The Age of The Masrui

“Sorry… sorry. I’m not using him as a - sorry.” Olivia grimaced. “I… sorry, Eric.”

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“I definitely what you to shower.” Mila chuckled. “You’ve still got stuff in your hair.”

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“Was a bit of an odd choice from your parents but I suppose Christopher is a little too common and you can’t call a kid just Chris cause it’s a nickname so… Christian it was?” Wren laughed.

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Odette nodded, gently patting his chest before moving to sit by her sister in law.

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Ben gently wrapped his arms around her.

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"They always called my sister Faye after calling their dead daughter Freya- extremely similar names. Nut cases both of then." Christian snorted softly. "Could be worse though - could be named after a bird." He smirked.

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Dorian watched for a moment before heading into the house, grabbing his phone and calling Caliban - holding the device to his ear.

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"Oh, hi." Marlowe whispered in greeting, wiggling her glass towards her. "You want some?"

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Faye closed her eyes, snuggling into him.

“Tiny but mighty little birds.” Wren shrugged. “Could’ve been worse… could’ve been like pigeon or falcon.” She snorted.

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“You’re always welcome with me, Faye.”

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“It’s very early for that, I’ll decline.” Odette said gently.

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“Dorian, morning.” Caliban greeted with a yawn.

"Morning - sorry, early isn't it? Idiot even check the time. I've just been checking on Marlowe that's all. It's another sunrise and whisky morning."

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"Falcons are much better than pigeons - rats of the sky those are, right?"

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"Not that early. It's gross anyway, this stuff - I don't know how I was ever fooled into liking it. The price tag got me, I think - easily pleased."

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"I think we're doing just fine, not failing him - that ridiculous." Eric sighed.

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"I better be, I live here now." She chuckled weakly.

“I know a few good rehabs if you’re genuinely starting to get concerned…” Caliban offered quietly.

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“Just want the best for him. He deserves the very best of everything…” Olivia whispered quietly, smoothing her thumb over Isaac’s cheek and smiling softly when the baby made an excited noise and smiled before reaching up to Eric’s face.

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“Don’t drink it if you don’t like it then?” Odette frowned.

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“Pigeons can be cute… a few roost in the stables sometimes.”

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“You do, ans you’re welcome to live here as long as you like.”

"I don't want to go that far yet. I just - can you talk to her, when you get the chance please? You - You didn't mean to, and I- I know that but she felt repsonsbile enough for Maddox's death and now Altair not being okay is making her spiral even more."

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"It's symbolic. I have to - I did for decades."

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"Forever?" She smiled.

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"They are normally missing toes and spread all those nasty diseases - like rats... that fly." Christian shook his head. "No, horrible."

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Eric nodded, leaning in so the baby could touch his face. "Teach him sign when he is old enough, so he can talk to my aunt River when her voice is sore."

“I’ve started learning a bit to do that.” Olivia nodded. “I’m not great but I’ll get better… I remember you saying how important she is to you, and your mom talks about her a lot being round at yours… I think him learning it too is a great idea. Help him connect more with everyone. I’ve heard it can make tantrums less frequent too - sign. Because they have a way to communicate their needs even if they can’t yet speak.”

Isaac grabbed at his face happily, smiling as he felt his way around.

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“What’s Altair spiralling for to do with me not meaning to do anything?” Caliban asked in confusion.

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“Not an animal lover then?”

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“Forever.” Ben nodded.

"You told her Altaid died with him. In her mind Maddox died because of her, because she chose to move on... if Maddox died because of her then Altair not being the same is her fault too, Cal. She's slipping, I can't watch her slip to the point she tries something again."

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"Not a pigeon lover." Christian hummed. "I don't think anyone is a pigeon lover."

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"I don't know about any of that... Es and I grew up learning it, always. Rhys learned when my dad became a permanent fixture in his life. It's just... what we do. We alternate - English, sign and French... sometimes French sign too if we want to be fancy - not often though, it's more a party trick."

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"Even when I bring boys over?" She smirked.

“You’ll have to teach him the French, I can barely count to five in it.” Olivia chuckled. “He’s gonna grow up one smart baby, aren’t you little man?”

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“Bring whoever you went over, as long as your door stays open.” Ben laughed.

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“People race them don’t they? Bet they love them.”

“It’s still… day drinking. Very early day drinking… it’s not good for you Marley.”

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“None of it was her fault though… I’ve told her that so many times. What happened was a fluke, an accident.”

"I'm not a child, Odette...." Marlowe whispered, gripping onto the tumbler a little bit tighter. "I can look after myself. Not going to top myself, don't worry."

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"I know that, and you know that but she doesn't know that."

“You’ll have to teach him the French, I can barely count to five in it.” Olivia chuckled. “He’s gonna grow up one smart baby, aren’t you little man?”


“Bring whoever you went over, as long as your door stays open.” Ben laughed.


“People race them don’t they? Bet they love them.”

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“It’s not healthy Marley…”

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“I keep telling her Dorian…”

"Ah, so there are the rules. I know those would show up eventually." Faye laughed cheerily. "Damnnit. Time to pack my bags and leave."

