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For the month of June Merrick seemed to be in a better mood. He still came home at late hours in the night but he was generally smiling when he did come home. Of course no one at the Haven or around him saw a connection to the face he was in a good mood and Rose was home. But like all things it ended. Rose had to go back across the ocean to school. But something about having had the month with her Merrick seemed to feel a little better, not obviously completely but a little. To have someone who when he told them about Leslie didn’t offer him condolences and the look of pity, well it helped in a way. Or at least got him on the path to trying to heal. He of course kept sending flowers to Leslie at the assisted living facility her parents had her in. His father had even donated money to help with her care. Which Merrick wasn’t sure if that was because she had meant so much to him or because it was Emma’s fault she was like this or just a combination. Either way Merrick appreciated that his dad made this gesture. Merrick still actively avoided Emma and Talia still not trusting himself to keep his temper under control. It was the longest he’d gone without talking to his little sister. Today however wasn’t his lucky day as he walked down the street in downtown.
“Well look at this, it’s my old buddy Merrick.”, Talia greeted with a sinister smile on her lips. Her disguise watch was in place but Merrick knew the true demon’s form. He stopped and growled clenching his jaw. “Get out of my way and leave me alone Talia if you want to live. Because my parents aren’t here to stop me this time.”, Merrick snarled. Talia laughed. “And risk your happy safe home? You attack me and it’s open season on you. The Haven won’t be able to protect you. So please attack me, I beg of you so that a nice target can get painted on that broad chest of yours. I wonder if when you do that will your mother remain neutral or what about your little brother? Will they follow your lead and try to help you and just paint targets on their themselves too? Then we can finally be rid of that treacherous part of your family.”, Talia said still smiling. Merrick’s claws and fangs started to emerge as she talked about his mother and brother. “You leave my mother and brother out of this you demon cunt. You shouldn’t even speak to me after what you did.”, Merrick growled. Talia scoffed. “You speak like I did that all on my own.”, Talia countered.
Merrick narrowed his eyes on her. “Oh I know you didn’t. You got my own sister to help you. You deciding to go after a human isn’t uncommon, going after someone close to me also wouldn’t put it past you, but to have my sister help you was low Talia.”, Merrick snarled. Talia covered her mouth as she laughed dryly. “I got her to help me? Oh oh this is just too sweet for words. You dumb animal. Yes I’m always up for attacking a meatsack. A meatsack with FOH ties is even better. A meatsack that dared to cross the line and be with a mutant even better. I’d pay to get to ring Rachel Howlett’s neck for example. But this wasn’t my plan. Emma sought me out for this mission. She had the plan.”, Talia explained. “I’d pay to see Rachel kick your ass again.”, Merrick said knowing it was a dig at Talia’s pride. “And why would Emma do this? Why would she want to hurt me? I’m her brother. Family means something to the Bryant-Frosts.”, Merrick countered. “Her reasons are her own. You’d have to ask her. But then that would mean coming to the realization that your own family didn’t want you dating that fifthly meatsack and would go to the extreme to ensure that such a wretched creature was not allowed in your family.”, Talia said turning on her heels to walk away. She continued to smile leaving him just growling on the sidewalk. She was rather pleased with herself, not caring that this probably put a big target on Emma. That wasn’t her problem after all.
Summer eventually came and went and Merrick still hadn’t confronted Emma, to afraid to get the truth and even more afraid of what he’d do to his sister if what Talia said was true. Over in Cambridge Rose had returned from Bayville in a good mood but it faded slowly with each day. However she’d promised she would try to get better. So she was trying to make a bottle first last a day then two and so forth. She was agreeing to going out with Atif and the others to the pub, to sporting events for the university and just to hang out in general. She was going to try to not focus on what the future held of pain and heartbreak and just try to do what her brother said and think of the now and trying to just be happy in the moment. Tonight though Atif and Billy had gone up to Rothesay to see Atif’s grandparents so Rose was alone in the cottage. She had plenty of assignments to keep her occupied and a bottle of wine that she’d, impressively made last the week. She sighed a feeling a bit lonely, and so she dug out her phone and when to her photos starting to flip through them. She looked at the pictures from her trip home. She got pictures with her cousins and other family. Then of course there was all her friends. She smiled a little at a picture of her sandwiched between Landon and Cora Lee the three of them making faces doing a hear no, see no, speak no evil bit. As she went further back in the pictures she saw the first picture she’d taken when hope, the rose iris laying on the bed at the old XC castle.
She sighed looked at the picture smiling at the memory. She thought back to that night and to how sweet and out of the blue it was that Merrick gave her the flower. Then she thought about how they had a good conversation, and discussed their pains. There was no going back from that point, like it or not he was her friend now. She didn’t like to admit that she felt slightly responsible, thinking what if she’d stayed state side could she have prevented what happened to Leslie and the pain her and Merrick suffered. She knew she couldn’t save everyone, but the idea one of her friends was in pain and she couldn’t do anything about it bothered her. But then as that night continued to replay she couldn’t help but smile as she thought about the sex and his claws in her skin and getting her claws in him literally. As she was reminiscing smiling she didn’t even realize that Skye had walked into the cottage and was right behind her. “Nice picture. Interesting flower looks like da one on yer guitar. Da bed looks well used. Is dat blood?”, Skye questioned.
Rose jumped putting the phone to her chest to cover the picture. “Jesus fooking Christ Skye. Why are you sneaking up on me? And it’s called a Rose Iris it’s a special flower that Uncle Demitri created just for me. And the bed looks well used because it is and yes that is blood on the sheets.”, Rose answered. “Breaks it’s fun to sneak up on someone who supposedly has heightened senses. Nice ta see ya smiling. Who’s da bloke?”, Skye asked. Rose blinked. “Excuse me? What guy?”, Rose questioned. “Da one who’s blood, since ya got a healing factor so blood like dat wouldn’t be from ya, that is on da sheet. Ya kne da one dat gave ya da flower. And apparently was putting da smile on yer face back in Bayville and just know when ya were tinking bout him.”, Skye explained her questioned. “He da same bloke dat had ya smiling during yer senior year too?”, Skye added. Rose rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile a little. “He’s just a guy I hook up with.”, Rose said shaking her head. “So he’s yer bloke?”, Skye asked. “Mine? No. No. We are friends who sleep together, well I think he’s my friends but he doesn’t call me his friend. It’s complicated.”, Rose said. Skye shrugged. “Alright. But it apparently good sex if da memory gets ya smiling.”, Skye teased. “It’s not good sex Skye. It’s mind blowing walking funny sex.”,Rose corrected. Skye laughed. “Oh Aye. Well maybe since ya got da cottage to yerself ya should could da bloke up. Ah mean mah cousin Ashley and yer nephew Xavier survive on phone and Skype sex.”, Skye said with a shrug. Rose rolled her eyes. “Skye…”, Rose said. Skye smiled. “Well Ah here for a reason. Can Ah someting from yer closet? Ah got a date and hating everyting in mah closet.”, Skye asked. Rose sighed. “Yeah go ahead.”, Rose said waving Skye away.
As Skye went upstairs Rose looked at the time and debated what time it was back in Bayville. She sighed and pulled up her contacts and brought up Merrick to send a text. ‘Hey, How’s your day?’ Merrick had finally decided to return to the shelter, which was a big step for him. He was actually laying on the floor in the cat wing with seven kittens climbing on him when his phone buzzed. He wondered who was calling since the girls from his book all knew he was at ‘work’. He dug into his pocket carefully as the kittens were still climbing on him and got his phone. He raised an eyebrow seeing it was Rose’s number. He shrugged and checked the message. He smirked and switched to camera and took a picture of the kittens climbing on him and hit send. ‘My day.’ Was the message he sent after the picture. Rose looked at the photo of the three calicos, and four organ tabbies climbing on him and had to cover her mouth as she laughed and smiled. She couldn’t believe he just sent such an adorable picture. ‘Looks like you are up to your neck in pussy.’, Rose teased. Merrick smirked. ‘Oh yeah. You know me, pussy magnet. ’, Merrick replied. Rose rolled her eyes but kept her smile and snapped a picture of her books and paper and the glass of wine with a mostly full bottle next to it and sent it with the message ‘My day’. ‘Hey look at that it that a mostly full bottle of wine?’, Merrick teased as he started getting the kittens off him and back into their cage with their mother.
