Chapter Twenty-Two: Ships That Pass In The Night

PETER:

"There she is." Hollie pointed out to Peter, Bella, Roxanne, and Maya as she noticed her girlfriend making her way over to the group.

"About time." Maya playfully responded. "I'm starving."

"Sorry, I had to ask Professor Templeton a question about my paper." Asa apologized.

"Well, where do you all want to eat?" Roxanne said, asking the question that had been the reason for the group waiting for Asa as the blonde wanted to join Peter and Hollie's project group for lunch that afternoon.

"There's a restaurant on the boardwalk, Smokey’s Harbor, that's not too far from here, we could go there?" Peter suggested. "And it'll be on me. My way of apologizing for flaking on the last couple of meetings."

"You didn't miss much with it being winter break and all but we know about you and Sara, so it's okay," Maya reassured Peter.

"But if you want to pay, don't let us stop you." Roxanne laughed.

"Well, I'm cool with the Smokey’s Harbor," Asa told the group.

"What my girlfriend said." Hollie agreed as she held her girlfriend's hand.

"I'm not that hungry but if everyone wants to go too, I don't mind tagging along," Roxanne added. "I might just get a salad or something."

"I'm good with Smokey’s Harbor too." Bella agreed while looking at Peter which caused the young teen some concern as ever since she had moved in with Peter, Asa, and Hollie at Aldridge House, Peter had noticed that the young girl seemed to follow and listen to everything he said or suggested.

Deciding to put his concerns about his friend to the back of his mind and with everyone agreeing to the restaurant of his choice, Peter led the group towards Smokey’s Harbor so that they could eat lunch when to his surprise they were stopped by a stunning blonde girl with blue eyes. She wore a short denim skirt that highlighted her curvy ass and her medium-sized breasts were on display with the bikini top she wore as well.

"Peter Grayson! It's been far too long!" The woman shouted excitedly as she pulled Peter in for a hug much to his own surprise.

"Erm..." Peter paused as they broke their hug and he tried to recognize the woman before him, which didn't take long thanks to the blonde's star status. "Lori? Lori Nelson?"

"Nobody's called me Lori Nelson in years." Lori Larimar told Peter.

"Well, they didn't have the pleasure of knowing you before you got all famous," Peter responded.

"Oh my God! Asa! Hollie!" Lori excitedly greeted the couple upon noticing them.

"Hey, Lori." The couple replied.

"These are our friends, Bella, Roxanne, and Maya." Hollie pointed out the remaining three individuals to the singer.

"Hi." The three girls sheepishly replied upon seeing the world-famous celebrity.

"What are you doing in Redwater?" Asa curiously asked. "I haven't seen you here since..."

"Before I got famous," Lori recalled. "I ran into Nathan and Claire in Rayton Heights a few weeks back. That reminded me I haven't been back here in Central Redwater in a while to see the people who got me where I am today." Lori added while looking at Peter.

"Wanna tell us what that means?" Roxanne asked Peter and Lori.

"I lived with a foster family who only ever fostered me and some other kids for the money," Lori admitted. "They didn't care about me or the fact that I was getting bullied in school." Lori continued. "But they noticed. Peter and his friends. They stood up for me. Tried to include me when they did stuff."

"It was when she hung out with us, that we learned what an incredible voice she had and her dreams of making it big one day," Peter informed the group.

"Not that it would have happened cos of my financial situation back then," Lori remembered. "Then Peter, Nathan, and Claire showed up one day and told me they wanted to send me to Rayton Heights so I had a chance at getting my dream."

"Ever the hero, huh?" Bella commented while looking at Peter.

"So, was I interrupting something because you all look like you were heading somewhere," Lori questioned.

"Actually, we were heading to lunch," Maya revealed.

"You could join us though," Roxanne added.

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Maya said In agreement.

"I wouldn't want to impose." Lori politely declined.

"Come on, it'll be fun." Roxanne tried to convince the blonde.

"It'll give us a chance to catch up. I want to know what you've gotten up to in the last few years." Peter told her.

"I would like to catch up too," Lori smiled. "Alright, you convinced me," Lori agreed as she held Peter's hand. "Let's go."

---

RYAN:

Ryan stepped into the Mirage Penthouse after finishing his shift at Nico's Auto Repair that afternoon, making his way to the kitchen first to grab a glass of water before heading upstairs towards his bedroom so he could get changed and it was on his way there, he found Jessica coming out of her bedroom.

"Hey, you're home pretty early?" Ryan commented.

"I had a half-day," Jessica answered. "But one could say the same thing about you. I hardly ever see you. You're either spending a night at Amelia's or here."

"Yeah, things with Amelia are getting serious," Ryan admitted.

"It should be, you've both been together for nearly a year, just as long as Sammy and I," Jessica replied as she thought of her boyfriend. "But it's good to see you happy."

"I am happy. Being with Amelia makes me happy," Ryan confessed. "I don't know what the future holds for us but it's nice to do a serious relationship for once."

"Careful little brother, one might mistake you for being in love." Jessica teased her younger brother.

"You would know. The walls here are pretty thin, I can hear the phone sex you and Sammy are having." Ryan teased back while mimicking. "Oh Sammy, fuck I need your big dick..."

"Ryan!" Jessica admonished her brother.

"I'm only joking but it's good to hear you're happy as well despite the long-distance of your relationship," Ryan told her. "Long-distance never seemed to work out for me."

"That's cos you never stayed in one place long enough to build a connection with your ex-girlfriends," Jessica reminded him. "Sammy and I dated all senior year in college. I'm surprised you stayed in Redwater this long."

"Amelia had something to do with that and the fact that you all seem to be moving and staying here did too," Ryan told her. "Time to make some roots, right?"

"Right but I should go," Jessica told her brother. "Ciara and I have a business dinner to prepare for."

"Of course, don't let me keep you," Ryan smiled. "Besides I've got to meet my girlfriend too."

---

SARA:

Sara left the Nightingale Building that day following her seminar and slowly made her way across campus and towards the town square since she planned to get some food for lunch but it was just as she was planning on doing so, she noticed a surprising face who also noticed her and began making his way over to her.

