An intervention

“Raya! It's great to see you!”

“Hi Zeus! Great to see you too. Is a certain douchebag in?”

“No, he's not... I didn't think you'd be interested though, I mean, you haven't seen him in so long...”

“Oh, good. I'm not here for him, actually. I want to talk to your mum.”

“Sure! Go in, I'll fetch her.”

“Thanks. Are you okay?"

"Uh... to tell you the truth, being blatant second best in terms of birthday gifts didn't really make me feel good, no."

"Aww... Hey, you and the others are welcome to come to my new house any time you like, you know that? Just drop in on us, we'd be really happy to have you visit.”

“Thanks! Well, I'm off to school in a minute.”

“No problem. See you!”

“Hi... Long time no see.”

“Hello, Roxxi. How have you been?”

“Oh, you know, the usual. We're fine. You?”

“Great! I'm sure you've heard by now about me getting married.”

“Yeah... congratulations. So... what did you want? Sorry to rush you, it's just-”

“He'll be mad if he comes back and sees us talking? I get it.”

“Uh. Go on then...”

“It's about the wedding. I want the kids to go and Carmella to be a bridesmaid, but Tate's gone and banned it. I was wondering if you'd help out. Just invent some cover story about why they'll be gone for the day. It'd be a massive help.”

“Oh, I don't know about that... Wouldn't it be obvious? He'd probably suspect, if they all went in formal wear and if he learned your wedding day was the same day.”

“They could change at my house. And I'd do my best to make sure he didn't find out the date. I mean, do you have a problem with them going?”

“No... he's doing it out of spite.”

“Exactly... God, how do you put up with him?”

“This isn't really about me. Anyway, I don't think you're the best person to talk to. You said it yourself, we don't have a normal relationship.”

“I'm sorry, I was rude... I was feeling really bitter over the way he'd treated me while I lived here. He certainly knows how to make someone feel worthless...”

“I know, Raya. I'm really sorry.”

“But I should have been nicer. I mean, it's not your fault, and you were always really nice to me. Much nicer than my own mother ever was.”

“You were just a little kid when I came into your life. It must have been confusing.”

“But it's because of that we were able to get along. Aria, on the other hand, she was a teenager, and going through a really difficult phase. She's much better now.”

“I'm sure she is. I don't hold a grudge, you know... I just felt sorry for her.”

“You're really nice, Roxxi.”

“Thanks.”

“During that conversation, it was you who told me not to be a stranger to the triplets because they'd miss me. And you know, they really ought to be a part of such a major thing.”

“I know, you're right. Okay, I'll help you out.”

“Thanks! You won't get into trouble, I promise.”

“Oh, I'm a big girl, I can handle myself.”

“You really don't have to put up with Tate's bullshit, you know.”

“I appreciate it, but leave my marriage to me, okay?”

“Alright. Just... if you ever wanted to leave him, we'd help you do it, okay?”

“Leave..? Tristan's new business would make that difficult, even if I was prepared to uproot all their lives...”

“True... well, we can talk about that properly another time. Anyway. The invitation's extended to you too. If you like.”

“Oooh, I'd love to! That'd be easier to cover up too. Hey, I remember you getting with Logan. You came home from prom so happy...”

“And six years later, I still am! Okay, I'll get out of your hair now. See you later.”

“Bye.”

Sweet sixteenth

“This has been a great birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything! I can't believe you had time to organise it, being so busy with Nix and all.”

“It's no problem. It's your sixteenth; it's a special one! I'm only sorry it couldn't be bigger or flashier.”

“No, it's perfect! Especially the telescope.”

“Don't be using it to summon more of you, please. My body's still not recovered from last time, especially because I'm still breastfeeding.”

“Hah, I won't. Only thing is, it's a shame the triplets can't be here. They haven't even met Nix yet.”

“Have them come over! In secret, obviously. Don't want His Royal Douchiness to find out.”

“Yeah, I reckon I will.”

“Alright, that's the last of the food done. So... Tate's said no to Carmella being a bridesmaid. That means we're going to have to find another way to do it.”

“God, he always has to wreck things by being... well, Tate. He won't put a stop to it though. As you said, Raya, we'll get her there.”

“I wonder if Roxxi would help...”

“You think?”

“I know she covers for the triplets sometimes when they're over here. We always got along okay. I kinda fobbed her off before and I feel bad about it. I mean, imagine being her.”

“Urgh, sharing a bed with him. You know what, I'm not gonna think about it, it's gross.”

“Exactly. She's had his bullshit for over sixteen years now. She may have agreed to a sham marriage but she didn't sign up for having to put up with the worst person in the world.”

“...Poor woman. Now I feel bad. I wasn't always nice to her...”

“I'm gonna go over and ask, anyway. She might agree to having the kids come to the wedding. And in return, I wanna support her.”

“Tell her to leave.”

“Yeah, but we all know what happened to the last woman who tried that...”

“Why've you brought me here, Father?”

