The Age of The Masrui

"It is nice to not have to speak that silly language in this house," Atione mused in french to Lux, grinning as he tapped a beat against the wooden table. "Nonr of these Americans understand my English when I try, it's annoying."

---

"You have the cake?" Kadir whispered to Serena in the kitchen as he searched through the draws to pull out some candles.

"I've got the camera ready." Dorian hummed cheerfully, waving it around. "She's going to love this."

“Cake in the shape of a games control, one of my better ideas.” Serena grinned as she pulled the top of the box off, holding the cake up so they could see. “It’s been done great!”

“It looks fantastic, definitely a good idea.” Odette nodded, bouncing Lucia on her hip. “Cake, yes! You can have some later baby.” She hummed when Lucia squealed in excitement.

---

“They put snails in my locker at school the other day, a live frog the other week, someone asked if I was going to eat Esme’s horse… borderline racism at this point.” Lux muttered, wrinkling her nose.

“Neither if you really try with the other kids though.” Esme frowned. “You should try.”

"Why would we bother trying when we are treated so terribly in the first month? My mother told me I should never make an effort for someone who doesn't want to be in my life."

"Yeah, but she is dead so it doesn't matter anyways what she said." Eric shrugged non-chalantly, wiggling his shoulders as if trying to square up when Antione glared at him.

"American pig." Antione spat.

---

"Sshh, sshh." Dorian hummed, lifting his hand up in the motion towards Lucia as she squealed. "This has to be a surprise."

"They'd be more suspicious if the baby wasn't making noises," Kadir laughed, putting the candles into the cake when Serena pulled it out.

“Eric! You’re out of order!” Lux snapped then, glaring at him.

“I mean he’s right. That advice didn’t help her live did it so…” Esme shrugged.

---

“Oh, here, okay okay.” Odette chuckled when Lucia began to wriggle towards Dorian as he paid her attention, passing her over.

“I can’t wait to see her face. She’s gonna love it!”

"I can't wait to sing her happy birthday," Dorian grinned, taking Lucia off of Odette and kissing his daughters forehead to coo; "You ready to clap along? Yeah, yeah?"

"Lux is going to hate that," Kadir laughed, pulling a lighter out of the drawer to set up the candles.

---

"Exactly!"

"Forget it," Atione answered with a controlled breath, "Today is for Lux, not.. not this. Adults are funny anyway, going into the other room as if they aren't-" He cut off with a flinch then, the front door clattering onto the floor in the hallway with the force in which it had been forced open.

Esme screamed, pulling Eric under the table instantly, covering him with her body.

Lux grabbed a knife from the table, shakily standing up and looking over.

---

“What was that?” Odette frowned, squeezing her daughters hand gently before heading into the room to see.

“Get the gun,” Serena whispered to Kadir before following her niece.

"What are you doing," Dorian hissed as he caught a hold of Odette's wrist, having followed her. "Your pregnant, no. Here... take Lucia and find somewhere to hide. I'll get Lux and the other kids."

---

Kadir nodded, leaving the kitchen through the other door to grab the gun from the room the locker was kept in near the back door; glass smashing and a singular gunshot coming from that direction a moment later.

---

"Esme, don't... no, we have to keep each other safe." Eric whimpered, trying to wiggle out of her arms so he could curl around her too. Screaming at the sound of the gun shot.

Atione slowly got to his own feet, not reacting to the sound of the gun but staring toward the hallway.

“Hide? I can’t hi - “ Odette whimpered at the gunshot, taking her daughter and holding her close before quickly heading up the stairs.

“It’s okay, shh.” Esme soothed through her own tears. “Eric shh, they can’t know we’re here.”

“Hands up and nobody else gets hurt! We just want the safe, we know you rich pricks have one. Just want what’s in the safe! Your security won’t be saving you so don’t get any silly ideas!” A gunman shouted as he walked in, grabbing Lux and holding the gun to her head. “Safe, where is it and what’s the combination and the brat won’t get hurt!”

“Kadir?!” Serena shouted when she heard the shot, attention turning to him though quickly back onto her daughter when she was grabbed. “Get the fuck off her! Get off my daughter now or so help me!”

Dorian's glanced over his shoulder toward where the gunshot had came from and grimaced when he spotted Kadir on the ground; stepping forward when Lux was grabbed and snapping at the gunman. "Let her go, right now! Do you have any idea who you are messing with?!"

"The least threatening people in the world, one of you dead already... should we add a kid onto the list?" Theo ther gunman laughed, Atione screaming as he was grabbed, pulled in and also had a gun to his head.

---

"I don't wanna die, I don't wanna die!" Eric cried, shaking violently.

Lux screamed, jabbing the knife backwards that she’d picked up straight into her attackers leg. The man yelled in pain, cracking Lux over the head with the gun to instantly knock her out, shoving her to the floor and violently kicking her across the room. “Stupid brat!” He hissed, aiming the gun at the teenager on the floor. “You’ll fucking pay for that you stupid bitch!”