"Sara Rose." Jack smiled at the young girl.

"Jack? What are you doing here? I thought Peter..." Sara said in confusion since Demi had told her that Peter had given Jack his money and banished him from Redwater.

"I lived here while your ex-boyfriend owed me money. I still have a few things here that I need," Jack explained. "I figured enough time has passed for me to get what I need without pissing Peter Grayson off."

"Right," Sara replied and she noticed Jack was eyeing her curiously.

"There's something different about you..." Jack calmly spoke which made Sara nervous as she thought about her pregnancy.

"What?" Sara awkwardly responded as Jack continued to stare at her and Sara could see gears turning in his head as he tried to figure it out.

"Camille..." Jack finally said out loud. "She had a similar look when she told me about Beth," Jack told Sara, a dawn of realisation on his face before he softly spoke. "You're pregnant, aren't you?"

"How'd you..." Sara said in surprise.

"I've been here before and you know what they say about pregnant women," Jack smiled. "They glow. Wait... Is it mine?"

"You really think I would keep it if it was?'" Sara fired back.

"Fair point," Jack shrugged. "Then I guess I should say congratulations to you and Peter..." Jack responded but he noticed Sara wince at the mention of Peter's name. "You haven't told him yet, have you?"

"No." Sara shook her head.

"Why not?" Jack questioned. "He loves you, I know that much and one encounter with me doesn't mean you don't love him just as much."

"It's complicated." Sara found herself telling the older man as she thought about the plethora of reasons she had in her head.

"Then uncomplicate it," Jack told her. "I'm going to tell you a secret. I'm a father."

"You are?" Sara said out loud in shock, surprised that she really didn't know much about the man she cheated with.

"Her name's Beth and she's the best thing to have ever happened to me," Jack smiled while Sara noticed the happiness in his voice. "It was complicated between her mother and I as well. We were best friends, lovers, and exes. We were dating other people at the time too, just like you and Peter. But holding that little girl in my arms when she was born, I realised I could love nothing more and I knew it was simple and that Camille and I would make it work. We have made it work..."

"Why are you telling me this?" Sara questioned Jack.

"Because Peter is a far better man than I ever could be," Jack admitted. "So, tell him because if anyone deserves to be a father, it's him and it just might save your friendship."

---

DEMI:

"So, this is how you're spending your time?" Demi announced to the teen who looked up at her in surprise as he handed the laptop over to his friends.

"Demi?" Magnus said in confusion as he stepped away from his friends. "How did you..."

"Find you? You were right. It's not hard to find someone if you were actually looking. Makes me realize how easy it must have been for Peter to hide in this city for a few months," Demi responded. "So, you're running cons on people?" Demi questioned as she folded her arms and indicated to the tech repair store behind them.

"How do you know I don't just work here?" Magnus shrugged.

"Because I spent the last few minutes watching you tell that Dad you'd have the laptop he gave you repaired and then you handed it off to your friends over there," Demi said as she looked over Magnus's shoulder to his friends who were laughing amongst themselves. "Let me guess, he comes back and you tell him it's beyond repair. You sell him on some brand new fancy laptop and you guys wipe and repair this one and sell it too."

"Sherlock Holmes better watch out," Magnus sarcastically responded. "What now? You call your Dad?"

"Why are you doing this, Magnus?" Demi asked. "You don't need to. Your family wants you back."

"Do they? Cos I can see that you're here. Not them," Magnus spat. "And why are you here? I'm not your family."

"But I know how much your absence is hurting your family," Demi replied. "You don't know this but I dated Peter briefly last year and he talked about you. How bad he felt for leaving you. Abandoning you. How much of a failure of an older brother he felt like he was and how much he wanted to make things right because he does."

"Well, he can't. I'm happier without him. Without all of them," Magnus coldly responded as he turned to leave. "So, leave me the fuck alone!"

---

JEROME:

Jerome and Kira walked into RC Coffee Lounge, glancing around until they spotted their older brother sitting in a booth on his phone while sipping a cup of coffee. Upon seeing him, the twins quickly made their way over to Barney, sitting down opposite their older brother who looked up to see them and put his phone down on the table.

"I was wondering when you guys would come," Barney said before indicating to his coffee cup. "I would have gotten you guys something but I wasn't sure what you would have wanted."

"It's fine. I'm not a huge coffee drinker anyway." Jerome responded.

"And I already had some coffee. I really don't need more." Kira added.

"I guess, Thundering Isle was just the trip the doctor ordered, huh?" Jerome questioned as he indicated to the light tan on his brother's face.

"Thundering Isle is something. You guys should go." Barney suggested.

"I'd need a better-paying job for that." Kira joked, causing the siblings to laugh.

"It was a good trip though," Barney said excitedly.

"Okay, what's going on?" Kira asked her older brother. "You haven't been this excited since Jerome got the blame for that prank on Mrs Smith you pulled."

"I knew that shit was you!" Jerome exclaimed.

"Alright, I guess I held out long enough. So, you know how we went to Thundering Isle to figure out our relationship problems," Barney told his siblings who nodded in recollection. "Well, we sorted it and..." Barney paused. "The four of us got engaged! We're getting married!”

"What? Seriously? Congrats bro!" Jerome happily told Barney.

"Wait, you said the four of you. Aren't there five of you? You, Tommy, Brit, Kelsey, and Eve?" Kira curiously asked causing Barney's face to sink a little.

"Brit, Tommy, Eve, and I are the engaged ones. Kelsey broke up with us." Barney revealed.

"Oh Barney, I'm sorry..." Kira solemnly spoke.

"It's okay. I'm okay. The five of us talked a lot and a lot of the issues were her issues and she wanted to take a step back," Barney informed them. "We all agreed to stay friends. Best friends. In fact, it was Kelsey who pushed the four of us to get engaged and said she is happy for us."

"Yeah, but how does that work? You know the four of you getting married?" Jerome wondered.