“It's one last present that I've organised. Open the letter.”

“...A contract?”

“Look at what it's for.”

“CEO?! You've bought me the company?!”

“Yes. It just requires your signature now, and it's all yours.”

“Oh my God... thank you so much, you're the best father ever!”

“You're welcome, son.”

The Statue™

"So she had me thinking we'd be wearing fucking pink bridesmaid dresses..."

"And you're not?"

"Nope. She was pranking me. Kept it up for three days while I pretended to be alright with it, then she just burst out laughing and told me she was taking the piss."

"That's amazin'! Damn, I'm impressed."

"Me too. Well, for that she's definitely getting strippers."

"What're you gonna do?"

"Laugh."

"Ah, that's my Aria. What if one grinds on you or somethin'?"

"All part of the fun. It'll be worth it."

"Oh yeah, I got my own invitation from Logan. To both the weddin' and his stag."

"Awesome. I did hear him say he wanted you there the other day."

"I ain't been on a stag night since my cousin's... That was one hell of a party. His twin stripped him naked and tied him to a sign advertisin' a church group. Got arrested but he's a lawyer, so he got himself outta that one easy enough."

"I hope poor Logan doesn't have anything like that!"

"Probably will. You know what Heath's like."

"I know what you're like too."

"Haha, yeah. So I need a plus one for this weddin'."

"Yeah?"

"I was wonderin' if I should ask Nyla... you know, from work."

"Nyla who delivers boxes of crap for the store whose ass you totally don't stare at while she does heavy lifting?"

"Oh, shut up."

"I know you, Stanley Cooper. You're about as subtle as... as..."

"As what?"

"As that fucking thing! Are you kidding me?!

"Oh jeez... what the fuck is that?!"

"Has his ego really spiralled that far out of control?"

"Well sure it has, this is Tate we're talkin' about..."

"Let's take a closer look."

"Wow. Where's his fuckin' shirt?"

"Where's his fucking brain?! Because the last thing Sunset Valley needed was a Goddamn Tate statue!"

"Holy..."

"You're dying to laugh, aren't you?"

"I can't help it... it's too fuckin' funny..."

"I'm going to vandalise that thing, you watch me-"

"Hang on. If you really wanna do somethin', at least wait 'til it's night. Plan it out in advance, don't just rush in there. The possibilities are endless!"

"You're right... I'm coming back for you, just you wait..."

Love hearts

“I'm so fucking happy for you, Raya. God knows we needed something good to happen in this family.”

“Thanks! Well, hopefully it'll cheer us all up for a bit.”

“Look at you... my baby sister getting hitched. Between you and Logan being all settled and  Ellis having a baby, I'm starting to feel a bit left out.”

“Well, don't. Whatever you want from life, I'm sure you'll find it soon.”

“I'm not sure if I even know what I want. But thanks.”

“You don't need marriage or kids to be happy, Ari.”

“I know. I'll be fine. Anyway, forget me! This is about you.”

“Will you be my maid of honour?”

“Of course I will! I'd love to. So it'll be my job to do the hen party, huh? Don't worry, I've got you covered.”

“No strippers.”

“Oh, come on. It'll be hilarious.”

“I'm not really up for that.”

“Me neither, to be honest.”

“Pff! What'll we do otherwise?”

“Not be perverts?”

“Asking me not to be a pervert is like asking Tate not to be an asshole. It doesn't work.”

“We'll talk about it properly later anyway. Ivy's coming as well, obviously. And I'm gonna ask Stanley.”

“Oh, I bet he'll love that.”

“I'm not really sure I like this.”

“It's just one night, Ellis. Heath will make it back in one piece.”

“After getting into trouble, no doubt. Especially if Stanley's there.”

---

“Dad, did you know? Raya's getting married!”

“Oh really? That fireman must be blind or stupid. Or both.”

“...she asked me to be a bridesmaid.”

“Absolutely not. I'm not going to let you be involved in that shitshow. Besides, you'll put the bride to shame on her big day.”

“But Dad, it's my sister-”

“Don't argue with me! Do I look like a give a shit? No. Now go, I'm very busy. In fact, you can fetch me the mail.”

“Alright...”

...

“What the fuck? Who's been writing to me on hearts paper? I hope it's an admirer..."

Moving forwards

“Pretty good here, isn't it, Logan? I'm really glad we moved in together.”

“Hell yeah. I love living with you. You know what, I just love you.”

“God, I love you too.”

“House is big enough for kids as well, whenever we choose to have them.”

“That's one of the reasons I liked it.”

“...I think I'd prefer to be married first, though.”

“Yeah, I get you. Few years of being a young, married couple before giving up independence and accepting responsibility. In the best possible way, of course!”

“Definitely! I love kids but now's not quite the right time. We're still only 24 either way. Could wait another ten years, depending on whether we adopt or get a sperm donor.”

“I like the sound of adoption. I know I'm kinda biased because it won't be biologically mine either way, but...”

