The Age of The Masrui

"You should give it a go again, see if it has the same effect. Transports me into my own little world, I write letters just to rip them up sometimes it's like... therapy, I guess."

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"I think you need to look in the mirror more if you can't see it," Marlowe smiled, adding quietly, "I love this, forget how in love with you I am until we get moments like this just for us. With the rest of the world asleep."

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"What if you add stuff into the premade thing, that's what I do. Sophia always says that it tastes good." Levi frowned. "Can I do something? Can I help?"

"Pretty sure it is but when have our families ducked away from breaking the law?" Reid chuckled, "You should really go wind your dad up though he isn't biting when I try."

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"I never thought I would be a sole breadwinner." Ronan smirked. "Are we now one of those disgusting stereotypes?"

“Like you need to win anymore bread anyway.” Bella rolled her eyes playfully at his smirk. “I mean... I could do the whole trophy wife thing. I’d probably get bored after a few weeks. Or... you could give me a job mm?”

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“You want me to write you letters?”

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“You forget you love me sometimes? What a horrible wife you are, how unacceptable.”

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“You can start the cleanup if you want to help. It’ll be appreciated.”

“He’s mellowed too much for anyone to bother him these days.” Astrid laughed softly.

"I meant help cook..." Levi frowned.

"I know, mellow Altair is more terrifying then scary Altair." Reid laughed.

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Marlowe snorted at that, pushing him playfully. "You know what I mean, come on, don't say that - you say stuff like that and I'll have to shower you with compliments for weeks and you'll get pissed."

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"Me, if you want... I think you should try writing yourself letters aswell though. To future you from present you, from present you to past you. It's reflective."

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"I could give you a job, or... Es spoke to me the other day about the business and if I really wanted to do and.. what if I give you acting charge - step into my role entirely and I could dip my feet back into modelling? If you want..."

“You wanna get back into it?” Bella smiled brightly, glad he was even considering leaving his job. “I think that’s great, mon amour. A fantastic idea for you to get back out there.”

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“You’ve just unlocked a memory from the early days of rehab...” Grayson snorted as he finished his drink and set his cup down.

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“I need it to be perfect Levi.”

“He’d get this quiet sometimes when we were kids and it was always a warning he was about to explode... it’s weird having the quiet now and not the storm.”

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“Mm, I do know what you mean. You know I’m teasing.”

"Well, your rehab counsellors know what they were on about." Kaya laughed. "Turns out I know those methods without ever having gone, that's interesting."

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"Esme... has been pushing. She's very in tune with how you and I are really feeling, unfortunately." Ronan chuckled. "I couldn't just leave, do that to Reid but if you want to go and be a boss babe or whatever it is they call them then.. you can step unto my shoes, your worthy enough and I could morally.. step back, not leave just.. step back."

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"I can do it perfect! Why does it matter anyway? Mom always says that mistakes are normal."

"Old age I suppose." Reid laughed.

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"I do," Marlowe whispered, brushing her nose against his. "I also know you've been worried recently, about me but.. you can calm down now, I'm okay. The doctors have told you, I have, we've had third and fourth opinions. I'm okay Mads, you can go back to work - you can let me drive. We can do this."

“I can be a boss babe if it means you get to do something you actually enjoy.” Bella laughed as she moved to hug him. “I’m glad you’re doing this.”

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“I always dismissed it. But I was feeling too shitty to do anything but lay in bed.”

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“I don’t want to take any risks Marley, and this is a risk.”

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“Not when you’re making a meal to be nice to someone Levi. You can help me another time.”

“Still... one day he might go like a volcano.”

"Only if you want to, Bells. If you want to enjoy time off for awhile it is fine, you deserve the break." Ronan whispered, hugging her back tightly and tangling his fingers in her hair.

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"Well, give it a go now. It may not even help you now but in five months, two years... when you forget how far you've come or how much you've achieved having the opportunity to look back. It really helps."