"Well, legally a marriage is still two people but four people makes things a lot easier. Two pairs of two for the legal side. We're not fussed about that," Barney told them. "The ceremony on the other hand will be the four of us and will be doing it together, announcing our vows and love to each other in front of our friends and family."

"Well, I for one, can't wait." Kira excitedly spoke.

"I just want to see how you're gonna run this past Mom and Dad." Jerome laughed.

"Why do you think I told you two first?" Barney grinned. "So, you'll be right there with me. Having my back, like always."

---

ELSA:

Elsa made her way back into her former apartment, where she found Zara and Amelia already relaxing after a day of lectures, a glass of wine in each of their hands, and upon seeing the redhead, they offered their best friend a seat and a glass of wine too.

"Not that I'm complaining but is there a reason why we're drinking so early?" Elsa curiously asked her friends.

"Zar, said she needed to tell me something and that she needed some liquid courage," Amelia answered.

"I figured it was going to be one of those conversations so I thought I might as well get in on it." Amelia shrugged.

"Understandable," Elsa commented. "So, what's up?"

"I went to see Jerome. To tell him how I still feel for him..." Zara softly spoke.

"And lemme guess, I didn't it didn't go as planned," Amelia responded. "Zar, I'm so sorry..."

"What happened?" Elsa asked.

"I went to his place... And I saw him with Kira..." Zara revealed.

"That doesn't sound too bad," Amelia said in confusion.

"You don't get it. I saw him with Kira," Zara repeated as she indicated with her head to Elsa. "You know, like her and Peter..."

"You mean?" Amelia said in realisation. "I guess incest is really winning out, huh..."

"I'm an idiot, aren't I?" Zara shook her head. "Falling in love with a guy who's hooking up with his twin sister."

"Then we're all idiots," Elsa responded. "Cos that one fell in love with her ex-boyfriend's brother and me... I'm currently fucking my brother who is also screwing his bisexual best friends who happen to be a couple and that's not to mention the other sister who's currently in a different city who's just as equally in love with him."

"How do you do it?" Zara found herself asking Elsa. "How is it so easy for you to screw your brother? Vince is only eleven and I don't know if me and him could ever..."

"I guess it was easier since we were never that close, well not as close as AC and Peter," Elsa admitted. "We may have been siblings without knowing it, we may have been cousins and known that but we were always more friends. I guess that line is always easier to cross. Which is why we did…"

"But Jerome and Kira are siblings and they can't stand each other most of the time," Zara responded. "How could he? How could she?"

"Sometimes you can't stand someone just because you like them," Amelia replied. "Claire couldn't stand Nathan when they first met, remember?"

"I remember. Everything he did seemed to frustrate her and then he kissed her that one time on a dare and the rest was history." Elsa smiled at the memory.

"So, what you're saying is Jerome and Kira couldn't stand each other cos of a mutual attraction," Zara replied.

"Maybe? Or maybe they're just two siblings who are experimenting with each other. Happens more times than you think. Eve taught me a lot when I first started out. A few kissing and blowjob techniques and stuff like that..." Amelia admitted. "But you won't know for certain what those two are to each other unless you ask."

"Yeah, I guess." Zara softly agreed.

---

EDDIE:

"When I offered to let you move in here, I didn't think that there would be this many boxes," Eddie commented as he put down the final box belonging to Alyssa.

"Well, a girl can never have enough shoes." Alyssa smiled only to hear Eddie's phone buzz on the coffee table but Eddie ignored it and Alyssa picked up the phone to see who the caller was. "Whose Diamond? And why are you ignoring them."

"I'm not ignoring them." Eddie shrugged as he began to move a box to Alyssa's bedroom.

"You ignored their call yesterday. This morning too and now this one," Alyssa replied. "Whose Diamond? Don't tell me it's another girlfriend."

"My older sister actually," Eddie answered.

"You have a sister?" Alyssa said in surprise. "And her name's Diamond?"

"Diamond's a nickname," Eddie told her. "The same way Swift is a nickname for me."

"I thought Swift was your last name?" Alyssa said in confusion.

"It's a nickname that stuck, hence why I introduce myself as Eddie Swift. I got it cos I was a great pickpocket. Nobody saw me coming until I met Jay..." Eddie answered.

"And how does one get a nickname like Diamond?" Alyssa asked.

"Cos she's pretty on the outside and tough on the inside, just like a..." Eddie answered.

"Diamond," Alyssa finished while looking at Eddie in disbelief, something Eddie noticed.

"What is it?" Eddie asked in concern.

"Nothing, I'm just surprised at how little I actually know my boyfriend." Alyssa spat. "Cos it turns even his name isn't actually his name. Makes me wonder how much I actually know you or if anyone actually knows you. Did your ex know? Does anyone know?"

"Elsa, not really. Yelena, she knew a little. Peter knows a lot more..." Eddie admitted.

"And when were you planning on telling me? Or introducing me to your family?" Alyssa said as she folded her arms and waited expectedly for an answer

"I would have told you eventually," Eddie informed her. "As for introducing you... I don't think so..."

"Why not?" Alyssa replied. "You ashamed of me or something?"

"No! Of course not!" Eddie told her as he took her hands into his. "It has everything to do with them and me. They're traditional and old-fashioned and I don't get along with them. Haven't gotten on with them for years. Diamond's the only one I really talk to these days," Eddie told her. "And I know it feels like I'm hiding something from you by not telling you my real name but Eddie Swift is who I am and my friends; Peter, Yelena, Azumi, Tommy, Elsa... They're my family..."

"Okay, I get it... Sort of..." Alyssa softly responded. "So, what is your name?"

"Edward," Eddie said with a grin.

"I know that..." Alyssa said, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"Oh, you mean my surname!" Eddie said, feigning ignorance. "That is..."

---

PETER:

"So, you want to tell us about you and a certain singer?" Ryan asked Peter as he handed his half-brother and Eddie a beer, from Peter's fridge at Aldridge House.

"How'd you hear about that?" Peter questioned.

"Perks of my job," Ryan shrugged. "I know everything. You know that. That's why you got me to work with Nico."

