griffinxgallo

[griffinxgallo]

location: Griff's penthouse Status: Closed @honeyedsins

Since Mia's death, Amara has been around a lot more. He could tell that it was hurting her in ways he didn't understand. He was ready to just move on and forget she existed but Amara wasn't that easy at letting go. "Amara, if you are gonna live off my couch, you could at least help." He said as he dropped Torin in her arms. She wasn't living off his couch and she was helping, he was just being a little dramatic. "These kids are killing me. Who knew potty training would be this hard."

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin could tell she was upset, the signs were all there, the watery eyes, the way her voice sounded. So he waited as she pushed the door closed and unlatched the chain, and as the door opened and she spoke he stepped in and pulled her into a hug. "I don't care what anyone thinks, you shouldn't either. I'm just glad you are okay." He pulled away and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Come on, go lay down, I'll bring you some water."

"You know what's going on. I saw the fucking chat, Griffin. I saw what they all think. I don't want to do this right now." Avery felt the tears in her eyes. She shook her head and looked at the floor. "I'm alive. I've been at the hospital. I'm tired, Griffin." She was exhausted, but she didn't think he cared right now. She could hear the anger in his voice, and it scared her. "You need to calm down. You're making a scene." She pushed the door closed and slide the chain before she pulled it back open. "See, I'm fine."

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin: it never is little dove Griffin: besides, you aren't the one looking bad rn.

iMessage: Dilan

Griffin: Adultery, didn't peg you as the type Griffin: Than again you are a freaky little thing, aren't ya Dilan: it's not what they made it sound like Dilan: i didn't know he was married

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin: Oh I just knew you would answer faster if I said that Griffin: Do you have any beer?

Gavin: What?

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin felt his heart beat a bit faster in his chest, was this his future just six months away? Would he be ready? It all seemed so sudden, one second they were talking and the next she's in labor. "Hey! Don't yell at me, I'm trying my best here. My ex ran off to have our twins so I don't know, I've never experienced this! Early? Is that even allowed?" He said as his mind spun. He took a deep breath and cleared his head, he needed to lock into first aid mode. "Okay, They taught us a little about this shit." He said as he looked at her. "Are they like, coming now or do we have some time?" He questioned as he grabbed a water bottle from the table. "Here, drink this" he said as he scanned her over.

"You can do it Oxy, wanting to be better than your parents is half the battle right there. In practice, it's a lot easier, especially if your parents were really shit. You are a good person and you will see how even the worst people like me can be changed by kids. You know, back then I had only just found out about Torin and now I'm raising him on my own. If I can do this shit, you can."

AT LEAST THAT THEY had in common. wherever her sister was, she would always have oxana's protection. the ghost riders, however, had become like extra limbs. people she loved with every once of her body. every virtibre, every organ. " and i have my sister. " the blonde murmers. other people to think for. to save from their choices, from the choices of the generations before them. the look on his face, although subtle, tells her all she needs to know. there was more to the story within the serpents. she knew the morettis especially were depraved -- but there had to be more than anyone on the outside possibly knew. his eyes. she'd be analyzing that look for weeks. for once, oxana is silent -- wordlessly nodding.

in this moment -- alleginces were thrown aside. they were no longer ghost rider and serpent, but a mother, and another soul with a heart. brows had initially furrowed at the insinuation that she peed herself ( what was it with men and assuming that? ), but she does accept the jacket. " n -- no. it's not that. " she mutters, far too overcome by the onset of new motherhood to even think about starting a fight. she watches his face as he comes to the realization of what's happning. " they're not due for a month... " she mutters, closing her eyes for a moment to catch her breath. however, her eyes soon shoot open at his next comment. " it's not like i can choose when two human beings in my body decide to come out. " with an eye roll, she looks down to her stomach. " children of mine -- you can't come out today! lets wait one more! " she sighs, hand covering her face once she realizes she's being an asshole. " they're on their way... just... maybe some water or something? i -- " her eyes lock with griffin, seconds later. " time to be better than my parents, yeah? " a flashback to their first conversation.

[griffinxgallo]

The fact that she didn't open the chain angered him more, but at least now he knew she was alive, "What is going on? Avery you fucking diasspeared and then the fucking carnival blew up and I haven't been able to fucking find you and make sure you were still fucking alive" His voice was angry but he scanned her over as much as he could between the small crack. "I thought you were dead! I was just at the wreck site praying none of the bodies they pulled out were yours. Open the door."

