Home: Closed
Fuck. This. Steven packed and slipped out of the house, it wasn’t hard with all the drunken assholes celebrating what would be yet another failure of a marriage in Whorewood. Tossing his bag in the back, easing the guitar in gentler. Pushing the keys inside the ignition, he didn’t even look behind him as he started to drive, greeted by the typical LA scenes. It’ll never be “home” only New York would have that honor but he’s getting closer and closer to one of few people that could turn a house into a home. She’d been wrapped around his finger since the first time he’d held her and he imagined she always would be.Â
He yawns and stiffles it with one hand to his mouth. He flicked his blinker and turned, putting a good berth between himself and the City of Angels, oh yes they still lived there but not right in the heart of it, not with Rodeo Drive in their backyard. He’d be damned if he was going to live right in the center of that world. He fought off another yawn as he continued the drive, he had been in such a rush to put that deplorable place behind him he hadn’t even bothered with coffee. Holden would have been so disappointed in him that was for sure. He can’t help the laughs as he rounds the final corner, now he’s minutes and a few blocks away from home-actual home-and salvation. Less then ten minutes later he pulls in the driveway. The inside is still, no sounds though he knows how early it is. And on a Sunday nonetheless. He waits several minutes before he grabs his stuff and walks to the door, fumbling with the keys before he manages to get it in and unlocks. Naturally Bella is the first one to greet him, though she’s disappointed when it turns out Steven’s home alone. Can’t blame you he silently thinks.Â
He sets the bag and guitar case down and slowly makes his way to the kitchen. Last thing he needs to be shot up by his sister-in-law, not intentionally, no, Harold maybe, but not Kay. He watches the kitchen for a minute, Kay’s making breakfast and Maddy’s at the table, this tiny spitfire clone of Danielle. He hates the idea of her growing up and being turned loose in the world but what choice does he have? “Morning” he says, naturally startling them both, fortunately it doesn’t cost him a bullet. Maddy gasps and rushes to him, Steven bending down to catch her in his arms. pressing her close to his chest. “My girl” he said softly, kissing the top of her head. He stands and Kay’s looking at him with a look that says “where’s my sister?” He shrugs and pours coffee into a cup, finally feeling like he’s awake. Â
“Hungry?” Kay asks turning back to the food.
Steven sits at the table and smiles at his daughter who returns it. “Starved” he says and for the first time he feels something he hasn’t felt in a long time: peace and happiness. How good it feels.Â