"And it's all over social media." Eddie added as he showed a picture of Peter and Lori at Smokey’s Harbor and Peter knew the photo had been cropped to cut out the rest of his friends and the headline of the Celeb Insider post read 'Lori's new beau?'

"God, I hate paparazzi." Peter sighed in annoyance.

"I know. Luckily we don't get as many here but whenever we're out of Redwater... It's a mess." Ryan told Eddie. "And for someone like Lori. They're constantly after her and anyone she's linked to."

"Which can't be good for you or your past," Eddie said knowingly.

"Well, my past is my past. And now that the whole Jack and Tyrone stuff is over, it's a quiet, normal life for me." Peter replied.

"You say that but trouble always finds you." Eddie reminded Peter.

"That's true," Ryan agreed. "And Lori looks pretty cosy with you in that picture and if I remember correctly, she practically worshipped the ground you walked on back in the day.”

"She didn't..." Peter defended the singer.

"She totally did and I guarantee you, she's not going to let you go that easily this time," Ryan commented.

"Hence this can of worms," Eddie said showing Peter the headline again.

"It's not going to be a problem." Peter shook his head.

"Oh, I didn't realize we had company." Bella interrupted the trio as she entered the kitchen and looking directly at Peter, she asked. "Can I get you all anything?"

"Another beer will be fine for me," Peter told the Latina as he finished his bottle while Eddie and Ryan shook their heads telling him they didn't need anything. Bella nodded in agreement, and rather quickly she moved to the fridge, grabbed a beer, opened it, and hurried back to give it to Peter, taking care not to spill any of it along the way, and then waited by Peter. "Thanks, that's all," Peter awkwardly spoke and Bella took her leave.

"There's another one you have to be careful with," Eddie commented.

"What? Bella? She's cool." Peter said, putting some of his minor concerns about the girl in the back of his head.

"Really? Cos she practically obeyed you just then. She learned we were here but she asked you if we needed anything and she did it without hesitation, and then waited until you dismissed her," Eddie pointed out. "And Hollie and Asa have told me how they've noticed how she seems to follow and listen to everything you say."

"Not to mention the eyes," Ryan added.

"What about the eyes?" Peter questioned.

"The adoration in them. Like you could do nothing wrong. Like she worships the ground you walked on, just like Lori used to." Ryan told Peter.

"You're being ridiculous," Peter said in disbelief.

"Look, I don't know what's going through her mind. All I will say is that Bella stayed with Tyrone for so long for a reason and you've been through something like this before with Naomi and that didn't end well and Bella's experience with Tyrone didn't either..." Eddie warned.

"Who's Naomi and what happened with her?" Ryan asked.

"His ex-girlfriend," Eddie answered.

"She was into some stuff, got off on it, and got extremely jealous too," Peter recalled. "It ended really badly. We weren't good for each other."

"Look it might be nothing but Bella isn't Naomi," Eddie told him. "Just be careful."

---

SARA:

Sara sat in front of the television that afternoon, bored out of her mind as she aimlessly flicked through various channels looking for something to watch. Up to date with the reading needed for her course, the coursework, and a late shift at Redwater General Hospital, the young girl had a rare amount of free time and it made her think of Jack's words from earlier.

Recalling Jack's advice to tell Peter, Sara thought about how good of a father her ex-boyfriend might be and she had a brief imagining of Peter bringing their little girl a new doll or pushing her on the swings and that thought made Sara smile and the recollection that it was Jack's advice, quickly soured her mood as she thought about how she cheated on Peter with Jack until she was pulled from those thoughts as the doorbell rang. Getting up to answer the door, Sara found Asa and Hollie standing there and she proceeded to let them in.

"What? Your phone dead or something?" Asa questioned her best friend.

"I've had some things on my mind." Sara shook her head.

"Is that thing, figuring out how you're going to repair your friendship with Peter?" Hollie coldly responded. "Cos he needs you."

"No, he doesn't. He's doing just fine without me," Sara told the couple. "And besides he'll still be fine without me."

"You say that like you're going somewhere," Asa commented before recognizing the look on Sara's face. "You are..."

"It's not set in stone but I was thinking of taking the next year off. I don't know, see my aunt, grandparents or something..." Sara softly spoke.

"So, you're running away? Cos that's going to solve everything." Hollie sarcastically responded.

"I'm not running away!" Sara tried to defend herself.

"Certainly sounds like it," Hollie replied, folding her arms and staring at the black-haired teen.

"And how do you think Peter's going to react when he finds out?" Asa added.

"I don't know! Honestly, I don't! But I need some time away from him! Away to refocus! To think about what's best for our kid! To figure out my feelings for him! And that's away from Redwater Uni because he's sure as hell not going to leave this place again!" Sara found herself shouting at her best friends.

"What did you just say?' Hollie questioned Sara.

"What?" Sara said in confusion.

"You said to think about what's best for our kid," Hollie repeated Sara's words while looking at Sara curiously.

"Sara, are you... That certainly explains a lot," Asa responded. "And your state of mind..."

"You can't tell him." Sara quickly spoke, trying to take back control of the situation.

"Were you planning on not telling him? Sara, you can't be serious?" Hollie said in disbelief.

"Guys, please..." Sara begged.

"No," Asa said in agreement with her girlfriend. "You can't do that to him. He'd hate you forever and you know it."

"But..." Sara softly said but she was interrupted by Hollie who took her girlfriend's hand.

"No excuses, Sara!" Hollie sternly spoke. "You have to tell him or we will."

---

DEMI:

"You know you've looked like you've had a day and I'm the one who just spent the last hour or so taking pictures of an old married asshole and his assistant for his wife." Melody commented as she joined Demi at the bar in Rachel's.

"Let me guess, unappealing dick?" Demi smirked.

"Tiny. You can tell the assistant's only in it for the money. Not that he'll have much left once the wife files for divorce," Melody responded, causing both girls to laugh. "So, what's got you in this funk?"

"Your brother," Demi answered.

"Please tell me Peter didn't try sleeping with you again..." Melody sighed.

"Your youngest brother." Demi clarified.