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"When have I ever encouraged you to go back to work?" Marlowe laughed humourlessly. "I am loving having you all to myself, sweetheart. I love not worrying about you coming home or not, I am loving the fuss but.. your worrying too much, hm? I am okay, I promise. I'd tell you if I wasn't.. I swear."

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"Who are you trying to be nice for? The law lady?" Levi sighed. "Is she going to replace everyone else?"

"That'll be a fun day."

“Replace in what way?” Altair frowned then, bracing himself against the counter as he turned around to face him.

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“I’ll take a few weeks, and you will too so we can go to Egypt and celebrate mm?” Bella squeezed him gently. “Those papers were the best birthday gift I’ve gotten in a while... I’m glad at what they’re doing for us already. Bet you feel a weight off your chest mm?”

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“Caliban and Karsi are okay till they’re not and they’re bedbound for days with migraines. You could be fine one minute and not the next and I need to be there if ever ever not.”

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“I might give it a try in a bit...”

"Cause you want to impress someone, so I'll never get to cook with you again." Levi frowned. "Not good enough."

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"Egypt sounds... perfect. Yes, yes..."

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"I am okay, silly." Marlowe frowned, resting her hands on each side of his face to make him look at her. "Come on, you.. it's okay. I'm okay. I'm right here,"

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"Mm, write one before we sleep together.. write one after we do, if we do." Kaya smiled warmly. "I want to see if there is a difference in how you write."

“Are you suggesting sex with you is going to be so mind blowing it’s going to have me writing sonnets and poetry on paper?” Grayson laughed quietly

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“Just tonight’s meal Levi, not forever or never again. Just tonight.”

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“Everyone is okay until they’re not.”

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“I’m glad you agree.” Bella hummed, moving to kiss him gently

"That is entirely what I am suggesting, yes," Kaya laughed. "It has happened before, angel. It can happen again."

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"Why tonight? Why is the lawyer lady so special... what about grandma?"

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"The one furthest away from okay right now is you, Mads. You're so anxious." Marlowe frowned, "Whixh is silly because even if anything ever did happen to me, you'd be okay. You're strong, the kids love you. Your family is strained but of you really needed them, they would definetly step up for you. You'd be okay."

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Ronan pulled her down onto his lap and kissed her back deeply.

“I won’t even think about it, losing you. It’s why I’m staying where I am for now.”

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“She’s a friend, okay? I just want to make a nice meal for my friend. It’s nothing to do with grandma.”

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“So... since I’ve kinda given you a gift what are you getting me tomorrow? Spill...” Bella hummed in his ear gently, nipping at it gently.

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“Oh it has? That’s intriguing.”

"Think about it, Mads. Think about it because I always have to, every time you go to work, every time you are home later than I think.. and I tell you, I talk to you about it so you need to tell me."

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"Nu uh. Friends don't stay over so long, don't make your own sauce for friends... if it was a just a friend you'd let me help."

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"I'm still holding my cards close to my chest, Bella. It wouldn't wouldn't a birthday present if you didn't get it on your birthday."

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"Mhm, you may know him - Todrick Maconey; won some poetry awards apparantly."

“What kind of name is that?” Grayson snorted.

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“Oh come on, please?” Bella pouted as she pulled away, running a hand down his chest

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“I can’t Astrid! I can’t! No.” Maddox pulled away from her then, moving to stand himself up.

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“Fine! Levi, fine! Start chopping some onions if you insist!”

"Well, I'm sorry you've had a reality check but... thr fear you feel is the fear I have had since you walked in when Sienna was young and you could barely walk." Marlowe whispered. "I still let you go back though, let you drive without issues when you had healed. Please don't run away, sit down...it's hard, and it's scary, I know."

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Levi grinned, unphased by the irritation in is grandfather's voice as he slid of the counter and got to helping.

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"No, a surprise is a surprise." He hummed, breathe catching at her touch.

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"As ridiculous as Grayson Levi. Don't be judgey." Kaya frowned.

“You’re telling me you’d look at a baby and name it that? Absurd.”

