The Age of The Masrui

"I love you, what happened that day doesn't change that." She assured softly, closing her eyes at the kiss. "You're not to blame, no one is."

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"What is the aftermath?"

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Christian opened his mouth to respond, though changed his mind with a shake of his head as Faye stepped back outside.

"So... are we sight-seeing first or getting something to eat?"

"She is going to have to learn to compromise. As long as she is expecting you and Darya to look after the baby, in your house then she might just have to put up with it."

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,Marlowe sighed, gently pulling him into a hug. Whispering sadly, "Oh Al..."

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"Good. I know a good place, local - tiny. Cheap."

"I'm just hugging you, aren't I allowed to hug you when your upset?" She asked with a frown.

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"What is the harm in them trying? She'll always have a home with you to go back to. I think She's being quite creative there."

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"Easy. I love it... especially people not knowing who I am - not wondering if security is watching me without me knowing. It feels so freeing."

"I'm trying to hold you right now, come back here, silly old fool." Marlowe whispered, stretching her arms out to him gently.

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"It's her life to live, her choice to make and her mistakes to make too. You just have to let her make them, let her learn those lessons."

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"I can cope with being the strange new American kid, so long as I'm not the 'Levi' kid."

Marlowe smirked. "You like saying how much older than I am you are, I uno reversed you."

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"Lux has had the worse heartbreak she can ever have, nothing will ever beat that for her."

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"Mm, I like Uncle Dorian's attitude to last names. They don't mean anything really, do they? They matter when your dad ever cared, I guess but for the three of us...." She shrugged. "I loved him, feel bad for fighting with him the last time we spoke but do I think he cared? Na... not really."

"Archer and Asher were horrified when they asked me how I was holding up and I asked them what they meant." Christian chuckled.

"It isn't our job to protect them from heartbreak, Cal. It's our job to help them get back on their feet once they've gone through it. You can't wrap Olivia on cling film, especially not now she is a mother herself. Let her grow up."

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"Uno... the game? You must know it."

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"Sorry." Faye grimaced, wrapping her arms around herself.

Dorian frowned, shaking his head and reaching over to take his hands gently. "Yours was extreme, hers won't be that dramatic. Plus, she'll have you and Darya - your dad was a busy man, you'll make the time to help her heal though. It's going to be okay, Cal."

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"We are going to have to have a games night, I'll pull out the uno. I'll make a fort too, make hot chocolates. It'll be fun." Marlowe grinned.

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"Yeah, yeah. Right, this way." Faye whispered, turning off down a rough looking alleyway that had industrial side bins lining the area. Pushing open a plain industrial door which opened up into a cosy cafe - fairy lights around each table, small plants as centre pieces and live acoustic music playing.

"You didn't ever experience uno so we will be building forts, drinking hot chocolate and playing childhood games one night this week so you get the proper experience. This is your chance to prove me wrong."

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"Stocking shelves at one of those convince stores they have everywhere." Faye hummed, slipping down into one of the booths. "Just something small."

"Not both days is it? You can't be studying all week and then working all weekend, you'll never get a break."

"Half days, so, I still get some weekend - best of both worlds."

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"Have faith they are strong enough to resist, long enough for you or Darya or me, I wouldn't mind, getting there to stop them." He hummed, squeezing his hands. "And you're a good dad so even if no one got there in time to stop them, you'd be there to help them get clean."

"We'll invite them the next time, but the first time. I want that to be just us, I want to share a little bit of my childhood with you - before it l went crazy." She smiled, resting her hand on his cheek once again. "Give it a chance, you'll love it. If you don't then... well... you decide what I owe you."

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"You don't for sure, no. You and Darya are good parents though so, I think it is going to be okay."

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"I'm optimistic for the future."

"It's good to hear. This place feels... exclusive though, how did you find it?" Christian grimaced, glancing around.

"Someone from one of my classes, it's his family's place. It's one of those 'hidden cafes' that social media likes so much."

Faye nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, yeah I think so - early days still isn't it but they are nice to me so I have nothing to complain about."

"Almost like you don't need us here." He chuckled.

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"Now, I love you but I have to go - I'm going to be late."

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"I should let you get back home, remember to tell Darya to accept one of your solutions okay? You've got a spare key to my place if you need the pull out sofa. Look after yourself, Cal."

"Still rely on you though, both of you." Faye insisted with a small frown then. "Just because I am okay here doesn't mean I don't miss you both."

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"I will." She grinned, kissing his cheek before heading out of the house.

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"No, thank you."

Dorian nodded, squeezing his hands before getting to his feet and whispering; "I'm going to go and see what it was Karsi wanted, then go home and finally sleep. Let me know when you get home, you know how people drive this time of day."

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"How is it at home? Is Bea okay?"