While the city lights blared brightly in the city , The Carmichael family's somber residence only shimmered.
Zeta refused to explain what happened to the young lady in fear of what may happen if she did.
Iris huffed, " You're going to let someone die and not explain- Zeta, You're better than this.." The young woman protested as she followed behind her.
" Damn it Iris, can you not read the room? I'm upset about it too. She had to die because she knew too much." Zeta lashed out as she put her coffee down.
" I forget that knowledge is a crime, as stupid as that is." Iris scowled as she looked at the Christmas tree. The youngest Carmichael cousin ,Declan also known as ' Dec', came downstairs and his father stopped him. The older men explained the situation and Dec came then sat down.
" I would say ' I wish it was like we were kids again' but, I'm wrong… it would have been much worse than now." Iris sighed, as she remembered the past which sent shivers down her spine.
Zeta huffed as she was pulled down to sit by Morton, he sat beside her on the love seat. Morton put a hand on her shoulder; " It's okay, Love.." He softly whispered in his girlfriend's ear.
" You know how Ryhs hurt me, Iris.." Zeta sighed, " He's gone for a reason, and thank god William went with him."
" They were both crazy, they needed to go…" Dec huffed as they looked at their older cousins.
"I have to agree, Dec, Rhys and William needed to go." Richard nodded as his youngest brother, Rocco, sat down. "They both were just like each other, they were ruthless, crazy and hot headed, thankfully you aren't a prick.".
Zeta looked at Morton as her eyes started to get glassy, "Hey, Love, do you want to go talk about it?" Morton asked her softly as he gently brushed his hands over her tense hands.
The abuse that Zeta suffered from her Father, Ryhs, and her Brother, William, was like a black hole of despair, depression, and anxiety. Everyone in the living room had suffered some sort of abuse from Ryhs Carmichel, yet the group refused to talk of the event.
Zeta nodded as thoughts flew through her mind as she got up, then stumbled to her basement office, Morton followed closely behind as a draft from the garage shut the basement door behind him.
The memories of the couple's young love nostalgically fluttered in Morton's mind, most of their days together as teengers had been spent in that basement.
The letters M+Z had been carved in a support beam,"Zeta, Love, Meine Liebster, I'm sorry about what they said about your father-"
"Don't call him that."Zeta told him softly.
"What would you prefer me to call him?" Morton asked her as he gently caressed her soft face with his rough hands.
"Just call him Ryhs, I don't consider him my father at all anymore."Zeta sighed as she leaned her head into his hand.
Morton nodded and sighed " I'll restart, I'm sorry about what they said about Ryhs and William. I know how they hurt you, they hurt all of us, even me."Morton told her as he brushed his fingers through her hair.
Zeta nodded as her eyes started to water once more, though she fought through the tears. " Remember the beating he gave me when he came home a little earlier than expected and caught us? How I had to go to the hospital? Yet I still came back to you, just because I knew you were the one.." Morton told her as they sat down on the futon, " You're not the only one who got hurt, but you were the one who got hurt the worst." Morton told her as she leaned on him and tears rolled down her cheeks.
Morton softly kissed her forehead, "I'm sorry for what he did to you, Love, I really am. Nothing can give you back what you lost of your childhood or in your life now, but we can try and make up for what you missed." Morton told her as he wiped the tears from her face.
"I don't think time can even erase the scars…"Zeta blubbered sorrowfully as she moved the fabric of her sweater to see the faded scars from her past.
"It might not, Love, but in my eyes they are just like a medal showing that you are a survivor, and you are strong."Morton told her before he kissed her hand, "You are still beautiful to me, scars or none, young or old."
Zeta melted into Morton and started to softly cry as she was confronted with memories of her old life, Morton held her close and hummed softly as he gently played with her hair to help calm her down.
Zeta laid down in Morton's lap, setting her head on his lap and curling her body on the rest of the futon. Morton politely tapped her, "hon, if you get up, I'll adjust the futon.." Morton told her.