‘That bottle has lasted me all week thank you very much.’, Rose said actually proud of that fact. ‘Nice. Look who’s getting better.’, Merrick said going and washing his heads getting ready to check on the dog wing before locking up. ‘Given the pile of kittens on you, which btw super adorable and you don’t look too bad yourself, you are doing better.’ Rose replied. Merrick shrugged as he went into the dog wing and started filling the bowls of water and food for the night. ‘Kittens get most of the credit on the adorable factor. And yeah I finally brought myself to coming to the shelter. The director Abbey didn’t think I’d ever come back.’ Merrick explained. ‘I’m glad that you have gone back. I’m sure the animals all missed you.’, Rose said. ‘Yeah. Those that hadn’t gotten adopted while I was gone, like Octopus were thrilled to see me. Had to take off my over shirt after grooming him and getting loved he sheds so bad, lol’ Merrick agreed. Rose smiled biting her bottom lip at the idea of one layer of his clothes being gone. ‘Sounds like you are happy to be back.’, Rose said. It was weird talking to him via text, the conversation seemed so...well normal. ‘Yeah...I am. So what do I owe the pleasure of you contacting me?’ Merrick asked starting to cleaning the cages. Rose thought for a moment on how to answer that. ‘Just sitting here alone at the cottage and was thinking about summer in Bayville...so’, Rose answered not wanting to just say what she felt which was she missed him.
Merrick chuckled and rolled his eyes at her response as he opened a pen of husky puppies that had recently come to the shelter. He sat down amongst the five puppies and was immediately attacked with the fluffy balls jumping on him licking him. One of the five stood out the most to him. A red and white female puppy with bright blue eyes. He picked her up and looked at her with his head tilted. “You looks like a Rosie.”, Merrick said nose to nose with the puppy who licked him in response. Merrick chuckled and held the puppy getting his phone out of his pocket again. ‘Oh that so? Just say it, little wolf, you miss me.’, Merrick teased. Rose sighed before replying. ‘Maybe I miss you, or maybe I just miss the sex.’, Rose replied. ‘I see. Well I’d say I miss you but found another red head with blue eyes.’, Merrick joked. Rose raised an eyebrow not sure how she felt about him saying he’d kind of replacing her. ‘Oh who?’, Rose asked trying to contain her own slightly bubbling jealousy. Merrick changed his phone to camera mode and took a photo of Rosie licking his face as he held her up for the picture and sent it to Rose. ‘Meet Rosie, if Solangel wasn’t allergic she’d come home with me.’, he added to the photo. “Oh wow. Is he always this adorable via text?”, Rose said to herself smiling at the photo of him with the puppy. ‘She’s very pretty. I can see how she’d steal you from me. You are adorable, you know that right? And now I have photo evidence in my phone of it.’, Rose answered laughing softly. Merrick rolled his eyes.
‘Yeah well don’t go showing those around or I get to show off the one photo I have of you. It’s not exactly adorable more hot but it’s the only one I’ve got. ’, Merrick answered putting the puppies down and closing their pen getting ready to lock up as it was nearly six. ‘Hey I offered to let you take another photo of me but you said you have a good enough memory.’, Rose teased getting up from where she was sitting and heading into the kitchen. ‘My memory is good enough.’, Merrick answered as he locked up and went out to his GTO to drive home. Rose had decided she’d be a little mean and gotten out a popsicle and sent him a picture of her eating it. She sat back down with her homework eat the popsicle and glances to her phone but wasn’t getting an immediate reply and wondered if maybe sending the pic was a bad idea. She was considering sending a follow up text when she heard footsteps down the stairs. Rose suddenly remembering that Skye had been upstairs this whole time. “Tanks for da loan. Ah’ll try ta not make a mess of yer clothes and wash dem before I bring dem back.”, Skye said with a wave heading out the door in one of Rose’s long sleeve but open backed shirts and a pair of skinny jeans. Rose rolled her eyes and decided Merrick was done talking to her so she picked up her notebook and returned to her homework.
Merrick had been driving so he didn’t check the message, and that was probably for the best given the picture Rose sent. As he walked into the house he checked the most recent message and laughed shaking his head. Sebastian peeked out of the study area having been doing his homework after dinner. “Why are you laughing?”, Sebastian asked with an arched eyebrow. His brother didn’t laugh often and even less since Leslie’s accident so it was weird to Sebastian when Merrick laughed. Merrick shook his head pocketing his phone. “Just an amusing text message from a woman.”, Merrick stated. “An amusing message from a girl?”, Sebastian questioned. Merrick leaned in the study area’s doorway and looked at his little brother and smiled. “I said woman not girl. And amusing is the polite term for what was sent.”, Merrick corrected. “Okay...woman. And polite term? Do I want to know?”, Sebastian asked. Merrick just kept smiling and shook his head. “You might still be too young to get it. So no you don’t want to know. Now finish your homework and later we can play mortal kombat.”, Merrick said messing up his brother's blonde hair. Sebastian batted his brother's hair away. “I’m thirteen I say that’s plenty old enough. But I still don’t want to know. And you’re on. I’ve gotta finish this essay first.”, Sebastian said pointing to his laptop where he was typing. “What’s the topic maybe I can help?”, Merrick offered. “No, you can’t help. It’s for English and I’m supposed to write about my hero, someone I look up to above all others.”, Sebastian explained. “Dad or Mom? I remember having to writing that essay and I wrote about mom.”, Merrick mused. Sebastian smiled, of course his brother wrote that their mother was his hero. “Let me finish the essay and then I’m finally going to beat you in mortal kombat I’ve been practicing playing against Jimmy.”, Sebastian warned. Merrick laughed. “Still weird that you are buddies with the mini Howlett. But you’re on. I’ll be upstairs when you are ready to lose.”, Merrick said giving his brother’s hair a final tussle before heading up the stairs two at a time.
Sebastian smiled and watched his older brother go bounding up the stairs and turned in his chair back to the laptop. He sighed and looked at the title of the essay ‘My Brother, My Hero’ and smiled. So maybe there would be people that’d argue he had better people in his life to look up to, that Merrick was far from a model citizen to idolize but Sebastian didn’t care. He knew his brother had faults, it’s what made him who he is. But he couldn’t help it, he’d looked up to his brother his whole life. His brother had been seven when he was born and Sebastian remembered small things from being very young and how Merrick was the one that was helping their mom with him. He remembered vaguely, but video proved it that Merrick was the person he walked to the first time. Merrick was the one that taught him to ride his tricycle and eventually ride his bike without the training wheels. Merrick’s devotion to family was something Sebastian idolized, he wanted to be like that. To be so strong that he could shoulder any burden to ensure that the family was safe. When the day came for them to choose between leaving with their mom to the Haven or staying with their dad at the Academy Merrick choose first and had decided he wanted to live with their mom to ensure her safety from the Academy, and wanting to emulate his brother Sebastian made that same choice. No matter how many people told him his brother was a jerk and all sorts of other things Sebastian didn’t agree. His brother was nothing short of amazing in his eyes, the one person that he knew he’d always be able to depend on.
Merrick had no idea who his brother was writing about, he figured it was probably about their mom, maybe their dad or even one of the other Haven residents. They were all people who’d done things worth being looked up to. He would never guess that his little brother thought he was worthy of being idolized. He headed into his bedroom and shut the door behind him and looked around the room. He liked that every time he walked into his bedroom it smelled of oak which he’d used to make his bedroom furniture. He remembered when they first started to fall trees to build the new Haven he’d asked that David and Jacob save him any of lumber. No one really questioned what he’d want the lumber for just handed it over. There was two classes in school he’d excelled in, Physical Education and Shop. And when the Haven was completed they were all rather impressed and surprised that he showed up for the move with his own furniture having hand crafted his queen size using a large slab of an oak tree as the headboard, two night stands, a five drawer dresser, and a chair. Merrick had been rather proud of himself to take fallen trees and turn it into everything in his bedroom. Solangel had asked him if he could make furniture like this why the heck was he working at Wal-Mart. He had only shrugged, making things was a hobby not a career to him. Then again he didn’t want to make Wal-Mart his career either. He had an idea of what he wanted to do but he just wasn’t really sure how he could make it happen. But he shrugged and pulled out his phone from his pocket debating if he should reply to Rose and kill some time before his brother was done with his homework. He sighed and looked at the picture of her eating the popsicle and laughed and instead of typing hit call.