"Magnus? You found him?" Melody said in surprise.

"Wasn't too hard," Demi commented.

"He clearly wanted some space," Melody spoke, trying to defend herself for not searching for her brother. "We Graysons tend to do our best thinking when we're alone."

"Or your worse," Demi replied.

"Is he okay?" Melody asked in concern.

"He's fine. Sort of. He's running cons on people." Demi informed the blonde. "But he looks okay?"

"Why didn't you tell us?" Melody curiously asked.

"He seems to hate everything with the name Grayson right now. I figured someone without the surname Grayson might be able to reach him." Demi explained.

"Yet, you're drinking here so, how's that going for you?" Melody fired back at her.

"Touché." Demi smiled causing Melody to laugh.

"Magnus is my brother, so next time you go after him, just let me know," Melody told her. "We do care about him and we want him home."

"I get that and I'll let you know." Demi agreed, causing Melody to smile at the blonde.

---

EDDIE:

After telling Alyssa about his past and his family, Eddie had decided to treat his girlfriend out to a nice, romantic evening so that he could spend even more time with the girl who slowly knew more about him than any of his other girlfriends did. Eating dinner at Giselle’s Restaurant and enjoying a pleasant stroll across the square, Eddie and Alyssa found their night come to a close when they returned back to the apartment they now shared together.

As soon as the apartment door closed, Eddie found Alyssa pressing him up against the door as she undid his belt buckle while kissing him and dropping letting his pants and boxers fall to the ground. Alyssa then gently got onto her knees, gripping his cock with her and leaned forward to take it into her mouth. Alyssa began to bob her head up and down his length at a steady pace.

"That's it, Alyssa." Eddie groaned.

Alyssa continued her eager bobbing, causing Eddie to tilt his head back at his girlfriend’s blowjob ability and unsure how long he’d be able to last, Eddie removed his dick from her throat and brought Alyssa over to the couch, bending her over. Eddie lifted up her skimpy dress and caressed her tight ass before sliding two fingers inside her damp pussy causing Alyssa to let out a pleasurable moan. Eddie pumped his fingers in and out of her pussy for several seconds before pulling his fingers out.

Eddie then got behind his girlfriend, lining his cock while her hands held onto the couch for grip and Alyssa moaned out in pleasure as Eddie slowly sank his shaft into her warm hole until he was fully inside of her. Eddie began to slowly fuck her pussy.

"Oh fuck, Eddie! Fuck me!” Alyssa moaned out. Eddie began to thrust inside Alyssa’s pussy with long slow strokes as Alyssa continued to moan. "Harder, fuck me harder, Eddie."

Spurred on by her moans, Eddie picked up the pace substantially causing Alyssa's moans to accelerate as he really began pistoning inside her pussy as she moved her left hand so that it was now frantically rubbing her pussy. Eddie’s cock continued hammering away at her pussy until Alyssa quaked as an intense orgasm washed over her.

“Aaaaaaah, fuuuuuuuck, I'm cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuming," Alyssa screamed out in pleasure.

Pulling out of Alyssa’s snatch, Eddie sat himself down on the couch and Alyssa took the opportunity to hover over his erect dick and Eddie grabbed her ass and lowered her slowly onto his cock. Alyssa began to ride Eddie’s cock and Eddie watched in awe as his girlfriend began to bounce on his cock, taking it deeper inside of her.

"Oh fuck, Eddie, Fuck me. Oh god. Fuck, fuck, oh god, you are in me so deep." Alyssa continued to shout.

After riding his cock for several minutes, Alyssa then climbed off and fell to her knees. Alyssa opened her perfect lips and took his cock into her mouth as she began bobbing her head back and forth along his length.

After sucking his dick for several minutes, Alyssa then took his cock out of her mouth and sank back down on his length. Eddie began thrusting inside of Alyssa’s pussy as she matched his thrusts. Moans echoed across the apartment and Eddie soon shifted from slow strokes to long hard thrusts. Eddie leaned in and kissed his girlfriend on the lips and Alyssa kissed back, their tongues meeting in a frenzied battle until finally, Eddie couldn’t hold back any longer and erupted deep inside of her.

“Fuck, that was good.” Eddie laughed.

“Yeah, it was but I hope you aren’t done yet,” Alyssa smiled. “Cos I could go for a few more rounds.”

---

JEROME:

Jerome sped up his car, heading down the streets of Redwater, trying hard to make it home while trying to avoid glancing at the passenger seat where Kira sat and was currently playing with her pussy as she moaned every dirty thing she wanted her twin to do to her. Her state of mind was a mess which Jerome knew was his fault.

After meeting their older brother and learning of his news, Jerome decided that he wanted to surprise his sister and lover, since the new-found aspect of their relationship seemed to be increasing and so, he took Kira into his car and drove himself and the blonde, for two hours until they reached the much more popular coastal town, Everwood Bay.

With no one around that would recognize them, Jerome took Kira and began their first date which the blonde quickly picked up on. They spent time holding hands, walking on the beach, and enjoying each other's company. They went to the small circus on the Deegan Pier and the arcade on the Grand Pier, where Kira kissed him passionately after he won her a teddy bear before finally heading to a nice, romantic lunch at Aqua Garden, a restaurant that overlooked the ocean.

The drive on the way home was when Kira got worked up. Wanting to thank her boyfriend, Kira wanted to give Jerome a blowjob but the heavy traffic meant Jerome really needed to focus on the road, so Kira had settled to masturbating and teasing her twin brother until finally, he parked the car outside their home.

With the foreknowledge that their parents would be out with Barney, his partners, and their parents to get the good news about their engagement, Jerome eagerly got out of the car with Kira and made their way to the front porch but stopped dead in their tracks when they realised Zara was waiting there.

"Zara?" Jerome greeted his ex-girlfriend in confusion.

"Hey Jerome, Kira. I guess I was right that you two would be together. At least it makes this easier. Now I don't have to go find you both," Zara told the twins. "I can see Kira's pretty worked up. Must have been one hell of a date."

"Date?" Jerome said as he tried to lie.

