The Age of The Masrui

Astrid shook her head, bending down to hug River as tight as she could without hurting her before pulling away. We’ve missed you. You have a lot to catch up on... and catch us up on too missy. she signed, giving her a pointer look and a smirk before sitting down next to Reid, kissing his cheek gently.

---

Bella grinned when her son laughed, tickling him gently. “The best noise in the world.” She hummed.

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“I like old movies. The ones not in color.”

"Ah, See likes those too. You are both old souls." Marlowe smiled.

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Eric laughed, squirming in her a happily.

"It is... I'm going to go and talk to Esme." Ronan whispered, "Try and work out what exactly is going on with her."

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Catch you up... Dane; where is Dane?

"That is what we need you to catch us up on. Why were you with Dane? Why were you keeping things from us?"

River just rolled her eyes at Reid, waving him away tiredly and turning her attention onto Astrid for an answer.

Uncle Dane... we found you together. You were both declared brain dead, but about a month later you showed signs of life on your scan. Dane around a month after that but... where you’ve shown more and more since then, he only ever had that flicker the once. But Rhys is here every day with him, reading to him, music and all of that. Someone’s been with you here every day too, either us or Ronan and Bella, we rotate. Astrid signed, giving her a wry smile.

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“No more tears mm baby?” Bella kissed Eric’s forehead before nodding at Ronan. “If it doesn’t improve... then things will have to start getting stern. She’s been too much lately and it’s on purpose.”

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“I’m not very good at reading so... movies are easier to entertain.”

"I am sure you are brilliant at reading considering everything you have gone through. You've got the rest of your life to catch up, don't be too hard on yourself."

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"It is a big adjustment for her to make, I'd rather we weren't stern." Ronan frowned, before heading out of the room and heading up to Esme's. Knocking gently before stepping inside, "Princess?"

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River moved her hands as she went to sign again, though visibly struggled with the words she could of used to describe what she was feeling so quickly gave up, leaning her head back to look at the ceiling.

“I - thank you.”

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“Nobody wants to pressure you when you’ve just woke up but... what was going on? Was it just an exciting fling - forbidden and all that stuff? I mean I get that... we were all just surprised.” Astrid said then, working to avoid her voice from going quiet and  looking over at her with a sympathetic smile. “Nobody blames you.”

---

“Go away.” Esme told him, the words muffled by the teddy she’d curled up to on her bed.

River turned her gaze to look at her as she spoke, so only caught the last end of it. Exhaling slowly and signing; Can you ask a doctor if I can go to Dane? completely avoiding her question.

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"No, no dice." Ronan hummed, closing the door behind himself and going to sit beside her. "Talk to me... what are you so worried about?"

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"I think you've proven that you won't hurt my daughter for long enough now," Marlowe whispered. "I'm sorry for ever making you feel unwelcome."

River turned her gaze to look at her as she spoke, so only caught the last end of it. Exhaling slowly and signing; Can you ask a doctor if I can go to Dane? completely avoiding her question.

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"No, no dice." Ronan hummed, closing the door behind himself and going to sit beside her. "Talk to me... what are you so worried about?"

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"I think you've proven that you won't hurt my daughter for long enough now," Marlowe whispered. "I'm sorry for ever making you feel unwelcome."

“You’ve nothing to be sorry for... it’s me who’ll forever be sorry for the circumstances in which we met.”

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“Don’t you want us to get Ronan and Bella down here? They’ve missed you so much - and their little one is gorgeous, you’ll have to meet him too.”

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“Not worried about anything. Don’t need you in here.”

I want to see Dane before I get anymore interrogation.

"Okay, okay." Reid sighed, signing as he spoke. "I'll go and fetch someone, I'll give Ronan a call too whilst I am up."

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"Future queen's shouldn't lie, Esme. You want to grow out of being a princess and into a queen, don't you?"

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"I- We can't always control things. It is all in the past for me, and it will be for my husband too once he gets to know you properly." Marlowe hummed. "He works hard, he gave up his dreams so he and I could be together. So, he is naturally protective of all of us."

"I'm not either, I've grown out of being silly. Can't be silly when nobody will play with you." Esme rolled over so she was facing away from him then. "I came back home after I had to say goodbye to grandpa and then there was the baby and then nobody wanted to see me anymore. People came over for the baby. People wanted cuddles with the baby. Rhys doesn't visit for me anymore he just comes to say hi to you when I'm at school because hes busy.  Auntie River is sleeping and Rhys is busy, Uncle Reid is busy and you're busy and mums busy and nobody wants to play princesses with me anymore! You fall asleep reading my stories and mommy keeps lying and says we can go back to see grandpa's big stone but its been forever and we've not been because everyones busy."

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"I'll stay here with her - we'll have to send someone to get her replacement hearing aids too, I don't think we ever sent for them when the original ones were damaged." Astrid nodded, taking Rivers hand and giving it a gentle squeeze before letting go to sign We've missed you... so much to catch you up on.