Rose was jolted out of her trance like state as she was looking at a text book searching out the answer for her assignment when her phone rang. She picked it up and raised an eyebrow seeing it was Merrick. “Hello?”, Rose answered. “That’s virtual animal cruelty you know.”, Merrick greeted putting the phone on speaker and setting it down. “What?”, Rose asked confused. “That picture you sent. That was mean.”, Merrick stated. Rose cocked her head to the side as he sounded slightly distant. “Am I on speaker phone?”, Rose inquired. Merrick pulled his shirt off tossing it and his fur covered over shirt into his laundry hamper. “Yup.”, Merrick said simply. “Why am I on speaker?”, Rose asked. “Because I’m undressing and it’s easier to have you on speaker than randomly having to put the phone down to remove clothes.”, Merrick explained starting to unbuckle his belt. “So wait, you call me then put me on speaker to strip? Now who’s taking part in virtual animal cruelty?”, Rose teased. Merrick laughed shaking his head tossing his belt onto his chair and sitting down onto the end of the bed to take off his sneakers. “I’m not sending you pictures of it though. Unless of course you want pictures. But if you have a good enough imagination…”, Merrick said standing up and stepping out of his jeans. “Down to boxers.”, he teased. Rose laughed a little. “I have a good imagination for more. And maybe I do….”, Rose said biting her lip a little closing her eyes and easily calling for the imagine of him in just boxers from over the years.
Merrick picked up the phone taking her off speaker stretching out on his bed. “I suppose that’d be kind of fair.”, Merrick said sitting up and leaning against the massive rustic headboard and switched his phone to camera taking a selfie and sending it. He hadn’t even thought about the fact no one outside the Haven had seen the inside of his bedroom let alone the custom furniture he’d made. “There guess we are even.”, He said laying back down on the bed. Rose chuckled and waited looking for the buzz of her phone. She opened the image once it was received and smiled. “Wow…Not sure what I’m more impressed by.”, she commented. Merrick raised an eyebrow. “I’m confused. More impressed by what, little wolf?”, Merrick questioned. “The attractive man or the really nice headboard.”, Rose answered. Merrick chuckled. “Thank you on both accounts.”, he said tilting his head to look at his headboard. “Pretty good tastes. Where’d you get it?”, Rose asked. “It’s not just women I have good taste in. And from the trees that once stood where the current Haven stands.”, Merrick explained. Rose blinked a bit. “Wait you made that?”, Rose questioned. “Yes. I made my bed, my nightstands, my dresser and a chair. You sound surprised.”, Merrick explained. “I just..I didn’t know you were a wood worker.”, Rose replied. “I was good in two classes in school. Gym, because well like it or not my animal side makes me athletic. And then Shop which was more than just mechanics.”, Merrick laughed. “I just never pegged you as the artistic type.”, Rose admitted. “The headboard is just a slab of wood that I sanded smooth and sealed. Nothing fancy. Wood is the only medium I can do anything ‘artistic’ with. Claws are good for craving.”, Merrick shrugged.
“I bet you could be.”, She smiled. “It’s beautiful.”, she complimented. “Thanks. David and Jacob had been confused when I said I wanted the trees that had to be fallen for the house to be built. Then when I showed up on moving day with my furniture the adults seemed impressed. Solangel asked why I work at Wal-Mart if I have make stuff like this.”, Merrick said with a small laugh. “That’s a really good question. Stuff like that could be sold for hundreds of dollars easy.”, Rose said. “This is a hobby. I made the furniture because I didn’t want the trees fallen for the house to go to waste.”, Merrick shrugged. “Still”, Rose smiled and chuckled softly. “It’s a nice hobby. Relaxing working with wood and all. But it’s not want I want to do with my life.”, Merrick explained. “Hobbies can still make you money on the side.”, she said. “Meh. I make things to make me happy. You get into that stuff people want orders and you to make things to make them happy. Instead I’ll just stick with making what I want and just give it to people.”, Merrick determined. “You are a good guy.”, Rose smiled. Merrick laughed. “Oh that so? That make you about the fourth non-family to say that.”, Merrick mused. “Yeah well, you don’t really show the type of guy you really are often.”, Rose pointed out. “Maybe. But it’s easier to be that other guy in public.”, Merrick admitted. “Easier to be a giant ass?”, Rose questioned. “Yeah Don’t get hurt when people think you’re an asshole. Besides people who matter know the asshole isn’t who I am all the time.”, Merrick explained.
“Good to know I matter.”, Rose said smiling a bit. Merrick rolled his eyes but was smiling. “Don’t read too much into it little wolf.”, He warned. “Oh I promise I won’t, Merrick.”, Rose agreed. “Good.”, he said simply as he rolled off his bed. “Want to see what I’ve been working on for Nana Hazel’s 85th birthday?”, he offered changing the subject. “Sure, you have my curious now.”, Rose said smiling. Merrick laughed and pulled open his closet where he had been keeping ghe gift. He pulled it out slightly and snapped a photo of the hand crafted cedar wine rack side table and sent it to her. “You two have something in common.”, he teased. Rose checked the picture and blinked covering her mouth. “Merrick that is beautiful!”, she exclaimed. “Thanks. Going to drive it up to her next weekend for the big party that my uncles insist she has. Woman’s like me. Would rather not have a party for her birthday.”, he said putting the wine rack back. “it can be fun to celebrate a birthday though.”, Rose countered. “I haven’t celebrated a birthday since Lily ran away from home when we were ten.”, Merrick stated. Rose blinked. “Why? Because it wouldn’t be the same without Lily there?”, she asked. Merrick shrugged. “basically. The day is for the three of us. And till the day comes I can get my sisters to be in the same room without either uncomfortable silence or words of anger I won’t celebrate my birthday.”, Merrick stated. “That…seems incredibly dumb.”, she said simply.
“Bite me. I don’t see the point in celebrating a day that’s about me and my sisters without my sisters.”, Merrick countered. “I can get it not feeling the same, but to stop something completely because of it? To not celebrate your life too?”, Rose questioned. Merrick shrugged. “ I don’t really give a shit about celebrating me. I don’t do parties anyways. So I just stopped. My family didn’t stop, they still buy me birthday presents. Nana Hazel sends me a card with used to be a check to buy the next big part my car needed. And mom still makes me a cupcake. But I just don’t’ care about a party. Lily celebrates with Landon and you guys. Josalyn celebrates with the kids from the academy.” He said with a sigh. “You can still celebrate your birthday without having a party.”, she said. “Just haven’t seen a point. Without my sisters it doesn’t feel right to me. So I just sit it out and stay neutral. Guess even back then the lines were drawn. Lily on the X-Men side, Josalyn on the Acolytes and me in the middle twiddling my thumbs.”, he reflected. Rose frowned a little. “Well you deserve time to celebrate your birthday. People are glad to have you in their lives.”, Rose insisted. “It’s just another day. Maybe when I officially hit twenty-one I’ll go do something. But I don’t really have friends my actual age so no one to go drinking with. Unless I go with dad, Demitri, David and Jacob. Which I think having to get a tooth pulled without novicain sounds more fun.”, Merrick shrugged. Rose laughed. “What’s so wrong about being around them?”, she questioned. “I don’t find the prospect of going drinking with a group of guys old enough o be my dad, one being just that, who are all married and minus one have kids to sound fun. And probably a complete detriment to getting laid.”, Merrick explained.
Rose rolled her eyes. “Please you have a book for getting that.”, Rose teased. “Yes. I do have a list of like give girls. But showing up to a bar with Jacob, David, my half brother and my dad is just a no. That’s like death to game. Kills any chance of maybe adding to my list or at least a one night of fun.”, Merrick countered. Rose laughed shaking her head. “Alright alright. Well do something.”, Rose insisted. “Technically this year I did something on my birthday.”, Merrick pointed out. “Oh?”, Rose questioned. “Yeah, you. Or did you forget my birthday is the 10th of June which was the fifth day you were home.”, Merrick stated. Rose blinked and started laughing running ah and through her hair. “Oh fuck. I didn’t’ even call Lily that day to say happy birthday.”, Rose realized. “Lily and Landon did their joint party thing that weekend in the city. Lily rarely ever celebrates on the day since moving out. She always has a party of does something Landon on a day around their days.”, Merrick said trying t hid sounding annoyed by that. Rose caught it though, but wasn’t to bring it up in those words. “You could always do something with her too.”, Rose suggested. “No. Without Josalyn wouldn’t be the same. Lily offered every year, since I went Haven, to let me join their party. But I don’t want to celebrate our birthday without Josalyn and with Landon instead. Josalyn offers to have me party with her but again without Lily just wouldn’t feel right.”, Merrick explained. “I mean with just you and Lily.”, she said softly.