“No, I like it too. Avoids the worst parts of pregnancy either way! And I'd love a kid no matter where it came from.”

“So would I.”

“...We're definitely getting married then?”

“Well, sure we are. I know I don't want anyone else. I'd be thrilled to call you my wife!”

“Oh, I'd love to!”

“...If that was a proposal, it was a shit one. Sorry.”

“It's fine! I'm not after a big proposal or anything. You know me, I don't like drawing attention to myself.”

“Good... Does that make us engaged? ”

“Should do!”

“Awesome! When do you wanna do it then?”

“...Soon? No point hanging around!”

“Sure! Let's start planning it all now. We'll go buy you a ring, tell everyone- man, I can't wait to tell my mum.”

“I can't wait to tell Edward and my siblings. They'll be happy, I know it!”

“And Heath... oh Jesus, he's gonna be my best man.”

“Could be disastrous! I want Aria to be my maid of honour.... I think that means they might have to dance together.”

“...That's awesome.”

“It is! The whole thing is awesome. Engaged...”

Edward's history

“Yo, Aria. You seem quiet. What's on your mind?”

“Just thinking about shit. As usual. Poor Edward's had a lot to deal with recently.”

“Damn, I know. I can't believe that psycho's starting shit again. Why'd he wait so long before comin' back?”

“No idea, but he seems to just want to punish Tate. I hope so anyway. I don't give a damn what happens to him, but that fucker had better stay away from Edward.”

“Fuckin' right. Oh, jeez, I've seen what he did to him.”

“Yeah, it's kinda obvious.”

“Nah, I mean, all of it. You ever seen him with a shirt off?”

“No? He's not the type, you know he's kinda conservative.”

“Yeah, well, he's lived with me before. Saw him by accident.”

“He's got scars all on his body too. In a Y shape starting at the chest and goin' down.”

“...whoa.”

“Kinda freaked me out the first time, I mean, what kind of mental case does that to another person?”

“That's Miles for you. Fucking asshole. ...So how did Edward come to live with you anyway? I know you helped him off the streets for a while.”

“Oh man, it wasn't easy. Refused to accept my help for ages. First met him in the store, he wanted some cheap shit to buy. Was obvious he was, y'know, a hobo. One of my friends was there at the time, told me he looked suspicious. He wasn't.”

“No, that's not him.”

“We got talkin', then I used to see him down the pub. A lot.”

“That's where I met him for the first time in years... my 18th birthday. Feels like a long time ago now, hell, I still lived with Tate back then. That's why we couldn't take him in straight away.”

“Yeah... Y'know, I asked him why he'd spend his little money on booze when he got nothin' else. Then he told me.”

"I've been like this for over a decade now, with no way out. I have tried to get myself into work, but nothing. I'm not stupid, Stanley.”

“I know, man.”

“I have a degree. But nobody's going to hire someone who looks like this. ...As for the drinking, well, I can't stop. If I go without it for too long, I get sick. I'm addicted.”

“Well that's the stereotype, ain't it? Homeless all bein' drunks and druggies and all that.”

“...It's the only thing that numbs the pain. I don't care if that sounds melodramatic. There's usually a terrible reason why people like me end up the way they are, and that's especially true in my case. Do you think I can forget about something like that? That I don't have constant nightmares?”

“No, but...”

“That my brother left me to die? Then took every single last thing I owned under the threat of death because, and I quote, he'd just 'get it back through the inheritance anyway'?”

“Edward, I'm sorry, man-”

“That I can ever go a day without worrying about those children because they're stuck with an evil man and I'm all they had? That there's no way out for me because I try, and try, and fucking try again and I STILL can't fix my life? And on top of it all, the whole world judges me for having a Goddamn drink whilst looking at the disgusting hobo with revulsion.... And if one more person asks me 'what happened to your face?' I am going to lose it. So yes, Stanley, I drink. Happy now?”

“No... fuckin' hell, not at all...”

“Jesus Christ, that's awful...”

“I felt like the biggest cunt. Anyway, I pretty much forced him to live with me. The first night he stayed over, he stole every last alcoholic thing in my house then ran.”

“Found him the next day passed out, all of it empty. I kinda had it coming.”

“Not really. Most people wonder it at some point; so did I until I found out the truth.”

“Yeah. So I took him in, he was gonna try to find a job, get himself stable then come get you.”

“...Really?”

“Yep. Never forgot about you once. He even showed me your baby photos.”

“...Thanks, Edward.”

“I know, haha. So that was gonna happen. Then I went and got myself put in jail. I'm an asshole. I felt damn terrible 'bout it, like I'd ruined his life again.”

“Oh Stan, you idiot.”

“Yeah. But as I said to you before, he wasn't pissed because he had to go back on the streets. He was pissed because I went to jail for no good reason. That's Edward.”

“It is... You know, I really hope he gets a Goddamn break soon.”

“Me too, man. Me too.”