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"I don't want children... but if I had them and someone hurt them the way I was responsible for hurting Sienna then I would be just the same way Mr Levi is. I completely understand why he dislikes me."

"Her lip reading is good enough until they arrive, we'll just have to make sure we speak and sign at the same time to help when we can." Reid agreed gently and headed out of the room. Sending a text to both Bella and Ronan: River is awake. She wants to see Dane first, so hold of on coming down for now. I'm going to get her the doctor, and Astird and I will order her replacement hearing aids.

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How long has it been? She questioned with a frown.

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"Your a bit young to be making decisions over having kids or not at some point, hm?" Marlowe laughed quietly. "What do you feel for my daughter, Felix?"

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"I- yeah, it has been pretty rough, hasn't it... I- I can't imagine how hard it must of been for you, being so young and dealing with it all too. I am sorry, princess, I really am."

"Nothing is for me anymore... I'm not shiny and new." Esme said sadly. "He's cute and stuff but... I just want a movie night with just you and mommy and Rhys and Cleo without him crying and ruining it... I just want to go back and see grandpa's big stone, I promised him I'd be back every single year when I said bye bye and Rhys said I shouldn't promise it - but I did and I should've listened. I want to go back to grandpa's big house with all the dogs. I was the shiny new thing then and everyone wanted to play with me and I could play princess in the big house... I want to go back to how it was before grandpa died and auntie River fell asleep and you - you replaced me."

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"A little over a year... Bella and Ronan's little one celebrated his first birthday just last week." Astrid signed as she spoke as per Reid's suggestion.

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That's amazing! I'll grab Ronan, we'll get someone for the kids and be on our way x

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"I dont want to bring kids into this world when there'll always be kids like the ones I live with in Rose house." Felix shrugged before going red at her question. "I - I - love her. I think. I think that's what it is, she said she feels the same way I describe and that she was told that was love..."

"That's lovely; all of it." Marlowe smiled, picking plates out of the cupboards and placing them on the table before grabbing a larger more decorative pot; "Okay, so the risotto can go into here. Knowing our luck Maddox is going to be held up late, hm? It's hard making anything a surprise for him."

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Take your time, Bella. She isn't ready to be crowded quite yet.[/i]

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River let out a sigh and shook her head in the negative, looking away to stare out of the window for a few minutes. Signing without even looking at Astrid; Dane and I were in a relationship. We were keeping it between ourselves; it is too complicated, too weird. We agreed it better than no one knew.

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"Replaced you? No. No princess, we haven't replaced you." Ronan frowned, pulling her into his arms to hold her close. "Things will get back to normal soon, I promise.. it is just chaotic right now, your mother and I are sick of it too, I promise."

"Your brothers are hurt you kept it from them." Astrid said sadly, "I think they were more devastated that they thought you'd died not trusting them... forgive them in advance for how they may be over the next few weeks? They've both worried themselves sick over you. You're the core of their world, even with the children. They've missed you so much... so... please forgive them if they're out of line. I'll temper Reid best I can, and I'll ask Bella to steady Ronan but we're not miracle workers." she signed too, giving her a small chuckle at the end, trying to ease the mood. "It's been so hard without you, Levi misses his favourite auntie very much. The kids have been coming here a few times a week and making you drawings and things, they're all in a little book somewhere."

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"I heard you and mommy on the baby monitor the other day, when you went upstairs to put Eric to bed. When mommy said 'if they were all as easy as him we'd have more' and you laughed and agreed... does that mean I'm difficult? Because otherwise she would've said them. Did you have Eric because I'm hard?" Esme asked quietly. "I didn't mean to be... I just want to go back to how it was before..."

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"Is this for a birthday or anything? Sienna never mentioned a gift."

"No, no birthday." Marlowe laughed quietly. "He is has just taken on so much with work over the past year, since the earthquake and he is stressed to the point I think he is down in the dumps. He needs a pick-me up, needs to be reminded how much we appreciate him and making his favourite food - everyone being present for it is the only thing I could think of that didn't mean he had to go put and socialise anymore then normal. Maddox is.. extrodanairy and he doesn't think he is, which makes it even more so."

"That's very thoughtful of you Mrs Levi." Felix smiled warmly. "I hope he wont mind that I'm here? If you think he will I don't mind going back to the house."

Ronan smoothed her hair down gently, frowning as he heard her concerns. "No, no we never meant anything like that. Having a baby, it puts a lot of strain on your mothers body and with Rhys she nearly died, the same with you; that's what we meant, Eric's birth went smoothly; we were lucky. That's what we meant."

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I didn't realise I had to declare my relationship status to my brothers before going ahead with it. If they give me a hard time, then I will cut them out. I am too tired to be dealing with their dramatics. She signed back, in quick and sharp motions. Letting out a sigh before adding; Can I see the book?