“Still a no. I want both my sisters. I know it’s selfish, maybe, to ask they put aside the crap for one day for me and just be my triplets again. But that is what I want and I’m not settling.”, Merrick stated. “Have you asked them for that, directly?”, Rose asked. “Yes. Asked when we turned thirteen got a loud no from each. Asked again when I first went Haven but still got a no.”, Merrick said with a shrug. “They are being selfish.”, Rose said frowning. “In a way, yes. I get that they don’t agree on things. And they do almost anything they can to ensure they are different aside from dying their hair different colors. They are identical and want to be seen as different people. And me asking for one day of being triplets like when we were kids just makes them think of the days of wearing the same clothes and people calling them by the wrong name. Whereas I am the boy in the trio I got to be unique. “, Merrick said defending his sisters. “Still. Sometimes you have to accept things and just move on.”, Rose said. “Ignore things, for just a little. Even before dad came back, mom made sure I never hated Cero or Kirra. Even with all the differences in opinions on things.”, Rose sighed. Merrick shrugged. “It’s why I gave up asking them. I can’t and won’t change them. It’s just that stubborn Bryant blood in their veins. So I don’t celebrate. I send them gifts each years and leave it at that. It’s just going to take something a lot stronger than me to bring those two back together even for a day.”, Merrick sighed.
“And you’re stuck suffering for it.”, Rose sighed softly. “My cross to bear as the middle triplet I guess. And as long as they are happy that’s what matter in the long run to me. I pretty much do anything to make my siblings happy.”, Merrick said sincerely. “So… are you happy?”, Rose asked. “Define happy, little wolf?”, Merrick questioned. He started digging into his dresser getting out clean clothes starting to get dressed. He figured Sebastian would be done with his homework soon. “I don’t know. Happy?”, Rose said. “I can’t define what happiness is for you.”, she added. “I have my moments. Since really who’s happy all the time?”, Merrick answered. “What matters is what moments are more frequent.”, Rose said shrugging. “I’m happy when I’m at the shelter. Hanging out with Bastian, working on the car with dad, cooking in the vegan half of the kitchen with mom, and just running in the woods in whatever form I pick.”, Merrick said thinking of what makes him happy. He didn’t dare to say he felt happy when he was in bed with her. “So do you think you’re generally happy?”, she questioned. “40/60 maybe.”, Merrick said before pulling his shirt on. “Less than half, but not by much.”, Rose said . “Something like that. What about you?”, Merrick countered wanting the attention off him. “I live with one of my best friends, I’m drinking less, and I have started playing my guitar again.”, Rose said thinking about it. “That’s good. Glad you’re doing better.”, Merrick said and he meant it. “Yea. Apparently lots of people like my playing at the pub.”, Rose said smiling a little.
“Electric or the acoustic Landon made you?”, Merrick questioned. Rose raised an eyebrow not even away Merrick knew what she played. “Usually the acoustic.”, she answered. “Hmm....Never heard you play the acoustic. But I’m sure it sounds just as good.”, he said shrugging. She chuckled. “I can play when I visit next time.”, Rose offered. “That’s up to you. Haven’t heard you play live in a few years. Though I’ve heard recordings.”, Merrick commented. “Recordings?”, she blinked. “Yeah. Any idea how many girls I get with that like Meddling Kids and have a cd of you guys? And most don’t even realize I’m related to 2/3rds of the band.”, Merrick said shaking his head with a small laugh. “And sleep with the other third.”, she teased. Merrick laughed. “Yeah well that part isn’t public record. It’s funny that they never consider the Bryant part of my last name is the same line of Bryant as Landon and Cora Lee.”, Merrick said shaking his head. She chuckled a little. “Definitely. Did you enjoy our playing?”, Rose asked. “Meh.”, he said with a small laugh. “When you were singing lead, yeah.”, he admitted. There was something about the rasp in Rose’s singing voice, the way the natural growl her animal side lent to her vocals that he enjoyed. Cora Lee had a different kind of tone in her vocals and Landon had that smooth tone but neither were that growling rasp that he enjoyed about Rose’s. “Aww you like my voice?”, she teased. Merrick sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Bite me, little wolf.”, he retorted. “I have. I’m pretty sure you even have a scar from it.”, Rose teased. Merrick laughed and reached under his shirt collar and touched his left shoulder. His fingers lightly tracing the subtle indents of her incisors and canines that had been left there since early in their being together, from before they started having sex. Back when he didn’t see the need to go to the healers just for a little bite from a make out session. “Yes it’s still faintly there..”, he commented. Rose smiled knowing she’d left a permanent mark on him. She wondered how he explained the bite mark to other girls but would never ask. “Merrick?”, Sebastian called from the other side of the door knocking before opening the door. He raised an eyebrow looking at his brother who had a hand on his left shoulder under his shirt and his phone to his ear. “Who’s that?”, Rose asked not recognizing the voice initially. “Hey Bastian. You all done with your homework then?”, Merrick asked taking his hand from under his shirt where he’d been touching the scar. “Um yea. Printed up my essay kind of wanted. Well I wanted you to read it before I had it in tomorrow.”, Sebastian said. “But if you’re busy on the phone I can have you read it later.”, He said holding the three crisp white pages in his hand.
“Here give me the essay. Not really the person for proofreading that’s Lily, she’s the journalism major.”, Merrick said offering his hand out to take the paper. He still didn’t say goodbye or hang up with Rose. So Rose stayed silent listening to the exchange between the brothers. “Well I just want an opinion, from someone who won’t lie to me.”, Sebastian said hesitantly handing the essay over. Merrick turned the pages over and looked at the over page. “My brother, my hero…. Bastian? You wrote about me?”, Merrick said reading the title aloud. Rose smiled of course his little brother wrote about him. Rose may not know much about Sebastian but she’d seen the way Sebastian looked at his brother with such admiration. It was how she looked to Hudson growing up and still did to this day. “Of course he wrote about you dummy. I’ll let you read that and hang with Sebastian. Maybe I’ll talk to you again soon. I’ve got my own homework I should be doing.”, Rose said. Merrick nodded. “Yeah. Right. I’ll talk to you another time. Bye.”, Merrick said not daring to use her name in front of his little brother. “Bye Merrick.”, Rose said hanging up smiling. She looked at the phone and saw how long they were talking and shook her head. “I can’t believe we talked, actually talked for that long. God it was nice." She couldn’t help but smile knowing that now he was getting to see the kind of appreciation he deserved and see just how much people cared about him all because Sebastian chose him as his topic of his essay.
Merrick sat down in the chair of his bedroom and started to read the essay unable to believe he had been chosen at the topic. As he read how his brother described him and in how much regard Sebastian held him Merrick sighed and looked over the top of the paper at his brother who was looking down at his feet waiting. “This is really how you see me?”, Merrick asked. Sebastian nodded. “Yes. Faults and all you are the world’s best big brother and if I can grow up to be half as good of a man as you I’ll have succeeded at something.”, Sebastian said. “So did you like it?”, Sebastian asked timidly. Merrick smiled and handed the paper back. “I still can’t believe you decided I’m the person you look up to when you have much better options with mom, dad, heck even the other adults here in the Haven.”, Merrick said. “Maybe. But they aren’t my brother. They aren’t who taught me to ride a bike or throw a punch. They aren’t the ones that taught me how to treat a girl.”, Sebastian said. Merrick laughed. “The man with a list of women he causally sleeps with is your point of reference on how to treat women?”, Merrick asked. “You have the list, but is there a girl on the list that’s not aware of the others and who’s there against her will?”, Sebastian asked. “Well of course not. They all know there are others and I would never force a girl to be with me that didn’t want to be.”, Merrick said. “Exactly. You aren’t really a womanizer when the women are given that choice to be involved with you or not. And you treat each of them nice when you are with them right? You aren’t mean or abusive.”, Sebastian said. “Right. I treated a girl mean once and I felt and still feel terrible for it and will never do it again.”, Merrick admitted. “Exactly you were mean to Rachel but when you realized it you manned up, you apologized not just to her but her family. Jimmy told me about it. You realized you did something wrong and you accepted the punishment and didn’t complain about it.”, Sebastian said. Merrick nodded and sighed. “Alright. Well come on kid, time to kick your ass in mortal kombat.”, Merrick said smiling getting up and leaving his room to the game room. Sebastian smiled and followed his brother.