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"He'll certainly have good communication skills."

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"I don't think they love them if they race them, it's just a sport full of snobbery."

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Dorian sighed deeply, sitting himself down and leaning forward to rub his forehead. "Right - right fine. Whatever. I'll just do it shall I? I do everything else - this is why you got to be pissed at me for not being heartbroken about Maddox because you don't pick up her damn pieces the same way I do. Easy to screech at me isn't it? When you don't see both sides properly. As if Maddox was some bloody Saint when he was a monster."

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"This is all I have of him now so just.. leave me be. Okay? Can't just go and start a row when I miss him anymore. Just have sunrises and whisky and fucking blueberry pancakes."

“You’re free to leave anytime but… I don’t think you’ll make it far. You Americans struggle with public transport.”

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“He’s so perfect isn’t he?” Olivia doted, completely entranced by her son as she watched him play with Eric’s hair.

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“I love my horses, I still compete.”

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“I’ve picked up Marlowe’s pieces plenty of times. Yours too Dorian.” Caliban snapped then. “I cannot make her believe she’s not at fault. Nor can you. Doesn’t matter how many times we say it. I love her deeply, but you can only lead the horse to water, you can’t make it drink.”

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“You have plenty left of him. Three children, memories, that place in your head that only he’ll ever know.”

"Here we go, yelling at me again." Dorian mumbled miserably. "I'm only even calling because Odette thought it would be a good idea - sorry for disturbing you."

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"That only he'll ever know but.. he's dead so.. lonely memories." Marlowe whispered. "Ihave no right to grief anyway. Altair does, my kids do... Cal and the others. I'm just.. I was just the ex wife. You were great with my brother when Serena died, like... a star, couldn't fault you but I can't put my baggage on Altair when he is struggling himself. It's different for us. We can't grieve together and the longer it takes the bigger a gap we have. I'll have no fiancè by the time I feel okay too."

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"Horses aren't pigeons. You cant compare them."

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"Levi's don't have public transport, they have chauffeurs." Faye smirked.

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"He is... he is. I just wish his birthday was like.. the day before or day after the day it is. I don't- how am I going to navigate that, Olivia?"

"Here we go, yelling at me again." Dorian mumbled miserably. "I'm only even calling because Odette thought it would be a good idea - sorry for disturbing you."

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"That only he'll ever know but.. he's dead so.. lonely memories." Marlowe whispered. "Ihave no right to grief anyway. Altair does, my kids do... Cal and the others. I'm just.. I was just the ex wife. You were great with my brother when Serena died, like... a star, couldn't fault you but I can't put my baggage on Altair when he is struggling himself. It's different for us. We can't grieve together and the longer it takes the bigger a gap we have. I'll have no fiancè by the time I feel okay too."

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"Horses aren't pigeons. You cant compare them."

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"Levi's don't have public transport, they have chauffeurs." Faye smirked.

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"He is... he is. I just wish his birthday was like.. the day before or day after the day it is. I don't- how am I going to navigate that, Olivia?"

“And how are you funding a driver over here Miss Levi?”

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“How does your family deal with your cousins birthday? Lux? Maybe we can take pointers from that?” Olivia suggested gently. “I think ultimately… we celebrate them both. We celebrate our little boy, and the auntie he would’ve had. We make sure that as he grows up we tell him all about her… the first few years will be the hardest I bet. But he won’t notice everyone else sad. And when he’s old enough we’ll explain it’s not about him - why everyone’s sad.”

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“I’m not yelling, far from yelling Dorian. I’m trying to explain. Maybe you just have to let her grieve this one out.”

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“Me and Dorian mourned my grandfather together… it’s how we met. Not as deep a connection as you and Maddox as Dorian and my grandfather but… people can and do grieve for the same person… you need to find a way you can connect.”

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“You’re the one who said if they’re racing the birds they won’t love them.”

"You yelled that day and you haven't had a damn conversation with me since that hasn't been tense so the intention of yelling is still there." Dorian answered, voice trembling. "Forget it. What a shitty idea... I'll go back to being happy, hm? I'll let her spiral. Everyone can be happy then, in their own alone sadness."

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"The credit card of course." Faye grinned.

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"It's different... my ex husband, his brother. It is different to a father-in-law and a grandfather. It isn't as... messy. If I - I can't cry about my first love dying to my current... I can't sob and admit that I wish I heard his voice without jeopardising mine and Altair's trust in one another."

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"If the birds go of course during a race it is better not to call the number on the rings, most of the owners shot them when they get them back. Who wants a homing pigeon that can't home, right? Most of them don't love them. Most horse owners don't love them either - they get sold for meat in slaughter when they can't run, or they get shot on the spot for injuries that can be rehabilitated with enough dedication. Greyhounds get inbred until they can barely live just to be made the fastest."

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"Yeah. I just.. wish it wasn't so complicated."

“I’ll be here to help you navigate it… I’ll do everything I can so the day isn’t completely awful for you. I bet you really miss her, huh?”

