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"What time does the flight get in again?"

Maxon and Lucas were sitting outside on the ground with their backs against the side of the house. A stubbie in their hands as they talked.

"At six."

"Fúck! That means getting up at four to be there on time."

Lucas chuckled at the look of absolute horror on Maxon's face.

"Get over it old man."

"Hey!" Maxon took a swipe at Lucas' arm "Enough of that old shít twirp. I can still out do you!"

"Yeh yeh brother. You keep telling yourself that and the rest of us will make allowances for your age."

Maxon's mouth dropped open.

"You... You! You fúcking little shìt! Show some respect to..." his words trailed off.

"What? To who Maxon?" Lucas goaded "To my elders maybe?"

"Fûck you." Maxon scowl made Lucas laugh.

"Can't wait to see Mum" Lucas said in a more serious tone.

"It doesn't look good for her does it?" Maxon braced his arms on his knees.

"Nope" Lucas sounded resigned "and I can't help but wonder if Dad's shít is going to be a problem."

"I've been worried about my own Dad. Fúck Lucas if she has to relive that" he blew out a harsh breath "she doesn't deserve that."

"I... I sorta understand why she told Dad to go elsewhere but..."

"You're thinking of Tara aren't you?"

Lucas sighed and nodded his head.

"I fúcked up big time in the beginning Maxon. Fúcking big time. I don't know... fúck Maxon! What if she's like Mum? What if... fúck... I don't want to see that fear anymore brother. That fúcking near killed me."

Finally voicing the fear he had didn't feel as freeing as he hoped. If anything he felt more exposed than ever.

"I don't see it" Maxon shook his head "Nope. I really don't. Look brother, we're all fúcked in the head for one reason or another but in the end we fix our mistakes."

"It hasn't worked for you and Red though has it? I mean she's married to someone else."

Macon looked out into the distance, hiding his pain from his brother.

"Jack" his voice strained under the name "Jack is sick. Really sick and Red... well she wanted him to experience what it was like to be married and have a family. Hell she was pregnant when they got married and I think that helped Jack fight. Something, well someone to live for and Isaac gave Jack that fight."

"Do you think he'll ever get better?"

"No. It'll take a miracle to save him now. It's just... time."

Lucas shifted and drew his feet in so he could rest his elbows on his knees.

"That fúcking sucks. Jack's... well he's Jack. The guy lives for his family. Shît the way he was with his sister and her son is fûcking unreal."

Maxon nodded "Yeh. Jack's one of the good guys. Hell I'd walk away from all thoughts of Red if I knew he was going to live. Claire loves him..."

"She calls him Daddy right?"

"Yeh she does" Maxon smiled softly as he thought of the love in his beautiful little girl's eyes. "I've always been Papa. That's what I wanted and now so theres no confusion even Isaac calls me Papa. Hell if I go there and don't pick him up as soon as he sees me he screams the house down."

Lucas laughed.

"Doesn't know you like we do huh?"

Maxon grinned widely "I think those two kids know me better than anyone in this world."

"I want that" Lucas bluttered out. "I want a kid or two. Fûck I'd have a dozen if I thought..." he shook his head sadly "I just don't know if Tara will cope with, you know, going all the way after what I did to her."

Maxon looked at his youngest brother with a serious expression.

"Twirp. What you did was some seriously fúcked up shit. Nothing excuses treating a woman like that but anyone can see that Tara's moving past it. Fúck man, she's only what? Eighteen?"

Lucas nodded.

"Well there you go. Take things slowly with her. Don't do anything she doesn't want you to do. You need to show her about the love attached to your actions first. Hell man, if that fúcking great hickey on the side of her neck is anything to go by, then she's already starting to accept you."

"I just wonder you know?"

"Wonder what?" Maxon cocked his head to the side.

Lucas jumped upband started to pace with Maxon watching his every move. He stopped and swung around to look at his brother.

"Am I wrong?" He pushed his hands down into the pockets of his jeans.

"Wrong? How?" Maxon stood as well.

"Is it wrong to keep her here? Hell Maxon. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing by staying married to her. She should be with someone closer to her own age and..." he broke off choking.

Maxon shook his head.

"If age is all you're basing this on then you're asking the wrong brother. Fúck Lucas. Both me and Damon love women half our age. At least you aren't that much older than her."

"How did you get past that Max?" Lucas asked completely exasperated.

"I never have. I'll always wonder if Red should have been with someone younger but" he shook his head sadly "I wouldn't change one moment with her. She... she made me feel grounded. Fúck twirp. Being in love with Red isn't about a number. Its about the heart and how the blood pumps through it so damn fast I can hardly breathe when she's around. Hell just thinking about her does that!"

Lucas looked at Maxon with wide open eyes.

"You're a romantic!" The words said in disbelief.

"Only for Red. Just like you are for Tara brother. Just take things easy and if it's meant to be then it will be. One day I'll be with Red again I know it in my heart but I'm not a díck to put my life on hold waiting. I go out at times but I sure as shít don't feel love for anyone else. Just remember twirp, the best things in life are worth the wait and you and Tara? Well you have the rest of your lives to get there."

"When the fûck did you get so philsophical?"

Maxon smirked before his face became solemn again "When I realised I fúcked up and knew she was worth waiting for."

"Tara's worth waiting for" Lucas said softly.

"Then wait brother. It'll be worth it in the end."