"Don't. I stopped by the other day to talk to you and I saw you both," Zara cut Jerome off. "I know about the two of you."

"Maybe we should talk inside," Kira suggested as she unlocked the front door and let them in. Jerome then proceeded to lead them up to his bedroom just in case their parents came home. "So, you know."

"I know..." Zara repeated.

"Can I just I didn't mean to... With Jerome... It just sort of happened..." Kira quickly tried to explain. "I would have told you just like Elsa but he's your ex and I..."

"I get it," Zara interrupted Kira. "It can't be easy to admit something like that. But that's why I'm here so we can get all our cards on the table," Zara added while looking over at Jerome who had been silent. "I've never stopped loving you, J. I'm still in love with you and I want you back."

"Zar, I..." Jerome spoke, unsure of what to say while looking between his sister and ex-girlfriend.

"And I know you two probably don't want to stop... The way Kira is looking at you right now makes that obvious..." Zara admitted. "So, I know about you two and you both know how I still feel about Jerome..."

"You should be with him," Kira said out loud causing both Jerome and Zara to look at the blonde in confusion. "I love Jerome. He's my brother, yeah he can be an annoying ass sometimes but he's also my lover and you're right when you say I don't want that to stop," Kira explained. "But one thing today has shown me is that I can't be his girlfriend, I can't have dates with him like today, not publicly at least but you can." Kira finished while looking at Zara.

"What are you saying?" Jerome asked his twin in confusion.

"If you can handle me still being with him, then I'll give you the same deal Peter had with Sara and AC..." Kira admitted.

"You mean?" Jerome said in realisation as he thought about his best friend's relationship with the redhead and black-haired teen.

"I... I... Don't know..." Zara admitted since, while she wanted Jerome, she wasn't sure about Kira. "I'm not sure..."

"That's okay. You're a bit confused and I know it's a little bit out of the norm and I guess dating Brittaney means I'm now more open to things but how about this," Kira responded. "How about we try this? You know? We do this one step at a time... Figure it out together..."

"Err... Uhm.." Zara awkwardly said before taking a deep breath, thought to herself about Kira's suggestion, and answered. "Yeah. Let's do that and figure it out together."

"Jerome?" Kira asked her twin for an answer.

"I'm not even gonna answer that," Jerome smiled, thinking about how it was every guy's fantasy to have more than one girl all over him and he couldn't think of anyone better than his sister and his ex-girlfriend. "But Zar looks like she might need a drink."

"She ain't the only one," Kira commented. "You might have to grab a bottle. It looks like we have a lot to talk about."

---

PETER:

Peter and Lori left The Serendipity Cirque that evening, holding hands and talking amongst each other, and Peter couldn’t help but feel a little surprised his night was finishing with the blonde. After returning home, Peter had spent most of the afternoon relaxing when he got an unexpected call from Lori who asked if he had any plans and if he would like to keep her company on her last night in town.

Realising that this would amount to date, Peter had managed with Elsa’s help to score last-minute tickets to The Serendipity Cirque, a circus that was currently passing through Redwater as well as a table at Giselle’s Restaurant. Picking the famous singer up at her hotel room, Peter was glad to see that there were few paparazzi there and quickly whisked the blonde to the restaurant where they had a lovely dinner and caught up with each other before making their way to the circus, where Peter spent most of his evening, looking at the awe on Lori’s face at each act until finally, Peter took to driving down the streets of Redwater aimlessly as they talked about the acts and what they wanted to do next.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Peter told Lori. “I’ll have to thank Elsa for getting those tickets.”

“I still can’t believe Elsa Morgan’s your half-sister,” Lori said in disbelief. “It’s funny how much life changes…”

“I’ll say. When you left Redwater you were this tiny, skinny little girl and now you’re a worldwide musical sensation.” Peter responded.

“And what about you?” Lori said curiously as she looked over from her seat at Peter. “Nightclub owner, business student, campus stud… You were always confident but never this confident and your eyes… One of my foster moms once said you can tell a lot about a person through his eyes… And yours, there’s sadness and loneliness…”

“You really know how to kill a mood, don’t you?” Peter sarcastically said as he tried to lighten the mood.

“Sorry, I’m just trying to get to know one of my first crushes better…” Lori admitted.

“So, you had a crush on me?” Peter teased.

“Enough to write a whole song about you,” Lori revealed before realizing what she had said and winced. “I didn’t…”

“You wrote a song about me? I’ve heard a few of yours but… Which one?” Peter questioned.

“Nuh, uh… I’m keeping that close to the chest,” Lori replied however a look from Peter caused the singer to crumble quickly and answer. “Golden Dream…”

“Huh, that makes sense,” Peter said as he thought about the song’s lyrics. “I actually like that song.”

“You do?” Lori said happily.

“Yeah.” Peter nodded in agreement.

“Then you’ll be glad to know it’s one of the ones at my concert in Iron Falls in the next couple of days,” Lori responded.

“So, you’re actually leaving the city?” Peter said slightly disappointed since to his own surprise he seemed to enjoy the blonde’s company this evening.

“I wasn’t supposed to be stopping by in the first place but I insisted once I realized we were going through Central Redwater,” Lori informed Peter as she looked up at him and smiled. “I’m glad I did though.”

“Me too.” Peter agreed.

“Peter, take me back to your place,” Lori said to the teen. “I want you… I want all of you, tonight…”

---

RYAN:

Leaving the movie theatre together and holding hands, both Ryan and Amelia walked the streets of Redwater, crossing the road as they discussed the movie that they had just seen as well as where they were planning on going to next.

"So, my place or yours?" Amelia asked Ryan.

"Funny question," Ryan grinned before stopping their walk as he looked at his girlfriend curiously. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that actually."

"What about it?" Amelia said in confusion.

"We've been dating for pretty much a year now and you're spending a lot of nights over..." Ryan began to explain.

"Is that a problem?" Amelia said curiously as she folded her arms and stared at her boyfriend as he continued to try to explain.

"No of course not!" Ryan quickly spoke. "I love having you in bed with me, waking up to see you first thing in the morning and it's because of that... It made me wonder if you're ready for this... If..."