Avery was exhausted. She had spent the night upset and crying and then at the hospital. After she saw the texts and the chat, she had switched her phone off. It wasn't something she wanted to continue to read. She knew she needed to reach out to people to check on them, but she didn't have the energy. She finally pulled herself from her bed when she heard shouting at her front door. She left the chain lock on as she pulled it open to look through the crack at Griffin. "Griffin, stop shouting. I have neighbors. What's going on?"

[griffinxgallo]

iMessage: Gav

Griffin: Gavin Griffin: sos

[griffinxgallo]

iMessage: Dilan

Griffin: Adultery, didn't peg you as the type Griffin: Than again you are a freaky little thing, aren't ya

[griffinxgallo]

Location: Avery's apartment Status: Closed @averyxhart

Ever since her text came out, he had been looking for her. She just vanished. It sent him over the edge, thinking the worst. What if shadow or whatever it was had gotten to her? What if her body would turn up next. Shit did not ease his mind after the blast and she was still nowhere to be found. Hours had passed now and he had checked her apartment the night before and searched around the carnage some more. Once the debris was cleared and she was still not found he felt a little lighter, like he would find her alive. It was the next day and he had himself at her door again. "Avery." He shouted at the door. "Fucking hell, please just open the door."

[griffinxgallo]

“Yeah but it is. I got my brothers and sister. I can’t just leave them behind again. Shit don’t go over well last time.” Griffin thought about going active duty again, deploying, but he couldn’t leave his kids behind, not when he was all they had parental wise. “No. I would never say that.” But h knew she knew he was. “Those words are enough to get someone killed. I wouldn’t put either of us at that risk.” He said hoping she got the hint to never repeat any of this.

Griffins eyes narrowed as he watched the change in oxana. “You okay?” He looked her over, “hey Oxana, I think ya peed yourself dear. Here.” He took off his jacket and went to hand it to her but her words rung j his head. He knew that came right before birth. “What? Right now? Here? Now!” His voice was panicked as he looked her over. “Girl you better keep them legs clamped… I don’t know how to do that shit.” He said as he pulled out his phone. “What do I do? Who are we calling?”

THE THING WITH OXANA that most didn't know -- she knew a thing or two about being raised in family drama. in fact, drama was an understatement. not even some of the closest people in her life knew just how deep her anger and pain truly ran. " family doesn't have to be blood. " she exhales sharply. in her early teens, she may have not been so sure about that. it was her sister who was the only true family she had. right? wrong. she knows jason is nearby looking on, and willem not too far away. that, that was true family. the family she'd known were her greatest enemies, the only foes she had that were still breathing. i can't leave or risk getting shot in the head. but not for his own life. for his children. that resonates more than she cares to admit. " are you telling me you want out? " at the aknowledgement of her stomach, she sighs -- shaking her head. had she and zak talked about having children in the future? yes. but they certainly hadn't anticipated them now.

but, before she can speak -- she feels it. the shift, followed by the first of what she knows is to come. her first contraction. as much research as she's done, tried to understand what to expect -- it certainly wasn't this. while she doesn't trust griffin as far as she could throw him ( which wasn't far, considering their difference in size ), he's the only one she has right now. it certain'y helps that they're in public. eyes meet jason's, who's far enough away to be shrouded by the crowd. that's enough for him to know. her gaze soon trails upwards back to griffin.

" i think my water just broke. "

[griffinxgallo]

"Amara, shut up!" The last thing he needed was carnival security searching him. He was packing of course. "You are a baby. Baby Marley." He liked messing with her, especially when she was drunk, which was not often. Was it a dick move? Probably. "Baby Marley gonna be all pukey and gross." Griffin shook his head with a laugh as he taunted his sister. "You do suck at drinking little chicken." He agreed with her, she was a lightweight. "Avery probably loves you more than me." He said with a nod, that wasn't a word used in their relationship and he wasn't sure it ever would. "Mia didn't love anybody." That much was true, maybe her dumb society friends. "Such a bitch." But now griffin was thinking about if he would let Amara die. She was soft and they really didn't need her but she was good with the kids so he shrugged, guess she can live. "Don't stress over Mia, she was nothing."

