I added another butterfly clip to Wren's hair. He giggled as I held his hand and spun him around.

"You look beautiful baby bear"

Wren was sporting a yellow flowery dress with a white onesie underneath, thigh high white socks and mary Jane's. He for once picked it out himself and I've never been more proud.

"Daddy when papa back,?"

I chuckled at his impatientness

"Sweetie I told you, papas gonna be back in 5 minutes with your uncle louis, he's picking him up from the train station"

"I knowww, I jus nervous buh escited. Ama get an uncle like aunty sarah!"

"I know it's all very exciting baby bear, I'm meeting louis for the first time too and Papa hasn't seen him in a very long time...

Annnnnd we're gonna see Daddy's friends later, you excited for that"

Wren mumbled quietly

"Kinda"

I picked him up and bounced him

"If you're super good today baby bear, I'll get you a reward later. How bout that?"

Wren hummed taking the paci clipped to his dress and putting it in his mouth.

"How'd I get so lucky to end up with you as my baby boy?"

Wren babbled and nuzzled into me.

I sat in the armchair by our front window, cuddling wren in my lap. I watched out the window as David's car pulled into the drive. I stood excitedly. Kneeling next to Wren, who had slipped of my lap and remained in the chair.

"They're here baby boy"

Wren giggled, sliding off the chair and holding onto my leg. I attempted to pick him but Wren protested

"No up, no up!"

"Alright, have it your way little bug"

I haphazardly walked to the door with Wren hugging my leg. I opened the front door as david shut the car boot, holding a bag and revealing louis.

And dear god, my idea of a two foot fairy was quite off.

He was similar to David, same angular features, you could tell they were siblings, but with quite a few differences. He was good bit taller than David and had deep red eyes. David was a little more lean as well

Not going to lie I was a bit scared and intimidated by him. He gave off a threatening aura even with David was so casually talking to him. I felt a strange need to prove myself to him, as if meeting David's parents but it's just his older brother.

He wore a long black overcoat, seemed fitting for his, profession.

Wren peeked out to take a look at his new uncle, he squeaked and darted back behind me. I laughed quietly at the cute action

I took a step out to greet him, the polite host inside me taking over.

"Hi! Louis right? It's great to-"

I was cut off by the grip around my leg becoming tighter then releasing. I looked down to Wren booking it away.

"Wren!"

I just see him rounding the corner before I take off after him. I followed him to the nursery, calling his name. David was right behind, having dropped the bag and left Louis in the sitting room.

At first when I entered the nursery I couldn't see Wren, but i heard little whimpers coming from underneath his crib. I knelt down next to it, and looked under. There was Wren, curled up in a ball, shaking.

"Baby bear, please come out, it's ok"

David sat next to me

"Princess, what's wrong, why'd you run off like that?"

Wren just cried out from under the crib

"Wren baby we cant help you unless you come out"

"Princess, it'll be ok, uncle louis-"

"No!"

Wren yelled, startling me as his crying turned into a small tantrum. David was not impressed.

"Wren we do not yell. Come out now and you can explain why you're acting this way,"

He was obviously mad, I put my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him.

"Scawy. No come out!"

"There's nothing to be afraid of baby boy"

Wren sobbed and I reached under the crib to touch him, or comfort him or something but he batted my hand away. I pulled back and David looked angry.

"Wren did you just hit Daddy?"

Wren stuttered over himself

"I-I-ahm sowwy Daddy"

"Wren come out and apologise"

David deepened his voice. It obviously had the right impact on Wren as he crawled out and scrambled into my lap.

He grabbed two handfuls of my shirt in his fists and hid in my chest. He wouldn't stop repeating 'sorry daddy' as I rubbed his back. I cut off his onslaught of apologies.

"Baby bear stop apologising it's ok, shshsh. Daddys not mad, papas not mad"

I cooed and shushed the crying boy in my lap while david mouthed 'one minute' to me and left. Soon wren was brought down to sniffles but wouldn't let go of his grip on my shirt.