"Ryan, will you stop waffling and spit it out..." Amelia told her boyfriend, noticing how he was struggling to get his thoughts out into words.

"If you'd like to move into the penthouse with me," Ryan suggested quickly, noticing Amelia's face turn to one of surprise, and rather defensively he spoke. "Or not. No pressure. It was just an idea I had. You know, what? Forget I said anything..."

"Yes," Amelia answered.

"What?" Ryan shook his head.

"Yes? I'll move into the penthouse with you," Amelia clarified before leaning in to kiss Ryan passionately. "I love you, Ryan and I love waking up to you too and I would love to move into the penthouse too."

"Really?" Ryan said excitedly.

"Yeah," Amelia agreed. "I love you, Ry."

"God, I love you too," Ryan said in adoration of his girlfriend.

---

ELSA:

"What are you doing here?" Elsa questioned Bella, surprised to see her brother's roommate and friend sitting alone at the bar in Crimson that evening.

"I didn't have much to do and now that I'm not working at the Poison Ivy anymore, my nights are free," Bella told the redhead.

"That's good, right?" Elsa responded.

"It is. I'm glad to be free of that place but I was working there to pay for college and now..." Bella shook her head.

"You'll find something, trust me." Elsa tried to reassure her.

"I know and as seedy as that place was, it was dancing you know? And I've always loved dancing," Bella revealed. "When I was younger and even before I came here I took ballet classes... That's another thing I don't have time for."

"Then we'll help make time. Yelena was complaining the other day to Peter about how they need a few more staff around this place. Crimson's really boosted in popularity recently, I'm sure Peter wouldn't mind..." Elsa told her.

"He already made that offer," Bella informed her of Peter's job offer that he had told her about that afternoon.

"And?" Elsa said expectantly.

"I said, I told him, I'll think about it," Bella responded.

"Your words say I'll think about it but your face says, you've already said yes." Elsa noticed.

"Peter needs someone here, I'll be that someone. No need to think about it." Bella responded.

"You really love my brother, don't you?" Elsa said noticing the devotion Bella clearly had for him.

"He saved my life. Fought for me. He saved me from Tyrone. Of course, I love him," Bella admitted. "But you love him too, right?"

"You've seen me and him. You know we're hooking up but love... I don't know... It's complicated..." Elsa shook her head. "The sex is unbelievable and he's great and he fights for the people he loves,"

"Sounds like words from someone who's in love with him," Bella commented.

"Enough people keep saying that, it must be true," Elsa shook her head.

"Forget other people. If you love him, that's all that matters. You may be his sister. He may have other lovers but ultimately you'll be the one that matters to him the most because you'll always be there for him." Bella responded.

"Never thought of it like that," Elsa told her contemplatively.

---

SARA:

Sara slammed the drawer shut and tried hard not to think about Asa and Hollie's ultimatum which had been her focus ever since they had left. It was while she was trying to do so, that Sara heard a knock on her bedroom and turned to see her mother enter.

"Dinner's ready," Monica informed her daughter.

"Okay," Sara answered and watched as her mother turned to leave. "Wait! Mom..."

"Yeah, sweetie?" Monica said expectantly.

"Have you heard from Aunt Megan or Aunt Rachel recently?" Sara found herself asking.

"Yeah, I actually have. Your Aunt Rachel's currently in Morocco with her latest boyfriend. She's having the time of her life and I don't think she wants to come home," Monica said as she thought about her sister's whereabouts. "Your Aunt Megan on the other hand, when we spoke last she said she got an offer for a specialist position at Redwater City General Hospital," Monica informed her daughter. "Why?"

"I was just thinking. I'm gonna have some free time you know between summer break in a few months and before this one's due and I thought it's been a while since I've seen either of them, Grandpa and Grandma too, so I figured I'd go down and see them." Sara explained.

"You mean, you're going to run away from Peter Grayson," Monica said knowingly. "You can't run from your problems, sweetie."

"I'm not running and it's not like I'm going to up and leave immediately," Sara defended herself. "I was thinking during summer break, Peter will know by then," Sara said as she thought about Hollie and Asa's ultimatum once more.

"Well, I know your grandparents will be glad to have you come down and so will your Aunt Megan," Monica told her. "I'd have to check with your Aunt Rachel though. You know her. Chances are this new relationship of hers will crash and burn long before that little one's born.”

"Yeah," Sara said, letting out a small smile as she thought about some of the many boyfriends her Aunt Rachel had introduced her family to.

"But only once I'm certain this isn't you running away, understood?" Monica responded and Sara nodded in agreement. "Now come, your father and sister are waiting."

---

DEMI:

"So, you want to be a cop just like your old man?" Melody asked Demi as the pair walked together back towards Demi's apartment after spending the rest of the day with each other, following their chance meeting at Rachel's.

"Yeah. After last year with the whole Kai Russell thing, it seemed like the career that made sense for me," Demi admitted. "I enjoyed the investigation. But I don't need to tell you that. You're a P.I. after all but you never joined the force, did you? Was there a reason for that?" Demi asked before noticing Melody stop dead in her tracks and take a calming breath of air. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry..."

"No, it's okay. I don't like to talk about it," Melody admitted before asking. "Peter never told you while you guys dated?"

"No, he didn't but you don't have to tell me either," Demi said, noticing how uncomfortable the look on Melody's face.

"It's fine," Melody responded. "There was this cop, Chester Crawford who started seeing my Mom just before I was thirteen. We all hated him at first. Thought he wouldn't last as long as Mom's other exes but he did and within months he was moving in with us..." Melody explained.

"Melody..." Demi softly spoke as she realized where Peter's older sister's story would be going.

"He was nice at first. Hard to hate and he always brought gifts for all of us. Then came the gazes, a feel of my ass or tits when no one was around," Melody told her, finding Demi taking her hand in comfort as they continued to walk. "Then came my gifts. A necklace, a pair of earrings, empty promises of a future together. And after a year or so after that... A caress on the cheek became a kiss, a grope of my ass or tits became mutual masturbation and that became a blowjob, a tit-fuck..."