There would be no doubt that Amara's hangover would be terrible tomorrow - but right now, she didn't care at all. "Aaaayyy, you're taking all of the good liquor. Griiiiffff! Ay, come on! Thief!" Amara exclaimed, laughing, as she tried to reach for the flask, but of course her brother was ten times taller than her and she rolled her eyes. "I am twenty three goddamn years old and in medical school, Griff. I don't puke and rally - I don't even puke, I'm all about the rally." She nodded, a smirk on her face, because with the way she was headed, there was going to be a lot of puke later. "You don't have to worry about me, I'm a full on doctor, I got this. They don't call me Doogie Hoosier at the hospital for nothing." She stumbled a little again, using Griff to steady as she burst out laughing. "God, I really suck at drinking, what the hell?" Amara smiled at Griff, rolling her eyes. "Avery loooooves me. Who doesn't? Wait - don't answer that, because the answer is Mia." She drunkenly confessed and shook her head. "Griff, wait, come here, this is so fucking funny. C'mere - okay. Did I ever tell you she told me once I would never reach age twenty-five, because I'd die before then, for being too soft? She told me I could never handle being a Gallo and you and Gavin would let me die because you don't need me. What a fucking bitch, right?" Amara shook her head and laughed, looking up at her older brother, dark eyes flashing, as she then smirked. "Well, guess who's alive and guess who's fucking dead, right?"

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin gave a weak shrug, "Maybe, maybe not." Griffin was never turned away from life, but he knew he didn't want to lead. "It's different than what you got. I was raised into this, this is a family thing. Loyalty above all else. Whether I like it or not, these people are my family, the people I grew up with and who took care of me. And trust me, I spent a lot of time in the Moretti household to know Ludovica has a couple of screws loose. Ella was the only normal one there and that's because they ignored her half the time." Even if he wanted to leave there was too much tying him in. "My children are Moretti and Gallo blood. They are the first heirs to that empire. Ella's gone. I can't leave or risk getting shot in the head, I'm all they got. And if something happens to me, they go to Miray anyway which still puts them at risk. Gavin can't do kids and Amara needs to keep herself alive first." She was still so young. "I think so. We never use condoms and I ain't pulling out. I'm sure you know the experience." He gestured to her belly.

LIAR. THE WORD RINGS out like a police siren, the kind she's always been taught to run from. you can't talk your way out of this one. are pressed to the edges of her mind like flowers in an old journal, sealed for what she believes to be for good this time. " they represent you, griffin. wether you like it or not. as long as your with them, they're part of who you are. " she had once thought that griffin was different. and yet, how could he be, when years of serpent hatred had never done anything but proven her right? they all wore the same skin. sera had left their ranks for them -- leaving oxana to build seduction back up from scratch. becoming a mother all the while. they cheat. they use their money for gain over others. but yet, her face does soften for a moment as the latter half of his words grace her ears. then comes her next question -- how can he speak so openly about despising them, his disbelief in their morals, but still stand with them? she knew how the ghost riders did things in terms of wishes to exit -- how did the serpents deal with deserters? " if you're so sure that they don't have any morals... the fuck are you still doing there? " he has questions? so does she. after a moment, she sighs. " but you're right about that. at least i'm honest. " oxana was never the kind to beat around the bush, no matter how much it had the capacity to hurt. " do you think the baby is yours, griffin? "

[griffinxgallo]

Fun playful and joking, this was the common way he presented to people. It was fun to mess with them but beyond it no one knew how serious and calculating he really was. They could never tell he has an anterior motive to everything. Griffin shook his head, "I was not part of that shit nor did I support it before or after. I do not fuck around with endangering kids." Sure he was lying about his involvement but once he saw Soph there, he nearly lost his mind. A serious edge presented in hos voice and followed each word. He meant what he said, the latter half anyway. "Listen Oxy, I know I can be an asshole. I know those fuckers don't have any fucking morals, hell they just killed my fucking sister. But I'm actually kind serious about these questions. I know you'll give it to me straight." A smile spread across Griff's face thinking about the baby and the future, "You know, the same way your daughter is yours. By wanting to be there for them and being in that role."

OXANA CAN'T HELP BUT roll her eyes. there are times where she wonders if griffin had ever grown mentally past the age of twelve -- even when she would consider him a friend. however, back then, she considered it endeering. now, however, it was irritating. " that's one thing we can agree on. " frankly, even if the comment did catch oxana's attention -- she knows what she has, and that zak knows he does too. he knows who he's coming home to. he can't be her friend anymore. she fights it with every once of her body that she can muster. he stabbed jason. his people were killing her family. she still remembers sitting by his hospital bed like it was yesterday, promising that the second they found the asshole who was sending those text messages -- that they would be each other's first call. " i had just found out i was pregnant when your people attacked mine. " she remarks. she's done talking to him. she had planned on telling zak that very night, in fact. " if you think we're going to be friendly after that -- you're sorely mistaken. i offer advice to people who aren't on the side of people who point a gun at my daughter. " another thing he was right about -- there was not a shot in hell she'd use this knowledge against miray. the first time she had called sophia her daughter. " either way it's yours? the fuck does that mean? "