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"I am betting on the hope he'll be too tired to argue with me about it. You and Sienna are firm enough now for you to start becoming a member of the family; Sienna wants you here, so you are welcome." Marlowe hummed. "Call me Marley."

"I just want to go back to how it was before." Esme whispered sadly. "I want to go see grandpa's stone and his dogs and people to stop saying they're busy and to watch a movie where nobody has to get up and leave... I want to be the shiny new thing again so people come over just to see me... I want to play dress up with Auntie River  and do makeovers with Auntie Rena and sleepover at Uncle Reid's. Want Rhys to pick me up from school and you not to fall asleep reading bedtime stories and mommy to stop lying about doing things we're never going to do because busy"

"Ronan?! Ronan you need to get down here now!" Bella called up from the bottom of the stairs.

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"They just care about you, a lot. My uncle was never faithful to Bella. And towards the end he was violent and erratic. They're just worried that you'll fall victim." Astrid signed, getting up and crossing the room to grab the book from the little pile near the camp bed that had been set up. Wandering back over and placing it down on her lap, adjusting the pillows behind her so she could sit up to read it better. "Levi and Esme signed their names on the bottom. I think little Lux did one or two here as well when they were babysitting for Serena."

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"I - Thank you, Marley."

"Take that pot in and put it on the dining table for me?" Marlowe asked once the risotto was in. "I'll be in with the sides now, and then we wait."

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"Theo?" Sienna hummed as she opened her brother bedroom door.

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"Can it wait Bella?! This is important..." Ronan called back to her with a frown, before turning his attention onto Esme. "I'll read to you tonight, how about that? And I promise you I'll do my best not to fall asleep asleep way through the story."

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Fall victim, you speak as if he is some monster. Stop it now, you're being a bit pathetic. The drawings are lovely.

I mean he shot her and Ronan. Astrid signed before holding her hands up in defeat. Okay, fine. You'll hear no more about it from me. She conceded, before taking her hand and squeezing it gently. "I've missed you terribly."

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"No! This is important!"

"Just go. Shiny new thing probably clapped his hands or something equally exciting."  Esme sighed, curling into the giant teddy bear a little bit more.

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Felix nodded, washing his hands before doing as told.

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"What is it?" Theo asked as he looked up from his book, taking his glasses off and rubbing the bridge of his nose where they sat.

Rowan shot Ronan; not Dane. Dane tried to protect Bella from the insanity that are my brothers. They like to rip each other apart and they don't care how gets caught in the cross-fire. Dane has been to he'll and back multiple times, he is only human - humans suffer mentally, they snap. You know all about that Astrid so maybe you need to stop judging. Go away now, I want to be alone... come back later, I will let the doctor know when I am ready to see people. River signed after snatching her hand back, putting the book down on the side and rolling over so her back was to her.

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"No, Esme. Your stuck with me for awhile." He whispered, before calling down to Bella; "No Bella. Whatever it is can wait, okay?"

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"Mum wants you downstairs, dinner is nearly ready and we are doing the 'we appreciate you' suprprise meal for dad today."

"We appreciate you're never home and when you are home you're a grumpy bastard." Theo rolled his eyes. "This is pointless, he's only going to come in, sigh and say he's tired before taking a plate up to bed."

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"I don't need your pity." Esme muttered dramatically, not even really understanding it, repeating it from the tv show's she'd been watching

"River is awake Ronan! She's come to!"

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Astrid frowned deeply, hesitating before standing up, gently resting her hand on River's arm and patting it to apologise before heading out of the room.

"She is trying, be nice if we do aswell... she made risotto and everythingm" Sienna frowned, walking over and sitting herself down beside him. "We can't control how dad reacts, but we can support mom right? She'll be sad if he does that again... I'd rather she be sad with us there then sat at a table by herself again.. like last time."

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"She has Reid and Astrid there. Esme has to be priority right now." Ronan called back, laughing quietly at Esme's words.

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"Whats going on?" Reid asked Astrid with a frown, meeting her outside of the room just as the doctor headed into River's room. "Is she okay?"

"I tried to talk to her about Dane. They were together... like together together. She thinks he's all misunderstood and all of that. She wasn't pleased I broached the subject with her. She said she'll let us know when she's ready for visitors."

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"Don't you want to go see Auntie River?" Esme asked as she rolled over to face her father.

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"Our dad is a dickhead who doesn't deserve the effort she puts in." Theo shrugged, putting his glasses back on - intending to return to his book. "It's hard to watch."

"He is these days, wasn't when we were little though." Sienna sighed. "Come on, Theo, please? Dad is going to upset her, we shouldn't too... it's painful to see her sat at a dinner table alone."

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"Your my princess; you're priority." He whispered, offering his arms out to her with a warm smile. "Come here, you."

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"Great," Reid sighed. "I mean, your Uncle isn't exactly a wilting flower, is he?"