David returned, stepping cautiously into the room with Louis standing behind him. David sat next to me, he stroked wren's hair, making him flinch. But wren relaxed back into my embrace. He had not noticed Louis, who sat opposite us, a small bag beside him. He waved at me, i would've waved back if not for the Wren in my arms, so I settled on a smile and nod. David gestured for louis to say something, so louis leaned in slightly and spoke in a hushed tone.

"Hey uh kid..."

His voice was deep and Wren wasn't expecting it so he tensed in my lap.

"I'm sorry if you were scared of me, I didn't mean to. David, I mean, your papa has told me alot about you and I'd love to see you"

Wren looked up at me, and I nodded towards louis. Wren released one of the grips on my shirt and turned, being firmly pressed against me the entire time.

Wren gave a tiny wave and louis smiled

"I like your hair clips.. here-"

He pushed the bag foreward

"I got you a little something"

Wren curiously looked over, letting go of my shirt and reaching out for the gift bag. Wren pulled it close and took out what was inside.

It was a colouring book. Just a simple colouring book, but Wren was beaming. He spoke really quietly but obviously meant what he said.

"Tank ooo uncle lou"

"No problem kid"

"Wren do you have something else you want to say to uncle louis?"

David gave him a hard stare and Wren tilted his head in confusion before it hit him. He bowed in head and tried scratching his arms but I held them.

"Am sowwy uncle lou fo running away and callin ooo scawy"

"Its fine"

I dont blame Wren for being scared of him, he looked fairly scary but he turned out be a pretty pleasant guy, as I found out over a strategic cup of tea.

"I'm sorry he did what?"

"I'm serious, 40 years old, came out butt naked, covered in peanut butter.

You called yourself the peanut lord and ran around the garden, we couldn't catch you for ages"

I laughed as Louis told more stories of young David, a topic I had never heard much about. David groaned

"Oh god, I forgot about that"

"Man I can never forget, i can never unsee"

Wren scribbled away in his brand new colouring book, absentmindedly sucking on his pacifier. Not paying attention to us.

I took a look at the clock, noting it was getting close to nap time. I excused myself and went to get wrens bottle ready.

I returned with bottle of milk. I pick Wren up and away from his colouring book. Wren whined and reached back for it. I sat down on the couch and positioned him for his bottle.

"Come on baby bear, I know you're hungry"

I took out his pacifier and he sucked lazily on the bottle. They always made him sleepy. I continued talking with David and Louis until Wren was sucking at nothing and I replaced the bottle with his pacifier.

He yawned and was nearly asleep in my lap. I was about to take him to the nursery but David stopped me.

"I'll take him, you stay, finish your tea"

I handed off Wren, reminding david to take of the dress shoes and clips. David grumbled something about how he knew what he was doing and I chuckled.

Louis turned to me

"You know, David's told me alot about you"

"Oh, what does he say?"

"Well now he just gives me a rundown of important things that have happened so far but I still remember when he first met you, he told me all about it"

"Really?"

I leaned in, the gossip in me dying for this.

"Yeah, he told me that blood shot out of your nose when you saw him. Bit dramatic"

I nearly choked on the tea that I was drinking

"He used to call me every day to give me updates about you. Your relationship has been the most entertaining thing I've listened to in decades.

You two are good together"

I dont know why but that was the approval I needed from David's family. I finished off my tea as david returned.

###########################

"You guys talking about me?"

I joined back next to Ricky on this couch.

"We would never do such a thing my dear"

"Alright-"

Louis started, he put down his mug and leaned on his knees.

"Let's talk about the situation now that the kid's gone"

Ricky tensed up but I held his hand and he relaxed slightly.

"You gave me enough information over the phone, so I made a pretty basic file."

He opened up his bag, which hadn't been moved from the sitting room, and pulled out a file. Rifling through he listed off some points.

"Jessica Grimwald, 300 years old, one child but lost custody early last year-"

Ricky interrupted him

"Wait what? She lost custody?"