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin couldn't help but laugh at his sister, "Yeah, such a natural." He could tell she would be puking her brains up in a matter of hours. Maybe he could pawn the problem off on Gavin to deal with. He took the flask and tipped it back, taking a big portion of the contents, less for her to consume and he could handle it. "Nah, pretty sure you are still a baby, I might as well keep the rest of this." He said as he slid the flask into his back pocket. "Okay big dog, keep that rage in for someone else to deal with." He laughed softly, she was something else, "Yes of course I brought her, but I don't think she needs any of this right now." A drunk little sister was not good on the sex life or date night. "Nevermind, you are a bit too fucked up for that conversation."

Amara felt the entire carnival spin, and it felt electrifying, to see the colors and to actually let go, even in her own way. She knew she was with friends, and what was the worst that could happen at a carnival like this? With glazed over dark eyes, Amara watched as her big brother took a sip of the flask and laughed, rolling her eyes. "It's suuuuper strong, GG, be careful. I'm a natural." She stumbled again, ever so slightly, her cheeks a bit flushed with how much she had consumed, especially a liquor like that. "I'm twenty-three, you big tall baby, of course I am. Being a Gallo means I'm doubly allowed to drink - do the math - I'm done doing math. I'm so sick of school right now. They can do the fucking math at the hospital - I'm fucking off duty." She rambled a little and walked a little closer to her brother, a smile still on her lips. "Your girl? You brought Avery?! Oh, I gotta go and see her - give her some of this. Teach her our Gallo ways." Amara moved closer, nodding. "Ask me what? Ask away, GG."

[griffinxgallo]

"Yeah, uh, huh. Whatever you say Miray." Griffin waved off her delusions. Never experience it again, she was a funny one. "Oh, I have donated to a bunch already. I just didn't want you to think I was avoiding you."

"Unfortunately for you you'll never experience it again." Miray said rolling her eyes. She knew she'd said that before to him and went back on it but if she kept saying it surely it would be true eventually. "You could have donated to any booth at any time if that's all you wanted, what brings you over to mine?"

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin liked how easy things were with Avery, it was all so different than the rest of his life. "Long enough to wish I was sitting next to you the whole time." He said as he rested his head on her as she was against his shoulder. There was something so simple about it all. "That sounds like a plan to me. I'll have to show off my skills and win you something big and obnoxious of course. Maybe something with Rae and T too."

Avery smiled as Griffin sat down beside her with the food. She was glad he finally made it through the line and people could stop asking her when she would be giving up her spot. "It wasn't that long, Griff." She laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm not sure? We can walk around and see if anything looks good if you want." She knew a few of the booths, but she wanted to see what else the carnival had.

[griffinxgallo]

Griffin gave a small laugh, "Well thank god you didn't. Well, I'm sure you did to other parts of him" Griff wagged his brows and laughed at his own joke. "He is too pretty to be eaten. He blesses this earth." Delusional griffin. He knew how to press the lines. "Two? Damn Oxy. Twins." Griffin beamed at the thought, "That is so exciting. Double trouble. You get the feel the joy I do every day. There is nothing better than having twins. I love my two so very much. The have gotten so big now." It's been nearly six months since the last time they talked. "Well, firstly, you are obviously pregnant and secondly I trust you to give it to me real at what the next few months will be like. Ella left before I knew so I missed out on the twins. Thirdly, you wont use this info against her to hurt her. And you are correct, she is with that dumb thumb, but its not his. Well, she hasn't actually confirmed it yet but either way, its mine."

FRANKLY, THE BLONDE IS both astounded by his audacity -- but also anything but suprised. she had certainly been privvy to griffin's delusions before, such as pretending that the conversation when she told him not to call her oxy of all ludicrious nicknames never happened. " considering he's walking around, alive and well, i'd say no -- i didn't eat him. " oxana mutters, rolling her eyes. some gaul he had, mentioning zak right now, when he very well could have died at that serpent's hands. he was lucky that they were in public. surrounded by innocent civilians and children. the serpents clearly didn't care about that. " ....there's two. " she eventually says. does part of her miss him, in some fucked up way? yes, but she'd never admit that out loud. she'd take that to the grave. her face continues to contort as he blurts out the news, which she at first mistakes for some kid of joke. a test, to see if he can get a reaction out of her. " and why the fuck are you telling me this? isn't she with that assassin of hers? "