“No. No!” Serena cried out, diving onto the floor in front of her daughter, jerking forward as the man shot the gun, hitting Serena instead of its intended target. Serena let out a quiet whimper as blood begin to drip from her mouth, red blooming across the front of her shirt from her stomach.

“Shit… shit! Let’s get out of here now! Now!” The gunman hissed, tearing the knife from his leg and limping out as quick as he could.

Esme grabbed her phone, putting her hand over Eric’s mouth before texting SOS to her father.

"Lux!" Antione yelled, struggling against the gun man that had a hold of him as he continued to be restrained; gasping as he hit against the wall when he was thrown away; dropping down onto the floor with the force of it though managing to crawl his way over to Lux and take a hold of her hand. The other gunman nodding his agreement as he fled.

"Shit." Dorian hissed, moving over and dropping to his knees between Serena and the two kids. Quickly checking Lux over to see if she was breathing. Shoving a pillow from one of the seats into Antione's hands and informing sharply, "Put that to her head, where she is bleeding." before pulling Serena into his arms and using another pillow to try and stem Serena's wound. "Hang in their, whirlwind. It'll be okay- Esme? Eric? You two got a phone? Get help!"

---

"Bella.... " Ronan called with a frown from his home office. "Somethings going on, we need to get to your sisters." He informed, texting Esme back: Can I call? Or do you have to keep quiet?

“There’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.” Serena laughed weakly, the color beginning to drain from her face. “I forgive you, for everything… all of it.” She whispered shakily, gripping his wrist. “Lux is gonna need you now Dorian, promise me you’ll be strong for her? And tell her I love her all the time… she’s everything to me, the best thing that I ever did, she needs to know that, every day, promise me you’ll tell her I loved her every day…”

I don’t know, I’m hiding, it’s loud, be quick, there’s guns Esme text back before yelling; “I’ve text my dad!” Going back to her phone once more to call 911

---

“Somethings going on? What do you mean?” Bella called back up from the kitchen.

((Brb, shower))

"You'll be able to tell her all of that yourself, silly." Dorian soothed softly, cradling her against her as he increased the pressure. Adding tearfully, "You don't get to do this, not after all the shit everyone has gone through recently. You realise what this'll do to Lux, to Bella and Ronan, to Odette, to me?! Stay awake, stay here... Lucia needs to know you too, my unborn baby should get to know you too. Stay, you've got to stay."

Eric pulled his knees up to bury them in his face then as he muffled his own sobs.

---

"I don't know! Esme text an SOS, she says their is guns. We have to get there now."

“She’s gonna be so great… make sure you encourage her, with everything. Doesn’t matter how silly it seems - she’s gonna make us so proud.” Serena sobbed then, reaching up and resting a hand on Dorian’s face. “Thank you, for her. I know you’ll look after her, I trust you.” She whispered, shaking her head when he mentioned everyone else. “Just let them know I love them, love you too. Always loved you, you’re Lux’s dad. You’ve been the best… thank you for those years at home in France - make sure she still speaks it, don’t let her forget that? It’s part of who she is. Make sure you tell her I love her Dorian. Promise - “ her hand dropped from his face as her chest stopped rising and falling. Passing a few moments later.

“Dorian? Dorian!” Odette called from the top of the stairs, soothing Lucia who’d begun screaming at the gunshots.

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you.” Esme curled into her brother, remaining under the table as she sobbed

---

“Shit!” Bella hissed, grabbing her phone and calling her sisters, taking the car keys from the side and hurrying to the car.

"No! No, no, no!" Dorian screamed, holding Serena close as he sobbed into her hair. Rocking back and forth with her.

---

Ronan took the keys off of her gently, getting into the car and driving off.

(( Skip a few hours? ))

Early the next morning…

“Here…” Rhys tried to pass his mother a glass of alcohol a few hours later, wrapping a blanket over her shoulders. “Mom… come on, please… you’re worrying me.” He said gently - Bella having not spoken for hours after crying herself out - not even squinting as the sunrise began to break through the windows straight into her face.

“I just hid… I was a coward and I just hid…” Esme sniffled from the opposite sofa, curling in on herself.

---

Odette held the front door open, allowing Lux to pass in front of her as they came home from the hospital. She had a black eye with a few stitches on her forehead from the gun and a few bruised ribs, her face blotchy and swollen from screaming and crying. Without a word to anyone she ambled up the stairs as quickly as she could, going to her bedroom and slamming the door behind her.

Odette room Dorian’s hand as she lead him into the house, squeezing it tightly - glancing over to Henry who was on the couch with Lucia asleep beside him. He’d had a few out of the bottle in front of him, though kept it reasonable as he was watching the baby.

"I need to go to Lux, I - I need to go and... and keep an eye on her. Hold her." Dorian mumbled, squeezing Odette's hand in silent gratitude. "You should go to bed, Odi.. you need to... need to rest, for the baby. I' fine, need to look after Lux."

---

"Leave her be, she doesn't have to say anything if she doesn't want to, Rhys." Ronan muttered, sitting himself down beside Esme and pulling her into a tight hug. "You done so much, you were so brave. So, so brave."

