The Age of The Masrui

“Or maybe she would’ve found this kid and Fallen for him anyway like you’re sure you would’ve done with Maddox”

"And you really think whatever it is you have with him is going to be sustainable when he is in prison, Sienna? You only have a week, and then that'll be it...probably for-"

"I don't know." Sienna cut her off to answer honestly. Swallowing back tears then, "He shouldn't even have to go..."

“Right person wrong time is a thing... and not every relationship lasts either... somethings fizzle out.” Caliban sighed. “Allow her to explore what she has with the time she has left.”

Marlowe went to speak, but instead flinched when Sienna made a small strangled noise of emotion. Moving across to the other sofa so that she could hug her tightly, "Don't cry, we- we can see what we can..."

"Uncle Cal has already tried! There isn't anything." Sienna sobbed, covering her mouth with her hands as she curled into her mother. "Th- That's it. It - its over. We won't ever be able to go to a cinema, o- or share a stupid tray of nachos."

“We’ll fix it Sienna... we’ll find a way somehow. If you really want to carry whatever it is on with him...” Maddox promised then.

"Declan will never plead guilty! If he did then it would be okay, b- but he won't do it."

Marlowe frowned, smoothing Sienna's hair down gently as she asked Caliban quietly; "And you've tried everything?"

“Short of asking Felix himself...”

"He thinks he deserves punishment, he won't do anything to get himself off.. I- wha- what about me? Would he see me?"

"Sweetheart, I don't know if that is a good idea."

“Absolutely not. That’s where I put my foot down.” Maddox shook his head. “Make the kid speak to his brother - appeal to him to plead guilty and avoid the whole thing going to trial. If it doesn’t go to trial then we get the judge to commute the kids sentence to probation and house arrest or something.”

“Can we force the kid to do it though?”

"He won't do it.. thinks he deserves prison so he wo-"

"Then we spin it another way. If he likes you the way that you like him, he will do everything in his power to avoid you having to stand up in front of a whole court and relive that. If he wants to save you from that, then he'll do it. If he is worth it, he'll do it."

“It’s not guaranteed to work but... Declan did what he did and did it to provide for his little brother. You said he wouldn’t let social services take his brother away - he must care about the boy, to some extent.”

"Declan also constantly hurt him." Sienna whined.

"This is the only way, Sienna. You wanted support, hm? So let us help. Let us try and fix it all for you, and for him."

“I’ll arrange a meeting and take the kid there.” Caliban nodded.

"If you upset him I'm going to be mad at you..." Sienna mumbled, wiping at her eyes.

“You can be mad at me all you want, as long as you’re safe.”

"Can I go up to bed now?"

"If that was everything, baby, then of course." Marlowe whispered. "We love you."

“Sienna...” Caliban encouraged gently, putting his hand on her shoulder to encourage her.

"You do it.. you tell them. I've had enough...too much for me all at once." Sienna frowned, kissing her uncles cheek before leaving the room and heading up the stairs.

Marlowe frowned, raising an eyebrow at Caliban then. "There is more than that? How many secrets have you both been keeping from us?"

“She only told me tonight... she doesn’t want to be here sometimes.”

“What do you mean? She’s suicidal?!” Maddox hissed then, “you kept that from us?!”

“No, not... not as such. Not that she wants to go out and hurt herself, it’s that she just doesn’t want to be here... her feelings are a lot.”

Marlowe tensed her jaw, shaking her head and mumboing; "How can that mean anything other than suicidal?"

“It means you don’t actively wanna hurt yourself but you’d just rather curl up into a ball and hibernate for a bit till the sun comes out... metaphorically. I’ve been there - I’m still there some days Marley. She’s not gonna go jump off a cliff but some days she doesn’t want to get out of bed.”

"You- you are? Does Darya know?" Marlowe frowned, instantly reaching across to take one of Caliban hands in both of hers then.

“She knows.” Caliban nodded. “And we get through it... Sienna will get through it. But she’s terrified of talking to you because you blow up at her. She’s only just told me but she’s felt like this for a while.”

"I- okay as- as long as she knows." Marlowe whispered, squeezing his hand before dropping it and glancing over to Maddox with a frown. "Any deep rooted feeling confessions from you today too? Since we seem to be doing this."

Maddox shook his head, rubbing his neck with his hand. “I... we’re shit aren’t we? So shit.”