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“Well if I can’t drag it out of you.” Bella whispered against his lips, lingering for a few seconds before getting up and smirking at him.

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“Sun’s risen, it’s time to go home.” Maddox muttered as he got up and began gathering the food they’d had up.

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“Your son is as annoying as you were as a child Asa.”

“Maybe so, but he’s a lot better at the cooking than I am so... appreciate him.”

"Tod is as cute as Gray is, angel." Kaya grinned.

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"You can't do that, that isn't fair." Ronan groaned in frustration, reaching to grab her waist gently. "Bella..."

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"I'm going to stay out here a little longer, you can too if you want to." Marlowe whispered sadly, resting her cheek against her knees as she pulled them up to her chest.

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"Your the only man who gets annoyed at someone doing the grunt work in the kitchen." Reid laughed.

“No, no it’s not. Definitely not.” Grayson laughed, shaking his head.

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“Only because I can’t keep my hands off you either...” Bella murmured as she moved to sit back on his lap, kissing him deeply.

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“Children are often messy and unpredictable. There is a reason they should be - “

“Seen and not heard.” Astrid finished with a laugh.

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“We should get back...”

"Well, you are just going to have to accept the fact." She laughed.

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"I am staying out here, enjoying the sun more." Marlowe whispered.

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Ronan kissed her back, knotting his fingers in her hair and pulling him closer against her.

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“There was - was something else I had to tell you.” Bella whispered heavily, pulling away as she struggled to remember before shaking her head and returning to kiss him.

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“Not a fact at all.” Grayson chuckled before leaning forward and resting his hand on her face gently.

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“Don’t. You know I can’t leave you. We may as well go.”

"I want to stay out here longer, Mads. I need to... have fresh air. I don't want to fight. I love you." Marlowe sighed. "Please sit down,"

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Kaya leant up, meeting him the rest of the way so she could delicately tease her lips against his with closed eyes.

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"Bells?" Ronan frowned, pulling away and raising an eyebrow at her in question. "What is it?"

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"Seen and not heard? No. Why would I do that, people won't know I am there if I do that." Levi frowned.

"Mhm, be the loudest in the room most of the time bud. Respect is a two way street not a given right.' Reid nodded.

“Oh... Serena called, wanted to speak to you. Not important.” Bella shook her head.

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Maddox sighed in frustration before sitting back down.

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Grayson gently pressed his lips to hers, moving his hand to her hair.

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“You don’t need to be loud to be heard.” Altair frowned.

"Not always, but in some situations - yes, yes you do."

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"I want to get back to work, the fundraisers. Even just.. helping Dorian out because he is going through hell right now." Marlowe whispered when he sat back down, fixing her eyes onto the sky.

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"It is normally important when she calls. I should call her back, find out what it is she wants. It is probably something to do with the wedding."

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Kaya deepened the kiss, though not for long - pulling away as she heard the door open and Sienna's footsteps in the entryway. Turning her gaze away from Grayson to look at the floor.

“I’m heard well enough without raising my voice.”

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“She can hang on for another hour or so…”

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“Fine, fine. Not exactly like I can stop you. Go back to work.”

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Grayson sighed softly, shifting himself back a bit. “Sienna… you’re back earlier than I expected.”

"You may be, that isn't how it is for everyone though. I'd rather my children grow up to be a little loud sometimes when they have to be then have the scary air you have around you that makes people listen." Reid shrugged.

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"You can't no but, I care about how you feel - your view so I just thought a conversation would be better. I - this is why you need to tell me how effected you are Mads - I'm not encouraging it to have an excuse to hold you, I am encouraging it so I can assess if I can go back without it negatively effecting you too much. You know?"

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"What do you want to do in that 'hour or so'?"

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"Yeah, sorry. I'm just going to lock myself away in my room - sending off the college application today so I just need to revise my statement." Sienna grinned, pausing once she had turned to face them and taken in Kaya. "Oh you were.. sorry."