"It's okay, you don't have to continue..." Demi tried to tell the blonde.

"But I wouldn't let him in me. I knew what we were doing was wrong. That he was my Mom's boyfriend so I avoided letting him in me for as long as I could. Then when I turned sixteen... I started seeing someone and when he broke up with me… Chester was there and he couldn't wait any longer... He..."

"You don't have to say anymore," Demi reassured her.

"My Mom found us," Melody said with a deep breath. "The truth came out and Chester went to prison. Until he escaped."

"Where is he now?" Demi asked.

"No clue," Melody responded. "Redwater PD keeps me updated on leads and I have my own contacts too but nothing," Melody told her. "You know Magnus may have been right about our family. Each of us is broken in our way. AC is one of the most beautiful women I know, yet she's the loneliest too because she's afraid of being abandoned again, the same goes for Magnus. Ryan's moved around so much he hates being tied down somewhere, in fact, I'm surprised he stayed here so long. I don't know what happened to her in the past but Elsa’s afraid of falling in love hence the extensive dating history, Jessica's hiding something in her past too, something she doesn't want to confront which is why she's always working and don't get me started on Peter... We're all broken..."

"So, what? Shit has happened to you all. That's life and besides the very definition of the word broken, implies that it can be fixed..." Demi told her. "Not that there is much to be fixed 'cause you're amazing. You're strong, independent, and beautiful... You're amazing..." Demi said before noticing that Melody was eyeing her curiously. "What?"

"Nothing, I'm just noticing what Peter saw in you," Melody responded before smiling. "And he was an idiot for letting you go."

---

PETER:

Slamming his bedroom door shut, Peter finished undressing Lori so that she was just as naked as he was before mashing his lips against his treating her to a passionate kiss, before breaking it off to attack the milky skin of her neck. Meanwhile, Lori let her breath catch up to her while Peter's hands began roaming all over her body, exploring her ass and then along her sides until he was squeezing her tits. Peter kissed Lori and she kissed him back, driving her tongue against his.

At the same time, Peter ground his aroused cock against her body while Lori grew disappointed when Peter's hands relinquished their hold on her tits, but then she moaned when he leaned in and began lapping and sucking at one nipple at a time, but making sure each got equal attention.

"Oh fuck, I've dreamt about this for so long." Lori giggled and then mewled with pleasure.

"Well, fantasy is better than reality," Peter grinned.

Lori then walked over to Peter's bed and sat down on the end, spreading her legs wide to reveal her wet pussy and the blonde-haired teen followed and stood between her widely parted knees while she marveled at the sight of his thick cock. Lori then took his shaft into her hand, and she started stroking his cock while she reached up with her other hand to caress his balls, fondling them while she stroked his shaft.

"Oh fuck, that feels soooo goooood," Peter groaned.

"Mmm, you have such a beautiful cock, baby," Lori told Peter before taking his head between her lips.

Peter watched as Lori’s head bobbed up and down his length and he soon found himself, thrusting his cock into her mouth. His hands ran through her blonde hair, letting her know how much he was savouring the hot, wet luxury of his mother's mouth. Lori meanwhile thrust her free hand between her open legs and vigorously rubbed her clit as she sucked his dick. Peter started thrusting harder into Lori's mouth as she let her tongue flutter rapidly over the underside of his cock, just beneath the head, and tightened her grip as she stroked him.

"Lori, oh fuck, I'm gonna cum!" Peter warned and took Peter’s dick all the way down her throat as his cum erupted into her mouth and Lori greedily swallowed every thick spurt of his cum.

Peter then leaned over and kissed Lori hungrily as he pushed her back and knelt down at the end of the bed.

The room then echoed with moans of pleasure as Peter's tongue began to lick up along her slit, and then trace a few circles around her clit. Peter continued to lick Lori’s clit as he was pushed her legs higher and wider, giving himself better access to her pussy while he rubbed his thumb over her clit.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Lori moaned. "Ohhh, don't stop, baby, never stop."

Peter kept up his tongue attack on Lori’s hole, along with his firm rubbing on her clit, until Lori screamed out in orgasm. When Lori opened her eyes, Peter was already standing up at the end of the bed, his cock was just as hard as it was before, and he was slowly stroking his shaft while he looked at Lori’s naked body with a driven gleam in his eyes.

Lori spread her legs and played with her tits while she watched him get on his knees between her thighs and rubbed the head of his cock up and down her slick slit several times before finally pushing the head into her hole.

“Oh shit!” Lori moaned deeply and instantly rocked her pussy into Peter's driving thrusts.

Lori wrapped her legs around Peter's lunging body and ground her drenched pussy onto his pole, stretching her lips with so much force it wasn't long before she started to cum again.

"God, that big dick feels so good!" Lori screamed.

"Lori. Fuck! I'm gonna cum!" Peter groaned.

"Do it inside me, baby," Lori told Peter, using her legs to clamp him down and Lori felt his cock lurch and pulse, followed by the gushing of hot cream deep into her cunt.

Recovering from their orgasms, Peter and Lori found themselves in Peter’s bed making out passionately when Lori broke their kiss, a look of disappointment plastered all over her face, causing Peter to caress her blonde hair as he wondered what was going through her mind.

“What’s the matter?” Peter asked.

“I just wish I didn’t have to go. Didn’t have to go to that concert and leave you… This bed…” Lori admitted. “I’ve wanted to be with you for so long… Wanted this…”

“Well, you could always stay,” Peter suggested.

“Or you could come with me…” Lori responded.

“As tempting as that would be, I could never leave Redwater,” Peter sighed. “Not again.”

“And I could never leave my fans,” Lori sighed as well. “I guess, we’re stuck with where we are now… Two ships passing the night on what might have been…”

“You might be content with passing the night but I for one intend to enjoy it a few more times…” Peter smirked before attacking the milky skin of Lori’s neck, causing the blonde to giggle.

“I think I can get behind that…” Lori agreed. “Besides there is one more hole you haven’t cum in, yet…”