"Yep, unknown father accused her of child abuse. Nothing ever done apart from her handing over full custody"

Ricky processed what he said as louis continued.

"Shes got alot of tie-ins with with some shady people which might make things more difficult but hopefully we can use it to our advantage."

"What do you mean?"

Ricky remained silent, taking my hand.

"There's many out there who want the same as us-"

"Us?"

"Yes, anyone who threatens the family in any way, I want gone"

We all remained silent for a moment, a tense energy in the air. Louis ignored it and carried on.

"As I was saying, they would be willing to help us. Everyone wins."

I told Louis before-hand that Ricky didn't want to really know what we were going to 'do to her'.

Louis must've thought it was going to end there as he started to stand and grab his bag, he probably just wanted to get to the spare room but Ricky suddenly piped up

"I have a question"

Louis sat back down

"Oh alright, shoot"

Ricky took a few breaths and I rubbed his hand. Usually Ricky was confident and the more extroverted out of the two of us. But whenever Jessica is on his mind, his confidence cracks. She may not be there in the moment but her imprint is still in Ricky's mind.

Seeing Ricky like this fuels my rage for her. For so long Ricky excused whatever she did, but no longer. I wouldn't let him anyway but he's come to it himself, which is definitely better.

"When are you going to do it?"

Good question, I was wondering that myself

"

Not completely sure but tomorrow I'll start it off, ideally she'll be dead by the end of the week"

This hit ricky hard. He didn't talk but the look on his face was indescribable. A mix of shock, terror, disgust and slight joy.

Ricky looked like he was about to pass out.

"Ricky, you ok? Do you want to lie down for a second?"

Ricky looked at me. He gave a dazed nod and I excused us from louis. He said it was fine as he should put his stuff away anyway.

I guided ricky to our room, shutting the door and sitting him down.

"Are you alright?"

"I dont know"

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I don't really know how to say it"

"That's ok, you dont have to say it all, you can write it down or tell me later"

He smiled at me

"Its just..

I should feel better about this ya know, I should be ecstatic that she'll be gone but all I can think of is what if it goes wrong, what if she expects it. Its happening so soon and I never expected it to happen ever. I'm sorry, I worry too much"

"Baby, I love your little worrying ass, it's alright to worry but its gonna be ok. I'm confident, I wanna see your confident side too. Show me the Ricky who sang kiss from a rose in the middle of the supermarket because it was over the intercom"

He giggled at the memory.

"Ricky you let just the idea of her get to you, and it's not your fault. But you can stop it, I know it'd be hard but how about uhhh

Anytime you feel sad or guilty or your just worrying, go into Wren sit with him for a bit, or come to me and we can just cuddle for a second. Were always here for you baby"

He threw himself at me for a hug and sent me flying back onto the bed.

We stayed for a bit, just cuddling until I heard his signature snores. He deserves a rest, his gal pals will tire him out.

I carefully peeled his arms from around me so as not to wake him.

I cant stand to see Ricky like this. It isn't him. Everytime he cries, everytime he worries I want to commit so many unspeakable crimes.

I left the room closing the door behind me and I headed to the spare room. Before I entered I could hear the end of a phone call Louis was having.

"Yeah.. yeah.. no I'm serious Jessica Grimwald... ha even the family want her dead it'll be easy-"

He turned and noticed me in the door

"-I'll call you back later man, see ya"

He ended the call

"What?"

"I dunno, just wanted to see if you were ok"

"Yeah everything's fine. How's ricky?"

"Ricky is ok, but I'm not."

"Huh"

"She ruined ricky, she breaks him over and over without even being here. I want to tear her limb from limb. I want her to feel nothing but agony for the last minutes. I want to be the one to kill her"

"What are you saying?"

"I wanna perform the hit, I wanna be the one who does it"

Louis looked like he was going to protest but saw the rage in my eyes.

"Alright, I'll bring you along"