;) (Wink) — Description
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For the month of June Merrick seemed to be in a better mood. He still came home at late hours in the night but he was generally smiling when he did come home. Of course no one at the Haven or around him saw a connection to the face he was in a good mood and Rose was home. But like all things it ended. Rose had to go back across the ocean to school. But something about having had the month with her Merrick seemed to feel a little better, not obviously completely but a little. To have someone who when he told them about Leslie didn’t offer him condolences and the look of pity, well it helped in a way. Or at least got him on the path to trying to heal. He of course kept sending flowers to Leslie at the assisted living facility her parents had her in. His father had even donated money to help with her care. Which Merrick wasn’t sure if that was because she had meant so much to him or because it was Emma’s fault she was like this or just a combination. Either way Merrick appreciated that his dad made this gesture. Merrick still actively avoided Emma and Talia still not trusting himself to keep his temper under control. It was the longest he’d gone without talking to his little sister. Today however wasn’t his lucky day as he walked down the street in downtown.
“Well look at this, it’s my old buddy Merrick.”, Talia greeted with a sinister smile on her lips. Her disguise watch was in place but Merrick knew the true demon’s form. He stopped and growled clenching his jaw. “Get out of my way and leave me alone Talia if you want to live. Because my parents aren’t here to stop me this time.”, Merrick snarled. Talia laughed. “And risk your happy safe home? You attack me and it’s open season on you. The Haven won’t be able to protect you. So please attack me, I beg of you so that a nice target can get painted on that broad chest of yours. I wonder if when you do that will your mother remain neutral or what about your little brother? Will they follow your lead and try to help you and just paint targets on their themselves too? Then we can finally be rid of that treacherous part of your family.”, Talia said still smiling. Merrick’s claws and fangs started to emerge as she talked about his mother and brother. “You leave my mother and brother out of this you demon cunt. You shouldn’t even speak to me after what you did.”, Merrick growled. Talia scoffed. “You speak like I did that all on my own.”, Talia countered.
Merrick narrowed his eyes on her. “Oh I know you didn’t. You got my own sister to help you. You deciding to go after a human isn’t uncommon, going after someone close to me also wouldn’t put it past you, but to have my sister help you was low Talia.”, Merrick snarled. Talia covered her mouth as she laughed dryly. “I got her to help me? Oh oh this is just too sweet for words. You dumb animal. Yes I’m always up for attacking a meatsack. A meatsack with FOH ties is even better. A meatsack that dared to cross the line and be with a mutant even better. I’d pay to get to ring Rachel Howlett’s neck for example. But this wasn’t my plan. Emma sought me out for this mission. She had the plan.”, Talia explained. “I’d pay to see Rachel kick your ass again.”, Merrick said knowing it was a dig at Talia’s pride. “And why would Emma do this? Why would she want to hurt me? I’m her brother. Family means something to the Bryant-Frosts.”, Merrick countered. “Her reasons are her own. You’d have to ask her. But then that would mean coming to the realization that your own family didn’t want you dating that fifthly meatsack and would go to the extreme to ensure that such a wretched creature was not allowed in your family.”, Talia said turning on her heels to walk away. She continued to smile leaving him just growling on the sidewalk. She was rather pleased with herself, not caring that this probably put a big target on Emma. That wasn’t her problem after all.
Summer eventually came and went and Merrick still hadn’t confronted Emma, to afraid to get the truth and even more afraid of what he’d do to his sister if what Talia said was true. Over in Cambridge Rose had returned from Bayville in a good mood but it faded slowly with each day. However she’d promised she would try to get better. So she was trying to make a bottle first last a day then two and so forth. She was agreeing to going out with Atif and the others to the pub, to sporting events for the university and just to hang out in general. She was going to try to not focus on what the future held of pain and heartbreak and just try to do what her brother said and think of the now and trying to just be happy in the moment. Tonight though Atif and Billy had gone up to Rothesay to see Atif’s grandparents so Rose was alone in the cottage. She had plenty of assignments to keep her occupied and a bottle of wine that she’d, impressively made last the week. She sighed a feeling a bit lonely, and so she dug out her phone and when to her photos starting to flip through them. She looked at the pictures from her trip home. She got pictures with her cousins and other family. Then of course there was all her friends. She smiled a little at a picture of her sandwiched between Landon and Cora Lee the three of them making faces doing a hear no, see no, speak no evil bit. As she went further back in the pictures she saw the first picture she’d taken when hope, the rose iris laying on the bed at the old XC castle.
She sighed looked at the picture smiling at the memory. She thought back to that night and to how sweet and out of the blue it was that Merrick gave her the flower. Then she thought about how they had a good conversation, and discussed their pains. There was no going back from that point, like it or not he was her friend now. She didn’t like to admit that she felt slightly responsible, thinking what if she’d stayed state side could she have prevented what happened to Leslie and the pain her and Merrick suffered. She knew she couldn’t save everyone, but the idea one of her friends was in pain and she couldn’t do anything about it bothered her. But then as that night continued to replay she couldn’t help but smile as she thought about the sex and his claws in her skin and getting her claws in him literally. As she was reminiscing smiling she didn’t even realize that Skye had walked into the cottage and was right behind her. “Nice picture. Interesting flower looks like da one on yer guitar. Da bed looks well used. Is dat blood?”, Skye questioned.
Rose jumped putting the phone to her chest to cover the picture. “Jesus fooking Christ Skye. Why are you sneaking up on me? And it’s called a Rose Iris it’s a special flower that Uncle Demitri created just for me. And the bed looks well used because it is and yes that is blood on the sheets.”, Rose answered. “Breaks it’s fun to sneak up on someone who supposedly has heightened senses. Nice ta see ya smiling. Who’s da bloke?”, Skye asked. Rose blinked. “Excuse me? What guy?”, Rose questioned. “Da one who’s blood, since ya got a healing factor so blood like dat wouldn’t be from ya, that is on da sheet. Ya kne da one dat gave ya da flower. And apparently was putting da smile on yer face back in Bayville and just know when ya were tinking bout him.”, Skye explained her questioned. “He da same bloke dat had ya smiling during yer senior year too?”, Skye added. Rose rolled her eyes but couldn’t help but smile a little. “He’s just a guy I hook up with.”, Rose said shaking her head. “So he’s yer bloke?”, Skye asked. “Mine? No. No. We are friends who sleep together, well I think he’s my friends but he doesn’t call me his friend. It’s complicated.”, Rose said. Skye shrugged. “Alright. But it apparently good sex if da memory gets ya smiling.”, Skye teased. “It’s not good sex Skye. It’s mind blowing walking funny sex.”,Rose corrected. Skye laughed. “Oh Aye. Well maybe since ya got da cottage to yerself ya should could da bloke up. Ah mean mah cousin Ashley and yer nephew Xavier survive on phone and Skype sex.”, Skye said with a shrug. Rose rolled her eyes. “Skye…”, Rose said. Skye smiled. “Well Ah here for a reason. Can Ah someting from yer closet? Ah got a date and hating everyting in mah closet.”, Skye asked. Rose sighed. “Yeah go ahead.”, Rose said waving Skye away.
As Skye went upstairs Rose looked at the time and debated what time it was back in Bayville. She sighed and pulled up her contacts and brought up Merrick to send a text. ‘Hey, How’s your day?’ Merrick had finally decided to return to the shelter, which was a big step for him. He was actually laying on the floor in the cat wing with seven kittens climbing on him when his phone buzzed. He wondered who was calling since the girls from his book all knew he was at ‘work’. He dug into his pocket carefully as the kittens were still climbing on him and got his phone. He raised an eyebrow seeing it was Rose’s number. He shrugged and checked the message. He smirked and switched to camera and took a picture of the kittens climbing on him and hit send. ‘My day.’ Was the message he sent after the picture. Rose looked at the photo of the three calicos, and four organ tabbies climbing on him and had to cover her mouth as she laughed and smiled. She couldn’t believe he just sent such an adorable picture. ‘Looks like you are up to your neck in pussy.’, Rose teased. Merrick smirked. ‘Oh yeah. You know me, pussy magnet. ’, Merrick replied. Rose rolled her eyes but kept her smile and snapped a picture of her books and paper and the glass of wine with a mostly full bottle next to it and sent it with the message ‘My day’. ‘Hey look at that it that a mostly full bottle of wine?’, Merrick teased as he started getting the kittens off him and back into their cage with their mother.
