Where It All Started

Execution:

        "I thought it was going to be." I look up in his eyes and I can sense some sort of pain in them so I say nothing else. I stand on my tippy toes and wrap my arms around his neck for a hug. "Everything's okay now. My father is in CIA custody, Zero, Kai and Veronica are going to live normal lives. I'll get to live a normal life now."

       "What about your family?" He whispers in my ear. I smile. "They can live here, they could take my old apartment." I pull away from the hug and his hands rest on my hips. "Unless you don't want to be with me anymore The I totally understand. I put you in a world you didn't need to be in and brought danger into your life. I did awful things while in Russia and awful things for my selfish need to protect you-" he puts his finger to my lips to stop me from talking. "Sh, it's alright." I stop talking, my eyes still on his. "Of course I still want you Edythe." I smile at the use of my name. My name, the one I created into the person I wanted to be. I've missed it. "And your friends?" He inquired. I turn my head to look at them. "They will be able to go wherever they please. Mason will help them get there. I'll stay in touch with them of course." He nods. "Jack misses you."
      "Oh god- Jack- I bet he's so big now-" I finally take in all of the things I've must've missed while I was away. "I've missed everything haven't I?" I complain. "Has he started to walk yet? Talk maybe? I missed Rossi's birthday. Ugh!" I ramble on without giving him a chance to answer. "You're so cute." He taps my nose. "It's good to have you back." He says smiling. "Great to be back." He turns me around to face my family putting his arm around my waist. "I've got everything I need right here." I lean myself into him as I take in the view. My team, my family, Mason, the three idiots I've known for only a few months. They've all become apart of my life, people I love and care for. They're my family. And I'm never going to let go of this.
      "Veronica has fire in her, but I think she'll go live on a beach, somewhere calm where she can think and be at peace." He hums in response, not having much to say because he doesn't know anyone of them. "Zero will need some guidance before he moves anywhere to far, I'll help him and so will Mason....and Kai, I imagine once his brother arrives he will travel with him."
     "He has a brother?"
      "Yeah, a big brother, Nathan. He used to be a friend of mine. Kai said he wouldn't. Help me unless his brother was apart of the deal too." I explain. "The deal? To get away from the Mafia?" This is my turn to hum in response. "Mhm, they risked their lives going against my father, to help you. I promised them a better life in exchange for their loyalty to help me."
      "And the girl, the one you shot-" I cut him off. "That was Elise. She was amazing for the both part but I made no hesitation when she crossed us to take her out. And she had a gun to you, to my brother...so I just took the shot."
       "It was a good shot, the right one. If this was a case we would've made the same move." He explains trying to calm me down realizing I tensed up at the thought of doing the wrong thing. "It's going to take time for things to be normal again. I might not feel normal for a while." I stand up straight turning my head to see him staring down at me. "Do you want to go back to therapy?" He rest his hand on the back of my head. "Yeah, I think I need to." I admit unwillingly. "Will you actually talk to her this time?" He questions. "I can try." I say rolling my eyes. I take ahold of his hand and drag him over to the rest of the group. I think about how I really want to go home, shower and sleep. Instead I socialize for another hour or so catching up with everyone. I am so tired and jet legged. I'm drained. Jessica calling Aaron saves me. She's in her way to drop off Jack so we have to go. I toss my keys over to my brother. "You're giving us your apartment?" He asks as he catches them. "What does it look like?" I state in a duh tone. "And your car?" He asks. "Don't push it." I point my finger at him like a nagging mom. "I'll get you a new one while you use mine to look for a job. Then you'll bring me mine back." I explain. He agrees. "Sorry to steal her away but we've got to get going." Aaron explains respectfully. "Yeah no problem." I hug my mom and siblings goodbye. "I'll swing by tomorrow."
~Aaron's pov~
       "How was he?" I take Jack from Jessica's arms and sling his diaper bag over my shoulder. "He's been good for the most part. Started crying about two hours ago. I've tried to feed him, I changed him, we drove around for a while but I think he just missed you. Considering he isn't crying anymore." Jessica explains how her day with Jack went. She wipes his tears off his face. "Bye bye Jack." She says waving the way he does. Backwards and while clenching and unclenching his fist. "Thanks for this." I stress to her. "No problem. See you again tomorrow." I quickly correct her. "Oh no that's alright." She looks surprised. "Oh- are you taking off tomorrow?" She questions. "I haven't decided yet but, Edythe's back so she will watch him. She can't come back to work right away." I explain. "Woah wait- didn't she break up with you. Just up and left?"  I sigh looking at the ground then back over to her. "Yeah but it's much more complicated than that-" she cuts me off. "No, it isn't that complicated. She left you Aaron, she doesn't care about you or Jack otherwise she wouldn't have just left. The inconsistency isn't healthy for him and you know it."
     "What does he know the difference he isn't even one yet."
     "About to be- look I'm just saying-" but I don't let her finish. "You're just saying nothing Jessica, don't tell me how to raise my son. He isn't yours he's mine."
      "He isn't her's!" She shouts causing him to cry again. "Look, you got him started again..." I suck my teeth in in frustration. "I have to go." I turn my back on her and walk back to the car getting Jack buckled up in his car seat. "Are you okay?" Edythe asks me concerned. "Yeah, just Jessica can be a pain sometimes. Nothing to worry about." I put my seatbelt on before pulling off. "When we get home can I put Jack to bed?" She asks. "Of course. Whatever you want to do tonight we will do."
    "I probably won't be doing much I'm really tired."  I nod understandingly. "How was the flight here?" I ask. It's a long flight from Russia to Virginia. "Nerve wrecking." She sighs as she leans her head on the window. "I was anxious the whole time."
       "Is your anxiety getting bad again?" I glance over at her then back to the road. "More like my obsessive need to control everything and protect everyone." I pull into the drive way parking my car. "Everyone's safe." I reassure her as I take my seatbelt off and she does the same. She opens the back car door and grabs the car seat. I open the other side to grab his bag. We fell back into our old routine so naturally, perfectly in sync as if she never left. I shut the door and wait for her to do the same before locking it. I open the door for her, letting her inside first and she carried Jack to his room. "You should feed him first. So he doesn't wake in the night. I need to shower." She holds up her bloody hands as a reminder of why she doesn't want to bother Jack to much. "Take your time." I assure her.
    
Word Count: 4,945