Zeta nodded somberly and got up, and Morton quickly changed the futon into a bed.
"Here we can cuddle now, and if you want, we can go to bed."Morton whispered in her ear.
Zeta had Morton lay down first so she could cuddle close to him. Morton obliged , letting Zeta cuddle as close as she wanted.
"Thank you, Mort.."Zeta whimpered as Morton kissed her cheek,"This means a lot to me."
"Of course ,Love bug, anytime."Morton brushed her waist with his hands, "Now dear, what would you like to do?" He asked.
"Can you start a bath for me?"Zeta replied, "I just need to relax."
Morton kissed Zeta's forehead, "Of course ,Love, I'll go start the bath. Would you like any bubbles?"He joked.
Zeta shook her head but slowly transitioned it to nodding, "Yes please, Mort."Zeta shyly laughed.
"Alright, Peach or Jasmine?"Morton asked her as he looked at her office.
"Peach, Please."Zeta chuckled.
The office had changed a lot since they were children, but many things remained the same: Pictures of Zeta and her close family throughout the ages still hung. A family tree that was made many years before still hung as well, though there were now burnt cigarette holes in place of Ryhs and William's names. An old record player also sat in the back of the room along with a shelf containing heapings of records that Zeta had bought throughout the years.
Morton sighed, "Zeta, I don't understand why that child had to die." He told her softly as he looked outside and saw the snowfall, "She didn't deserve what she got, it pained me to watch and listen from afar.".
"Sometimes things like that just have to happen, schemed deaths are not something we wouldn't be unfamiliar with."Zeta huffed as she joined him "we are much too familiar with sacrifice." she told him.
Morton nodded in solidarity, "I understand now, Love."He told her and went upstairs.
The light that trickled out of the basement office dimly lit the laundry room, showing the stacks of laundry that had been washed and dried earlier in the day.
The Honey Blond Man sighed and walked into the living room and then up the stairs, avoiding Zeta's family.
The long, dark hallway that led up the stairs had sentimental pictures from when everyone was younger, and free. Morton's somber gaze fell on a picture of him and Zeta when they were 14 and the best of friends, "I wish it could be like it was when we were kids.."He muttered as he made his way to the Master bedroom.
The whole room was in disarray: pillows were on the floor, and the bedsheets were tangled with the comforter. It looked like a tornado had ripped through that morning, Zeta had obviously been in a rush to get ready.
Morton chuckled and pondered all of the little things in his mind while he swiftly picked up the bedroom.
Zeta stumbled into the dark bedroom with tears on her cheeks, and closed the door. 'Iris, Richard, and Simmons had to have questioned her..' Morton thought, as he wondered what would have made his girlfriend cry, other than their talk downstairs.
"I was just about to start the bath for you, Love." Morton smiled as he walked into their bathroom.
"Thanks Mort, I appreciate it.." Zeta chuckled softly, "You picked up for me too?" she asked.
"Of course, I know you're stressed and you just needed a bit of help."Mort beamed as he put in the plug and started the bath.
Zeta smiled and hugged him, "What did I do to deserve you?"She asked him.
"Absolutely nothing." Morton told her, "Now remind me, What bubble bath did you want?" He asked her.
"Peach, the one you got me for my birthday."Zeta told him, "Unless we have some Peppermint scented one."
"I'll look, Love."Morton told her as he pulled a step stool out from the linen closet.
The short man stepped onto the step stool and peeked into the top cabinet, "We don't have any Peppermint, but we have Peach, Jasmine, Tangerine, and Lavender."He told her.
"I'll take the Peach." Zeta told him as she adjusted the temperature settings.
"Did I get the temperature wrong, Love?"Morton asked as he got down and handed her the bottle.
"No, Mort, I didn't tell you so how could you have gotten it wrong?"She asked him softly as she brushed her hair away from her eyes.
Morton nodded slightly and chuckled, "You're right, you didn't tell me."He smiled.
For a second, Zeta paused and sighed, "I wish it could be simple, like when we were kids.." ad this tim, it was true.