‘That bottle has lasted me all week thank you very much.’, Rose said actually proud of that fact. ‘Nice. Look who’s getting better.’, Merrick said going and washing his heads getting ready to check on the dog wing before locking up. ‘Given the pile of kittens on you, which btw super adorable and you don’t look too bad yourself, you are doing better.’ Rose replied. Merrick shrugged as he went into the dog wing and started filling the bowls of water and food for the night. ‘Kittens get most of the credit on the adorable factor. And yeah I finally brought myself to coming to the shelter. The director Abbey didn’t think I’d ever come back.’ Merrick explained. ‘I’m glad that you have gone back. I’m sure the animals all missed you.’, Rose said. ‘Yeah. Those that hadn’t gotten adopted while I was gone, like Octopus were thrilled to see me. Had to take off my over shirt after grooming him and getting loved he sheds so bad, lol’ Merrick agreed. Rose smiled biting her bottom lip at the idea of one layer of his clothes being gone. ‘Sounds like you are happy to be back.’, Rose said. It was weird talking to him via text, the conversation seemed so...well normal. ‘Yeah...I am. So what do I owe the pleasure of you contacting me?’ Merrick asked starting to cleaning the cages. Rose thought for a moment on how to answer that. ‘Just sitting here alone at the cottage and was thinking about summer in Bayville...so’, Rose answered not wanting to just say what she felt which was she missed him.
Merrick chuckled and rolled his eyes at her response as he opened a pen of husky puppies that had recently come to the shelter. He sat down amongst the five puppies and was immediately attacked with the fluffy balls jumping on him licking him. One of the five stood out the most to him. A red and white female puppy with bright blue eyes. He picked her up and looked at her with his head tilted. “You looks like a Rosie.”, Merrick said nose to nose with the puppy who licked him in response. Merrick chuckled and held the puppy getting his phone out of his pocket again. ‘Oh that so? Just say it, little wolf, you miss me.’, Merrick teased. Rose sighed before replying. ‘Maybe I miss you, or maybe I just miss the sex.’, Rose replied. ‘I see. Well I’d say I miss you but found another red head with blue eyes.’, Merrick joked. Rose raised an eyebrow not sure how she felt about him saying he’d kind of replacing her. ‘Oh who?’, Rose asked trying to contain her own slightly bubbling jealousy. Merrick changed his phone to camera mode and took a photo of Rosie licking his face as he held her up for the picture and sent it to Rose. ‘Meet Rosie, if Solangel wasn’t allergic she’d come home with me.’, he added to the photo. “Oh wow. Is he always this adorable via text?”, Rose said to herself smiling at the photo of him with the puppy. ‘She’s very pretty. I can see how she’d steal you from me. You are adorable, you know that right? And now I have photo evidence in my phone of it.’, Rose answered laughing softly. Merrick rolled his eyes.
‘Yeah well don’t go showing those around or I get to show off the one photo I have of you. It’s not exactly adorable more hot but it’s the only one I’ve got. ’, Merrick answered putting the puppies down and closing their pen getting ready to lock up as it was nearly six. ‘Hey I offered to let you take another photo of me but you said you have a good enough memory.’, Rose teased getting up from where she was sitting and heading into the kitchen. ‘My memory is good enough.’, Merrick answered as he locked up and went out to his GTO to drive home. Rose had decided she’d be a little mean and gotten out a popsicle and sent him a picture of her eating it. She sat back down with her homework eat the popsicle and glances to her phone but wasn’t getting an immediate reply and wondered if maybe sending the pic was a bad idea. She was considering sending a follow up text when she heard footsteps down the stairs. Rose suddenly remembering that Skye had been upstairs this whole time. “Tanks for da loan. Ah’ll try ta not make a mess of yer clothes and wash dem before I bring dem back.”, Skye said with a wave heading out the door in one of Rose’s long sleeve but open backed shirts and a pair of skinny jeans. Rose rolled her eyes and decided Merrick was done talking to her so she picked up her notebook and returned to her homework.
Merrick had been driving so he didn’t check the message, and that was probably for the best given the picture Rose sent. As he walked into the house he checked the most recent message and laughed shaking his head. Sebastian peeked out of the study area having been doing his homework after dinner. “Why are you laughing?”, Sebastian asked with an arched eyebrow. His brother didn’t laugh often and even less since Leslie’s accident so it was weird to Sebastian when Merrick laughed. Merrick shook his head pocketing his phone. “Just an amusing text message from a woman.”, Merrick stated. “An amusing message from a girl?”, Sebastian questioned. Merrick leaned in the study area’s doorway and looked at his little brother and smiled. “I said woman not girl. And amusing is the polite term for what was sent.”, Merrick corrected. “Okay...woman. And polite term? Do I want to know?”, Sebastian asked. Merrick just kept smiling and shook his head. “You might still be too young to get it. So no you don’t want to know. Now finish your homework and later we can play mortal kombat.”, Merrick said messing up his brother's blonde hair. Sebastian batted his brother's hair away. “I’m thirteen I say that’s plenty old enough. But I still don’t want to know. And you’re on. I’ve gotta finish this essay first.”, Sebastian said pointing to his laptop where he was typing. “What’s the topic maybe I can help?”, Merrick offered. “No, you can’t help. It’s for English and I’m supposed to write about my hero, someone I look up to above all others.”, Sebastian explained. “Dad or Mom? I remember having to writing that essay and I wrote about mom.”, Merrick mused. Sebastian smiled, of course his brother wrote that their mother was his hero. “Let me finish the essay and then I’m finally going to beat you in mortal kombat I’ve been practicing playing against Jimmy.”, Sebastian warned. Merrick laughed. “Still weird that you are buddies with the mini Howlett. But you’re on. I’ll be upstairs when you are ready to lose.”, Merrick said giving his brother’s hair a final tussle before heading up the stairs two at a time.
Sebastian smiled and watched his older brother go bounding up the stairs and turned in his chair back to the laptop. He sighed and looked at the title of the essay ‘My Brother, My Hero’ and smiled. So maybe there would be people that’d argue he had better people in his life to look up to, that Merrick was far from a model citizen to idolize but Sebastian didn’t care. He knew his brother had faults, it’s what made him who he is. But he couldn’t help it, he’d looked up to his brother his whole life. His brother had been seven when he was born and Sebastian remembered small things from being very young and how Merrick was the one that was helping their mom with him. He remembered vaguely, but video proved it that Merrick was the person he walked to the first time. Merrick was the one that taught him to ride his tricycle and eventually ride his bike without the training wheels. Merrick’s devotion to family was something Sebastian idolized, he wanted to be like that. To be so strong that he could shoulder any burden to ensure that the family was safe. When the day came for them to choose between leaving with their mom to the Haven or staying with their dad at the Academy Merrick choose first and had decided he wanted to live with their mom to ensure her safety from the Academy, and wanting to emulate his brother Sebastian made that same choice. No matter how many people told him his brother was a jerk and all sorts of other things Sebastian didn’t agree. His brother was nothing short of amazing in his eyes, the one person that he knew he’d always be able to depend on.
Merrick had no idea who his brother was writing about, he figured it was probably about their mom, maybe their dad or even one of the other Haven residents. They were all people who’d done things worth being looked up to. He would never guess that his little brother thought he was worthy of being idolized. He headed into his bedroom and shut the door behind him and looked around the room. He liked that every time he walked into his bedroom it smelled of oak which he’d used to make his bedroom furniture. He remembered when they first started to fall trees to build the new Haven he’d asked that David and Jacob save him any of lumber. No one really questioned what he’d want the lumber for just handed it over. There was two classes in school he’d excelled in, Physical Education and Shop. And when the Haven was completed they were all rather impressed and surprised that he showed up for the move with his own furniture having hand crafted his queen size using a large slab of an oak tree as the headboard, two night stands, a five drawer dresser, and a chair. Merrick had been rather proud of himself to take fallen trees and turn it into everything in his bedroom. Solangel had asked him if he could make furniture like this why the heck was he working at Wal-Mart. He had only shrugged, making things was a hobby not a career to him. Then again he didn’t want to make Wal-Mart his career either. He had an idea of what he wanted to do but he just wasn’t really sure how he could make it happen. But he shrugged and pulled out his phone from his pocket debating if he should reply to Rose and kill some time before his brother was done with his homework. He sighed and looked at the picture of her eating the popsicle and laughed and instead of typing hit call.
