The Age of The Masrui

“Is it like a real life where’s Wally?” Lux asked excitedly.

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“She thinks you guys need me at home.”

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“Somewhere private, not popular.”

"Yeah, only we don't get to actively search for him just.. keep an eye out." Dorian whispered, pulling the envelope off the table and taking one out of his father on his own; passing it to her.

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"Private... Mm. Nice and quiet."

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"Oh.. well, I'm okay..."

“Who is it?”

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“Somewhere there won’t be stupid photographers.”

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“You sure?”

"That is my father... your grandfather. He isn't... he may not be very kind, we don't know yet that's why we need to keep an eye out for him and not approach him if we see him. OK?"

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Darya nodded, kissing his cheek before sitting down as she pulled a site up on her phone.

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Sienna nodded. "As long as you don't end up there all the time, like before... as long as we can have a walk like this once a week. If that's okay?"

“I thought he died?” Lux asked then, confused as she looked up at her father.

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“No guarantees they’ll even have me back yet but if I do, then yes, of course.”

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“Who’re we asking to have the twins?”

"Yeah, so did I..." Dorian laughed humourlessly. "Turns out he didn't. Some people had him, and they've let him go now so... he may show up, he may not."

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"We could ask Margot? She adores them."

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"What are you going to do if they don't have you back?"

“Mm, good idea.” Caliban nodded, kissing her forehead gently.

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“Why don’t you want to look for him?”

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“Look somewhere else and hope the name doesn’t hurt.”

"Oh, we could go to Zambia? There is a private lodge not too far away from Victoria Falls; 'privacy' is their main selling point, and the price tag looks like they mean it."

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"What kind of things would you look for?"

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"Mm, he wasn't always very kind and I don't know if he will still be nasty or not."

“But he’s grandpa... grandpa’s are supposed to be kind. Mommy said her dad was kind.”

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“Twenty questions Sienna.” Maddox laughed softly. “I don’t know.”

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“If it takes going to Africa for privacy then so be it.” Caliban nodded with a smirk.

"I think you should do something to do with helping people, you're good at that. I don't know what though..."

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"Your mom's dad was amazing, yeah." Dorian hummed softly. "I wasn't so lucky with mine. He got ill near the end.. in his mind, that illness made him nasty. I never knew why."

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"I've not seen Victoria Falls yet, it's always been on the list." Darya laughed.

“Book it then, as soon as possible.”

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“Maybe it’s cured now? And he’s not sick?”

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“We’ll see when it gets to it.”

"There is availability tomorrow; go and pack for us now, I'll call Margot as soon as I have booked it." Darya hummed with a warm smile.

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"Maybe but.. it is something better not to risk, and if he comes here I would rather you not talk to him until I know he is better, ok?"

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Sienna nodded. Adding jokingly; "Librarian. You'd do better than my old school Librarian. He was awful."

“Okay... if I see him I’ll tell it to you or mom.”

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“Mm, promise her wine for taking them so soon.” Caliban nodded with a laugh.

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“Sounds a little.. boring, no? Not surprised people in boring jobs end up awful.”

"Of course." She laughed, booking the holiday before bringing her phone to her ear as she called Margot.

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"Mom told me once you read when you were young, she said the first time she went into the room you had as a kid the was a bookcase with the things you'd read; you have similar tastes, apparantly?"

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"Good.. and don't approach him, ok? Don't even say hello. Come straight to us, or one of your teachers. The closest adult you trust."

“I can’t remember, quite a while ago now kiddo.”

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“Won’t my teachers find it weird?”

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“Hey,” Margot greeted tiredly, the noise of the tv being turned down in the background.

"Not at all, it is their job to keep you safe. I'll be talking to them tomorrow so they are aware."

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"Hi. How are you? You're sounding rough, too much wine last night?"

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"Oh... you don't remember the books you used to read? That's sad, daddy."

“No, no. Late night at work. Louis has had us running and rerunning Sean’s bloodwork to make sure the Masrui didn’t screw with him any other way - which we’ve not been able to find but I get why he’s paranoid. But I’m not too tired to come over if that’s why you’re calling?”

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“It’s been a long while.” Maddox repeated. “I haven’t read for pleasure in a long while.”

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“Will I need people following me?”

"You have time now, right? Nothing stopping you now, before you have granddad duties." She grinned.

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"Cal and I need a holiday, there is a flight tomorrow for six nights away but we need someone to take the twins. Would you mind? We'll return the favour, buy you wine."

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"Not yet, no... if you do see him, that is probably going to happen, yes."

“Just the six nights? Or are you planning that plus something else?”

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“Okay... this is a bit scary then...”

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“No granddad duties. You wanted this. This isn’t gonna be like the dog you begged your uncles to get then stopped walking after a week.”

"Just the six nights. Cal has been struggling since Maddox hurt him, I think he just needs space away from everything to unwind."

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"Lots of granddad duties, he or she is going to adore you as much as I do. Anyway, if I have a boy what am I going to do? You'll have to teach him boy stuff that I don't know about."

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"I- a little bit yeah. It scares me a bit too, honestly but you are safe, Lux. There is safety with knowledge, that's why I am telling you."

“Yeah - Louis said Karsi wasn’t in a good way either after today. It doesn’t change anything for me, or where my kids are concerned but I know it’s a shock for everyone... I’ll have the kids, sure.”

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“Sexist there no? You’re more than capable of raising a son. Teach him to be everything his father isn’t.”

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“If he tries to talk to me and I’m alone what do I do?”

"It changes nothing for us either, in terms of who Karsi is for us but like you said; a lot of information to take in. Thank you, we'll drop them off in the morning."

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"Sexist? No I just.. am nervous. Be nervous about a girl too. I am nervous, in general."

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"You'll never be far from an adult you trust. You treat him like any other stranger that walks up to you."

“So you should be, it’s a big responsibility. I’d be worried if you weren’t.”

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“Okay... okay.” Lux nodded, satisfied with his answers.

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“I’ll see you in the morning.”

Dorian leant down to kiss the top of her head, humming softly, "I love you."

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"Get some rest, you'll need it." Darya laughed quietly before hanging up.

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Sienna nodded, "Okay, OK. That's good."

“She okay with it?” Caliban asked as he moved to lay on the sofa, briefly closing his eyes.

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“I love you too dad.”

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“Everyone’s worried before they become parents.”