---

"What do I do dad? He was only just getting used to.. everything here, his mother being murderss. Now he has witnessed a double murder to boot?" Sienna sighed as she paced the floor. "Thats so much more than I ever witnessed."

“I should’ve done more… I could’ve helped. I could’ve done something else… maybe they’d be alive if I’d done something more.” Esme cried, curling into her fathers arms with a sob.

Rhys swallowed thickly, sitting beside his mother and pulling her into his arms. Gently grabbing a baby wipe from the packet on the side and using it to wipe at Bella’s hands where there were still bloody stains from after she got to the house.

---

“You’re not okay, none of us are okay. None of this is okay.” Odette whispered, wrapping her arms around Dorian and burying her face in his neck.

“It’s on the news now, it broke around an hour ago… everyone’s been sending their condolences.” Henry whispered.

“Fuck their condolences.”

---

“Just… space and time, therapy. There’s nothing else you can do Sienna… you’re there for him, that’s what he needs, someone to be there for him.” Maddox frowned sadly, checking his phone as it went off. “Lux and your uncle Dorian are home from the hospital, I’ve just been notified by the extra security your mom sent them. She’s on her way over there… you can tell Antoine that Lux is… physically gonna be okay.”

"Henry can you- can you make sure that Odette takes care of herself? I need to... I need to be with Lux. I come secondary, a- and Odette has you so.... all my daughter has right now is me." Dorian stumbled over words, kissing the side of Odette's head before moving away and heading to Lux's room; closing the door behind himself. "Lux..."

---

"No, no. Silly girl, you done exactly what we've always told you to do - to hide, for you and your brother to keep each other safe, to call for help. You done so, so much." Ronan soothed softly, smoothing her hair down as he held her close. "I'm so proud of you I'm so, so proud of you."

---

"Physically doesn't mean anything though, really... does it? He is smart enough to know that too." Sienna sighed. "He isn't going anywhere alone again, I thought since e was with Uncle Dorian it would be okay."

Lux was silent, laying fully clothed on the bed, silent tears soaking into her pillow.

---

“You’re proud of me for being a coward. I hate myself, I could’ve done more.” Esme shook her head, sniffling softly. “Aunt Serena and uncle Kadir are dead because I was a coward.”

---

“We all did… but we’re wrong sometimes aren’t we… and unfortunately not everyone was as lucky to make it out alive.”

"No, they died because they were brave and because the men who hurt them were evil, or misguided or.... whatever the word could be. At least they're together though, Es, as morbid as that is - they aren't walking into the great unknown alone."

---

"Forgive me for being more concerned about the kids involved then Serena and her husband. Dying is easy, don't have to deal with the aftermath when you are dead."

---

Dorian silently laid beside her, wrapping an arm around to hold her close. "I'm here, my baby. I know, and I'm here."

“I spent too much time playing games and not enough time with them… and now they’re gonna and I’ll never get to spend any more time with them…” Lux whispered blankly, closing her eyes at his touch.

---

“Antoine will be fine… it will take months of work but he’ll be okay Sienna, kids are… resilient.”

---

“I’m sorry I didn’t do more… so you think they’d forgive me?”

"Resilent is just an easy way to palm off any adverse trauma responses they have as adults. Kids are kids, need to be safe, protected not witness three damn murders before fifteen."

---

"That isn't true, you played games together. You went horse riding with them when they went, walks... your far more social then you think you are." Dorian whispered, letting the language drift into French to try and add extra comfort. "Your mother loved you, your other dad - because that's what he was, hm? He was your dad too... loved you and they knew you loved them too."

---

"Itcwouldnt even cross their minds that they would have to forgive you."

“I made the man angry. I stabbed him… if I hadn’t made him angry he wouldn’t have shot mom. It’s my fault they’re dead.” Lux sobbed then, her body tensing as she shoved her hand into her mouth to stop herself from screaming out in pain as the motion jolted her ribs.

---

“Sienna there’s no guide on what to do when your foster child witnesses the murder of his friends parents and his own. There’s nothing I can say you’ll accept right now mm?”

---

“Mom wouldn’t be the only one left of her siblings if it wasn’t for me being such a coward.” Esme cried, flinching when her mother suddenly got up at that, the words cracking something inside her as she sprinted up the stairs.

“Esme, Eric might be dead if it wasn’t for you. He might have been caught and shot. You protected our brother, you did good.” Rhys soothed gently, allowing his mother to go as he got up too and knelt in front of his sister. “You know what Eric is like, he needed you and you were there.”

"Csn you come over here?" Sienna whispered, sitting herself down on the sofa heavily. "Need you, I don't know how to help him... you do, you've - done stuff like this before."

---

"You done so well, Es." Ronan promised, kissing the top pf of daughters head before getting to his feet and following Bella upstairs; satisfied that he and Rhys would be able to swap their attentions then.

---

"No, no. That man was determined to hurt you, kill you." Dorian answered, voice trembling. Squeezing her shoulder tightly to distract her from the pain. "You were so brave fighting back, Lux. Your mother was too, for protecting you. You are just like her, your so strong.... this isn't your fault, Princess. This isn't your fault."

(( Night night ))