Rose was jolted out of her trance like state as she was looking at a text book searching out the answer for her assignment when her phone rang. She picked it up and raised an eyebrow seeing it was Merrick. “Hello?”, Rose answered. “That’s virtual animal cruelty you know.”, Merrick greeted putting the phone on speaker and setting it down. “What?”, Rose asked confused. “That picture you sent. That was mean.”, Merrick stated. Rose cocked her head to the side as he sounded slightly distant. “Am I on speaker phone?”, Rose inquired. Merrick pulled his shirt off tossing it and his fur covered over shirt into his laundry hamper. “Yup.”, Merrick said simply. “Why am I on speaker?”, Rose asked. “Because I’m undressing and it’s easier to have you on speaker than randomly having to put the phone down to remove clothes.”, Merrick explained starting to unbuckle his belt. “So wait, you call me then put me on speaker to strip? Now who’s taking part in virtual animal cruelty?”, Rose teased. Merrick laughed shaking his head tossing his belt onto his chair and sitting down onto the end of the bed to take off his sneakers. “I’m not sending you pictures of it though. Unless of course you want pictures. But if you have a good enough imagination…”, Merrick said standing up and stepping out of his jeans. “Down to boxers.”, he teased. Rose laughed a little. “I have a good imagination for more. And maybe I do….”, Rose said biting her lip a little closing her eyes and easily calling for the imagine of him in just boxers from over the years.
Merrick picked up the phone taking her off speaker stretching out on his bed. “I suppose that’d be kind of fair.”, Merrick said sitting up and leaning against the massive rustic headboard and switched his phone to camera taking a selfie and sending it. He hadn’t even thought about the fact no one outside the Haven had seen the inside of his bedroom let alone the custom furniture he’d made. “There guess we are even.”, He said laying back down on the bed. Rose chuckled and waited looking for the buzz of her phone. She opened the image once it was received and smiled. “Wow…Not sure what I’m more impressed by.”, she commented. Merrick raised an eyebrow. “I’m confused. More impressed by what, little wolf?”, Merrick questioned. “The attractive man or the really nice headboard.”, Rose answered. Merrick chuckled. “Thank you on both accounts.”, he said tilting his head to look at his headboard. “Pretty good tastes. Where’d you get it?”, Rose asked. “It’s not just women I have good taste in. And from the trees that once stood where the current Haven stands.”, Merrick explained. Rose blinked a bit. “Wait you made that?”, Rose questioned. “Yes. I made my bed, my nightstands, my dresser and a chair. You sound surprised.”, Merrick explained. “I just..I didn’t know you were a wood worker.”, Rose replied. “I was good in two classes in school. Gym, because well like it or not my animal side makes me athletic. And then Shop which was more than just mechanics.”, Merrick laughed. “I just never pegged you as the artistic type.”, Rose admitted. “The headboard is just a slab of wood that I sanded smooth and sealed. Nothing fancy. Wood is the only medium I can do anything ‘artistic’ with. Claws are good for craving.”, Merrick shrugged.
“I bet you could be.”, She smiled. “It’s beautiful.”, she complimented. “Thanks. David and Jacob had been confused when I said I wanted the trees that had to be fallen for the house to be built. Then when I showed up on moving day with my furniture the adults seemed impressed. Solangel asked why I work at Wal-Mart if I have make stuff like this.”, Merrick said with a small laugh. “That’s a really good question. Stuff like that could be sold for hundreds of dollars easy.”, Rose said. “This is a hobby. I made the furniture because I didn’t want the trees fallen for the house to go to waste.”, Merrick shrugged. “Still”, Rose smiled and chuckled softly. “It’s a nice hobby. Relaxing working with wood and all. But it’s not want I want to do with my life.”, Merrick explained. “Hobbies can still make you money on the side.”, she said. “Meh. I make things to make me happy. You get into that stuff people want orders and you to make things to make them happy. Instead I’ll just stick with making what I want and just give it to people.”, Merrick determined. “You are a good guy.”, Rose smiled. Merrick laughed. “Oh that so? That make you about the fourth non-family to say that.”, Merrick mused. “Yeah well, you don’t really show the type of guy you really are often.”, Rose pointed out. “Maybe. But it’s easier to be that other guy in public.”, Merrick admitted. “Easier to be a giant ass?”, Rose questioned. “Yeah Don’t get hurt when people think you’re an asshole. Besides people who matter know the asshole isn’t who I am all the time.”, Merrick explained.
“Good to know I matter.”, Rose said smiling a bit. Merrick rolled his eyes but was smiling. “Don’t read too much into it little wolf.”, He warned. “Oh I promise I won’t, Merrick.”, Rose agreed. “Good.”, he said simply as he rolled off his bed. “Want to see what I’ve been working on for Nana Hazel’s 85th birthday?”, he offered changing the subject. “Sure, you have my curious now.”, Rose said smiling. Merrick laughed and pulled open his closet where he had been keeping ghe gift. He pulled it out slightly and snapped a photo of the hand crafted cedar wine rack side table and sent it to her. “You two have something in common.”, he teased. Rose checked the picture and blinked covering her mouth. “Merrick that is beautiful!”, she exclaimed. “Thanks. Going to drive it up to her next weekend for the big party that my uncles insist she has. Woman’s like me. Would rather not have a party for her birthday.”, he said putting the wine rack back. “it can be fun to celebrate a birthday though.”, Rose countered. “I haven’t celebrated a birthday since Lily ran away from home when we were ten.”, Merrick stated. Rose blinked. “Why? Because it wouldn’t be the same without Lily there?”, she asked. Merrick shrugged. “basically. The day is for the three of us. And till the day comes I can get my sisters to be in the same room without either uncomfortable silence or words of anger I won’t celebrate my birthday.”, Merrick stated. “That…seems incredibly dumb.”, she said simply.
“Bite me. I don’t see the point in celebrating a day that’s about me and my sisters without my sisters.”, Merrick countered. “I can get it not feeling the same, but to stop something completely because of it? To not celebrate your life too?”, Rose questioned. Merrick shrugged. “ I don’t really give a shit about celebrating me. I don’t do parties anyways. So I just stopped. My family didn’t stop, they still buy me birthday presents. Nana Hazel sends me a card with used to be a check to buy the next big part my car needed. And mom still makes me a cupcake. But I just don’t’ care about a party. Lily celebrates with Landon and you guys. Josalyn celebrates with the kids from the academy.” He said with a sigh. “You can still celebrate your birthday without having a party.”, she said. “Just haven’t seen a point. Without my sisters it doesn’t feel right to me. So I just sit it out and stay neutral. Guess even back then the lines were drawn. Lily on the X-Men side, Josalyn on the Acolytes and me in the middle twiddling my thumbs.”, he reflected. Rose frowned a little. “Well you deserve time to celebrate your birthday. People are glad to have you in their lives.”, Rose insisted. “It’s just another day. Maybe when I officially hit twenty-one I’ll go do something. But I don’t really have friends my actual age so no one to go drinking with. Unless I go with dad, Demitri, David and Jacob. Which I think having to get a tooth pulled without novicain sounds more fun.”, Merrick shrugged. Rose laughed. “What’s so wrong about being around them?”, she questioned. “I don’t find the prospect of going drinking with a group of guys old enough o be my dad, one being just that, who are all married and minus one have kids to sound fun. And probably a complete detriment to getting laid.”, Merrick explained.
Rose rolled her eyes. “Please you have a book for getting that.”, Rose teased. “Yes. I do have a list of like give girls. But showing up to a bar with Jacob, David, my half brother and my dad is just a no. That’s like death to game. Kills any chance of maybe adding to my list or at least a one night of fun.”, Merrick countered. Rose laughed shaking her head. “Alright alright. Well do something.”, Rose insisted. “Technically this year I did something on my birthday.”, Merrick pointed out. “Oh?”, Rose questioned. “Yeah, you. Or did you forget my birthday is the 10th of June which was the fifth day you were home.”, Merrick stated. Rose blinked and started laughing running ah and through her hair. “Oh fuck. I didn’t’ even call Lily that day to say happy birthday.”, Rose realized. “Lily and Landon did their joint party thing that weekend in the city. Lily rarely ever celebrates on the day since moving out. She always has a party of does something Landon on a day around their days.”, Merrick said trying t hid sounding annoyed by that. Rose caught it though, but wasn’t to bring it up in those words. “You could always do something with her too.”, Rose suggested. “No. Without Josalyn wouldn’t be the same. Lily offered every year, since I went Haven, to let me join their party. But I don’t want to celebrate our birthday without Josalyn and with Landon instead. Josalyn offers to have me party with her but again without Lily just wouldn’t feel right.”, Merrick explained. “I mean with just you and Lily.”, she said softly.