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“You’re being very generalised there.” Wren muttered in irritation then.

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“You still have a functioning one?”

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“You do this all the time and I can’t deal with it right now. Woe is me get the fucking violins out. You somehow manage to make everything about you Dorian. My brother is dead.” Caliban hissed before hanging up.

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“Altair isn’t stupid. He knows you loved Maddox deeply. You were married to the man for decades and had five children with him. I bet he still loves his ex wife too, she’s the mother of his children and the woman he also spent years with. He’ll understand.”

((Night))

"Not generalised at all." Christian answered with a frown. "I've looked at numbers, I've googled things. You may be the expection and if you are then good for you but you shouldn't think everyone has the same intentions you do. They don't. The world is about money, cousin, nothing else - if there is no money, there is no business and racing animals is all about with money or blood sport."

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"She's always been about." Eric whispered. "Always... I don't remember Rhys without her. She wasn't like.. 'Rhys' girlfriend' or wife or whatever to me. She was... family. A core part."

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"My dad's emergency... I swiped it.. ages ago. In case you didn't- you know..."

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"I'm not disloyal to mourn the man I haven't been with for years?" Marlowd asked quietly, fingers tightening on the tumbler to stop her hands shaking. "I feel like it is. I feel like.. if I go to Al I need to be the supportive fiancè not the ruined ex in-law. I can't be both at once."

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"That didn't sound great." Darya mused tiredly, her arms wrapping around Caliban from behind as she buried her face against the crook of his neck. "Good morning, my love."

(( Night night ))

“I think you’re - “ Wren started, cutting off when the timer in the kitchen went off. Getting up and heading in to make the rest of the food.

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“You lost a sister… She’s just as much your sister as Esme… but you’re having to swallow that down because both your siblings have lost another person too and they need you, right?”

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“Right, well you won’t have any need for it.” Ben promised.

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“If Altair’s ex wife died tomorrow you wouldn’t begrudge him grieving would you?”

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“Dorian wants me to magically fix Marlowe’s guilt… there nothing I can do to help her when she doesn’t want to be helped.” Caliban sighed softly as he moved to wrap his arms around her. “How’s your head?”

"The most 'with-it' person in the family? Oh wow, thank you Wren, I am honoured." He laughed, getting to his feet and following her into the kitchen. "How can I help?"

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"I- yeah... yeah exactly." Eric agreed quietly, lifting Isaac up out of the pram so he could cradle him close to his chest. "There wasn't much space between Dale and Cleo, not really... now dad is trying to look after Karsi when he can too so it's all one thing after another."

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"You'll be my personal chauffuer then?" Faye chuckled. "Can I cook for you tonight? I can boil pasta like.. really well - it'll blow your mind, I swear."

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"No, no of course not." Marlowe whispered. "I know he loves Celeste, I'm fine with it - of course he is going to love her, like how he still loves Shannon too."

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"Painkillers are kicking in now so, it's just numb. I'm sorry, it all hit me at once last night." Darya mused. "You and Dorian haven't been getting on much recently, you should go on a boys holiday. Heal."

“So why do you think you can’t grieve Maddox with him when you know he’ll understand the situation?”

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“No tome, too much to do and I’m not really in a holiday-with-Dorian mood.” Caliban wrinkled his nose. “I’ll be fine, you just get some rest.”

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“You’re looking after everyone, including a new baby but nobody’s looking after you.” Olivia murmured sadly, hesitating before briefly wrapping her arms around him in a hug, letting go after a few moments.

Isaac cooed happily, snuggling into his father.

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“As long as you test the smoke detector I’d working first, I don’t think the other residents of the building would appreciate us burning the place down.” Ben chuckled.

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“Butter the bread for the sandwiches?”

"I don't think you can start a fire from boiling pasta, can you? Seems pretty impossible to me."

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Christian nodded, taking the lid off of the butter case and grabbing a knife from the side. "Have you got plans for the day apart from feeling like you've been hit by a bus?"

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"I'm not looking after anyone, Olivia." Eric assured quietly. "I'm just.. trying to keep to myself. Best not to get in the way, isn't it? I am fine, really... just fine - can't complain."

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"You can make time, and you not being in the mood is exactly why you need to go. He is worried about Marlowe, you are worried about Altair - you both need to disappear and do things that don't involve worrying. You two have never fallen out, you're worse than bickering teenage girls right now."

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"Because if it wasn't for me Maddox wouldn't even be dead." Marlowe mumbled.

“If it wasn’t for Maddox pulling a gun he wouldn’t be dead. He was shot with his own gun, by accident, he and Altair could’ve argued over the engagement the normal way, or who knows, if it wasn’t for you Maddox would’ve ended up dead long ago and you being with him as long as you were saved him from dying at twenty five or something.”

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“Just… remember to take care of yourself too. I don’t know what boys do for self care… I mean I have a bath.” Olivia chuckled gently.

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“The horses need mucking out later, Nate is on call which nearly always ends up with him getting called in.”

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“Things are difficult but that’s all, it’s not so bad.”

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“Somehow knowing our luck it would happen.”