before they cast it up and it was half hanging off the doctors will have to do tests once the bone has healed to make sure she has all the movement in her fingers still. He damaged her, physically and mentally."

“It’ll damage her even more mentally to rip him away when she’s formed a friendship with him. Let her hash it out in therapy. Friends come from unlikely places. You said the boy was skin and bones himself. He sounds like a street rat with a brother who made very poor choices and he had no choice...I’m sure can feel some sympathy.”

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“It was a hospital when mommy wasn’t well, but you don’t need to worry about it sweetheart.” Astrid sighed deeply. “I don’t see why he can’t just get River to come and be with Bella whilst he does his actual job”

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“I hope so.” Bella gave him a smile, using the hand he grabbed to gently run a finger down his cheek.

"I have empathy rather than sympathy; the day I met Maddox was the day Dorian and I were a week away from becoming street rats; that's why he accepted Louis' job at the party. Dorian has a mean streak he doesn't show often, so I could never even be sure that he wouldn't do something as extreme as this boys brother did if it meant our survival in the case things had gone differently." Marlowe sighed, "But she is my little girl, and it is hard. I have empathy and feel for the kid but I want to rip him apart at the same time. Now she is going to have to go through a court case aswell and relive all of that trauma."

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"Of course he will be."

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"I don't know, maybe you'll have more luck with him then me next time you speak to him. I have to get going now though, I'm going to be late."

Astrid leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Call me when you’re on your way home and I’ll make dinner.”

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“Trials usually take forever anyway. Hopefully she’ll be able to heal a little before it gets dragged to court.”

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“I hope so... I hope he doesn’t feel like we’re taking advantage of him.”

"Mm, she'll heal just enough and then the scabs will be ripped off." Marlowe shook her head. "If we found her then she wouldn't have to go through this."

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"I don't think so, he and Cleo seem content enough doing this for us."

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"I will," Reid smiled, kissing her back and ruffling Levi's hair before heading out.

"I don't want to go to the silly club now," Levi whispered when his father had left.

“Why not sweetheart? You’ll still have fun.”

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“We didn’t though did we? Hopefully the bastard will off himself in his cell.”

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“He’s a good kid... well not that he’s a kid anymore but... he’s still my kid.”

"He is always going to be a kid to us," Ronan whispered.

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"I hope so," Marlowe sighed.

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"Fun part is the car ride there with dad... fun part isn't happening now, don't want to go."

“I can make the ride there fun! What would you like to do?”

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“We raised him good... He’s the most balanced out of all his cousins.”

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“She’s resilient Marlowe. You did a good job raising her.”

"Did I?" Marlowe laughed weakly. "It hasn't felt that way the past year, I think Mads insecurities are starting to rub off on me a little bit."

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"The most resilient too, he has gone through plenty and has no major hang ups."

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Levi shook his head, "I want to stay here. Can we make cookies tonight instead of tomorrow?"

“Of course sweetheart.” Astrid nodded. “What flavour do you want?”

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“Insecurity is Maddox’s thing, don’t let it become yours as well. You’ve done good.”

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“I was always so worried that the way me and Dane were would ruin how he saw relationships, I’m so glad it hasn’t.”

"Your a good mother," Ronan hummed gently, reaching around her and stealing the fork so he could steal a bite of the pancakes. "Oh, speaking of Rhys' cousins. They found her, the news stations were updated today; a couple of days ago thr police apprehended the guys that done it. Some squatters with zero money."

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"Peanut butter? The gooey in the middle ones?"

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Marlowe nodded, offering a small smile and whispering a simple; "Thanks."

“If that’s what you want, do you have your recipe book still?”

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“Hopefully the poor girl is okay.” Bella whispered, smile fading.

Levi nodded, sprinting off up the stairs and to his room; returning only a minute later - struggling with the weight of the massive, recipe filled cooking book that was close to the side of an encyclopaedia.

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"They found her alive, so, she could be a lot worse."

“That’s good... I hope they get her a good therapist.”

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Astrid laughed softly, taking it off him to help. “You’ve collected quite a bit there huh kiddo?”

"These are only ones we haven't done yet!" He chirped, smiling proudly.

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"Fingers crossed. How are you doing, in regards to things relating to... that? If you woke up last night, I didn't hear you."

“I’m okay.” Bella nodded quietly, taking the fork back so she could eat. “I think I was just overwhelmed. Rhys’ accident and then the news and the baby... I just needed a bit of time to process but I’m okay. I feel better.”

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“Is there anything else you want to try?”

"All of it! You choose? Could dinner for dad come out of that book?"

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"Are you sure?" Ronan frowned, brushing his fingers through her hair affectionately. "I can easily hold Reid off for a little while longer if I have to - it isn't any problem."

“We both know he’s getting pissed off and don’t wanna take advantage. After this weekend I’ll be fine, some r and r was all I needed.” Bella confirmed with a soft smile.

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“I think we could find something your dad would like for sure kiddo.”

"The amount the both of us has helped he and Astrid through difficult times, I think the least we deserve is him to be tolerant when you need some extra attention." Ronan frowned, shaking his head. "If you need me here with you for even longer, Bells, it isn't any problem. honest."

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Levi just nodded, smiling brightly.

“I’m okay.” Bella assured. “Getting back to work will help me I’m sure, routine and all of that.”

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“Your dad likes pasta doesn’t he? Why don’t you pick out a pasta recipe.”

"Yeah! One with lots and lots of cheese." Levi nodded with a bright smile, "Good idea! I like that, yes!"

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"Your going back tomorrow?"

“Maybe Monday? After the weekend...”

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“You pick out a recipe and check the cupboards and the fridge to see if we need to go shopping.”

"Okay," Levi hummed, instantly burying his nose into the book.

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"Well, that gives us another two days to enjoy this then." Ronan hummed happily, kissing her cheek.