Farrington-Gores: Harsh truths

'Hello Mummy!'

'Hello sweetie. Ready to go home?'

'It's time for a butthole check!'

'Um...'

'...Goddamn it Jez. Sorry.'

'I can check my own butthole.'

'Kids, stop talking about buttholes!'

'Daddy likes to smack Mummy's bum.'

'Okay, time to go.'

'Wait, don't go home just yet. There's someone back at mine who wants to talk to you.'

'We need to be getting home.'

'I get that. But there's only a small time slot in the day for us to have a talk, isn't there?'

'And what about the twins?'

'Bring 'em over to mine too. They can talk to Aura and Jez, there's toys, I'll get some food in for 'em if they need it.'

'...Alright, fine. But I can't be all night.'

'Yeah, I know.'

'We're back!'

'I'm gonna take aaaallll my clothes off.'

'Not in front of anyone else you're not.'

'Ah, hi, Nalini.'

'Hello, Brianne.'

'I'm gonna go in the toy box.'

'May as well get on with it.'

'You alright to keep a closer watch on the kids?'

'Yeah, it's fine.'

'Okay, so... Presumably you know why we're here.'

'To tell me a load of shit I've already heard?'

'Oh believe me, you've heard virtually nothing so far. I also want to offer help, if you ever decide to leave Tate. However, there is a caveat for that. I don't intend on lecturing another grown adult, but I also can't ignore your history for backstabbing. I want to help you, if you ever decide it's needed, but if Tate were to find out that I've been shit talking him to you, then that's going to put me at risk, and I will back away from the entire situation as fast as possible.'

'No, I'm not going to tell him. I won't.'

'Okay, thank you. First of all, what've you already been told? I don't see a point in bringing up things you're already aware of, except maybe to confirm if it's true.'

'Saraya... told me about what he was like as a dad. And Topaz collared me too and told me about the night Roxxi left. And she was saying he's... a killer...'

'...I'm afraid so. I can confirm what Topaz says as well, I was there for part of it. I helped Roxxi and the kids leave.'

'Oh God... It's a real mess.'

'I'm sorry. I know this is hard to hear, but it's important you understand the full gravity of the situation. ...Tate threatened to kill Roxxi that day. If it wasn't for Tristan managing to defuse the situation...'

'I didn't believe her. I was awful to her...'

'I'm afraid it goes deeper than that. Tate actually used to be a hitman.'

'Oh fucking hell, how many people has he killed?'

'I haven't a clue. ...Did Tate tell give you a reason as to why Tristan was attacked? I mean, beyond "Miles is insane". Because while that's undeniably true, that's not the entire story.'

'To get to him?'

'Yes. But the full story is that in Tate's hitman days, he killed Miles' father. The person that hired Tate did so for an inheritance, and then had Miles imprisoned. Ever since Miles' release, he's been out for literal blood. And as Tristan was Tate's golden child, he was the one that became a target.'

'Jesus...'

'And that's why he got a PND in the first place. I don't want to protect Tate, I couldn't give a flying fuck what Miles does to him, but with Tristan still there, I couldn't just stand by and do nothing to prevent a further assault. Then I packed up the PND for Roxxi to take with her when she left, and he demanded another one. ...Look, I really don't want to bring your girls into a discussion like this, but I'm afraid I don't have a choice. Brianne, not only are you at risk while you're with Tate, but so are those girls. Aside from anything else, he used them to blackmail me.'

'Wait, when did he do that? What happened?'

'Back last December. He found me at Edward's house shortly after Roxxi left, demanding another PND and I essentially told him to fuck off. Then after you and the girls moved in, he brought them round to my house to make his demands a second time. He said that I might find the situation more "urgent" now that he's got you three living with him.'

'That's awful! I didn't know he'd taken them to yours! They never said anything...'

'They probably thought they were just having a nice trip with their dad. Marigold seemed a little upset when Edward and I got angry, but she quickly settled down. Assuring her that no, unlike Peach, I don't bite probably helped.'

'Awww.'

'Yeah, Peach has bitten Tate a few times...'

'I hope you gave her treats for that.'

'I know what you'll like more. One time when Abraxas came over, she went running into the room and greeted him with a big "fuck you".'

'Oh my God, that's amazing!'

'I know she just copied it from Tate, but maybe she did get the measure of him. He's just as bad, from what you said.'

'Believe me, Abraxas is ten times worse. Look, I've got to fucking ask this. How the hell have you managed to stay anywhere near Tate despite knowing how he treated the triplets? I mean, they're your family too, for God's sake.'

'Wait a minute. Let's only go down this rabbit hole if we can all keep a level head. Because I know what you're about to bring up is understandably a very touchy subject. Please, try and keep your temper in check.'

'...Yeah, I will.'

'I didn't realise it was that bad. Roxxi and I simply weren't that close. We didn't see each other much. From where I stood, the kids seemed happy enough... I know now they weren't.'

'But he hit Zeus and sold Carmella, I don't see how that can be defended.'

'I didn't know about Carmella for ages, and what he did to Zeus, I never defended! But you're right, I didn't take it seriously enough.'

'Calling it a one off is pretty much defending it, or at least enabling it -'

'-Stop. Brianne made a mistake, she is admitting that. Let's not attack each other when we all have a mutual enemy, alright? I understand that the topic of physical abuse is a big red button for you especially, but to get on the offensive with one another is going to cause more harm.'

'...Alright.'

'I know I fucked up! I did it in the first place to be spiteful, and I admit it!'

'I let Zeus and the kids down, and I'm sorry. Believe me, I'm not laughing now!'

'Mummy?'

'....Sorry.'

'It's okay, sweetie.'

'Look, you're right. There's no excuse for what I did.'

'At least you're seeing sense now, too many Goddamn people just bury their heads in the sand or enable bad behaviour because they're too chicken to do anything about it. Or worse, enjoy seeing it.'

'I don't enjoy anything about this. I know I should leave... but I don't think I can do this alone. And... and I'm pregnant.'

'Oh Jesus Christ, no.'

'...Oh fuck. Look, Brianne, you're not alone, okay? And that's exactly why I wanted to talk to you. Because I don't believe that you deserve to be in an abusive relationship, and I don't think your children deserve to grow up under Tate's rule either. I know it isn't as simple as just packing a bag and running, especially with kids, because I've been in that situation myself. I'll give you my number. If you decide to leave, I'll help you.'

'Me too.'

'Thanks. I... need time. To work this out. I don't even know if I'm keeping the baby... is that awful?'

'Not at all.'

'Hell no. It wouldn't be a bad thing even if you weren't stuck with Tate, the option's there for a reason. Though I'm a childfree scumbag, so I'm biased as all hell. But in seriousness, though, if you do have it and if, God forbid, the kid turns out to be Abraxas'... don't let him near it.'

'Would he try to be part of its life?'

'Probably, if only for appearance's sake. And lemme tell you, his parenting is a hell of a lot worse than Tate's. Tate may use the "it was a one off" excuse, but Abraxas definitely can't.'

'I'd have to disappear like Roxxi did. I wouldn't let him hurt it, I swear.'

'But think how freeing it would be, to get away from all these negative influences in you and your girls' lives.'

'I'll lose my parents. They'll be so disappointed in me...'

'If they would prefer to keep a narcissistic murderer in the family over their own children, then quite frankly, they aren't worth bothering with.'

'You're right.'