“Still a no. I want both my sisters. I know it’s selfish, maybe, to ask they put aside the crap for one day for me and just be my triplets again. But that is what I want and I’m not settling.”, Merrick stated. “Have you asked them for that, directly?”, Rose asked. “Yes. Asked when we turned thirteen got a loud no from each. Asked again when I first went Haven but still got a no.”, Merrick said with a shrug. “They are being selfish.”, Rose said frowning. “In a way, yes. I get that they don’t agree on things. And they do almost anything they can to ensure they are different aside from dying their hair different colors. They are identical and want to be seen as different people. And me asking for one day of being triplets like when we were kids just makes them think of the days of wearing the same clothes and people calling them by the wrong name. Whereas I am the boy in the trio I got to be unique. “, Merrick said defending his sisters. “Still. Sometimes you have to accept things and just move on.”, Rose said. “Ignore things, for just a little. Even before dad came back, mom made sure I never hated Cero or Kirra. Even with all the differences in opinions on things.”, Rose sighed. Merrick shrugged. “It’s why I gave up asking them. I can’t and won’t change them. It’s just that stubborn Bryant blood in their veins. So I don’t celebrate. I send them gifts each years and leave it at that. It’s just going to take something a lot stronger than me to bring those two back together even for a day.”, Merrick sighed.
“And you’re stuck suffering for it.”, Rose sighed softly. “My cross to bear as the middle triplet I guess. And as long as they are happy that’s what matter in the long run to me. I pretty much do anything to make my siblings happy.”, Merrick said sincerely. “So… are you happy?”, Rose asked. “Define happy, little wolf?”, Merrick questioned. He started digging into his dresser getting out clean clothes starting to get dressed. He figured Sebastian would be done with his homework soon. “I don’t know. Happy?”, Rose said. “I can’t define what happiness is for you.”, she added. “I have my moments. Since really who’s happy all the time?”, Merrick answered. “What matters is what moments are more frequent.”, Rose said shrugging. “I’m happy when I’m at the shelter. Hanging out with Bastian, working on the car with dad, cooking in the vegan half of the kitchen with mom, and just running in the woods in whatever form I pick.”, Merrick said thinking of what makes him happy. He didn’t dare to say he felt happy when he was in bed with her. “So do you think you’re generally happy?”, she questioned. “40/60 maybe.”, Merrick said before pulling his shirt on. “Less than half, but not by much.”, Rose said . “Something like that. What about you?”, Merrick countered wanting the attention off him. “I live with one of my best friends, I’m drinking less, and I have started playing my guitar again.”, Rose said thinking about it. “That’s good. Glad you’re doing better.”, Merrick said and he meant it. “Yea. Apparently lots of people like my playing at the pub.”, Rose said smiling a little.
“Electric or the acoustic Landon made you?”, Merrick questioned. Rose raised an eyebrow not even away Merrick knew what she played. “Usually the acoustic.”, she answered. “Hmm....Never heard you play the acoustic. But I’m sure it sounds just as good.”, he said shrugging. She chuckled. “I can play when I visit next time.”, Rose offered. “That’s up to you. Haven’t heard you play live in a few years. Though I’ve heard recordings.”, Merrick commented. “Recordings?”, she blinked. “Yeah. Any idea how many girls I get with that like Meddling Kids and have a cd of you guys? And most don’t even realize I’m related to 2/3rds of the band.”, Merrick said shaking his head with a small laugh. “And sleep with the other third.”, she teased. Merrick laughed. “Yeah well that part isn’t public record. It’s funny that they never consider the Bryant part of my last name is the same line of Bryant as Landon and Cora Lee.”, Merrick said shaking his head. She chuckled a little. “Definitely. Did you enjoy our playing?”, Rose asked. “Meh.”, he said with a small laugh. “When you were singing lead, yeah.”, he admitted. There was something about the rasp in Rose’s singing voice, the way the natural growl her animal side lent to her vocals that he enjoyed. Cora Lee had a different kind of tone in her vocals and Landon had that smooth tone but neither were that growling rasp that he enjoyed about Rose’s. “Aww you like my voice?”, she teased. Merrick sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Bite me, little wolf.”, he retorted. “I have. I’m pretty sure you even have a scar from it.”, Rose teased. Merrick laughed and reached under his shirt collar and touched his left shoulder. His fingers lightly tracing the subtle indents of her incisors and canines that had been left there since early in their being together, from before they started having sex. Back when he didn’t see the need to go to the healers just for a little bite from a make out session. “Yes it’s still faintly there..”, he commented. Rose smiled knowing she’d left a permanent mark on him. She wondered how he explained the bite mark to other girls but would never ask. “Merrick?”, Sebastian called from the other side of the door knocking before opening the door. He raised an eyebrow looking at his brother who had a hand on his left shoulder under his shirt and his phone to his ear. “Who’s that?”, Rose asked not recognizing the voice initially. “Hey Bastian. You all done with your homework then?”, Merrick asked taking his hand from under his shirt where he’d been touching the scar. “Um yea. Printed up my essay kind of wanted. Well I wanted you to read it before I had it in tomorrow.”, Sebastian said. “But if you’re busy on the phone I can have you read it later.”, He said holding the three crisp white pages in his hand.
“Here give me the essay. Not really the person for proofreading that’s Lily, she’s the journalism major.”, Merrick said offering his hand out to take the paper. He still didn’t say goodbye or hang up with Rose. So Rose stayed silent listening to the exchange between the brothers. “Well I just want an opinion, from someone who won’t lie to me.”, Sebastian said hesitantly handing the essay over. Merrick turned the pages over and looked at the over page. “My brother, my hero…. Bastian? You wrote about me?”, Merrick said reading the title aloud. Rose smiled of course his little brother wrote about him. Rose may not know much about Sebastian but she’d seen the way Sebastian looked at his brother with such admiration. It was how she looked to Hudson growing up and still did to this day. “Of course he wrote about you dummy. I’ll let you read that and hang with Sebastian. Maybe I’ll talk to you again soon. I’ve got my own homework I should be doing.”, Rose said. Merrick nodded. “Yeah. Right. I’ll talk to you another time. Bye.”, Merrick said not daring to use her name in front of his little brother. “Bye Merrick.”, Rose said hanging up smiling. She looked at the phone and saw how long they were talking and shook her head. “I can’t believe we talked, actually talked for that long. God it was nice." She couldn’t help but smile knowing that now he was getting to see the kind of appreciation he deserved and see just how much people cared about him all because Sebastian chose him as his topic of his essay.
Merrick sat down in the chair of his bedroom and started to read the essay unable to believe he had been chosen at the topic. As he read how his brother described him and in how much regard Sebastian held him Merrick sighed and looked over the top of the paper at his brother who was looking down at his feet waiting. “This is really how you see me?”, Merrick asked. Sebastian nodded. “Yes. Faults and all you are the world’s best big brother and if I can grow up to be half as good of a man as you I’ll have succeeded at something.”, Sebastian said. “So did you like it?”, Sebastian asked timidly. Merrick smiled and handed the paper back. “I still can’t believe you decided I’m the person you look up to when you have much better options with mom, dad, heck even the other adults here in the Haven.”, Merrick said. “Maybe. But they aren’t my brother. They aren’t who taught me to ride a bike or throw a punch. They aren’t the ones that taught me how to treat a girl.”, Sebastian said. Merrick laughed. “The man with a list of women he causally sleeps with is your point of reference on how to treat women?”, Merrick asked. “You have the list, but is there a girl on the list that’s not aware of the others and who’s there against her will?”, Sebastian asked. “Well of course not. They all know there are others and I would never force a girl to be with me that didn’t want to be.”, Merrick said. “Exactly. You aren’t really a womanizer when the women are given that choice to be involved with you or not. And you treat each of them nice when you are with them right? You aren’t mean or abusive.”, Sebastian said. “Right. I treated a girl mean once and I felt and still feel terrible for it and will never do it again.”, Merrick admitted. “Exactly you were mean to Rachel but when you realized it you manned up, you apologized not just to her but her family. Jimmy told me about it. You realized you did something wrong and you accepted the punishment and didn’t complain about it.”, Sebastian said. Merrick nodded and sighed. “Alright. Well come on kid, time to kick your ass in mortal kombat.”, Merrick said smiling getting up and leaving his room to the game room. Sebastian smiled and followed his brother.