The sun was high in Charming as a brand new day began, people were opening up their shops as children began the stroll to school. The blue mustang that sat idle at the airport for so long hummed as it made its way down the small streets causing heads to turn. Victoria didn't pay any mind to the town folk she drove in a daze with a cigarette hanging from her lips. She was exhausted, clothes wrinkled and hair messily tied up in a bun, she was a mess just aiming for home. It was only now did she realize she had missed the small town, and the few memories it held for her. In the two years she had lived here she had stayed to herself and her family, rarely socializing with anyone that wasn't from work or eventually the club.
Family, the word seemed to have a foreign ring to her as it bounced around in her mind, her father was dead and the boys were safe for now. God it had been so long since she had seen her brothers that it had started to physically hurt not being with them. She had done everything up until now to insure their safety and now as a result she is a drug kingpin, what the hell was she going to do now? The operation was huge she knew that, hell the operations she ran into were just small branches of larger organizations. With a grunt she through her cigarette out and brushing the thoughts away just wanting to get home as quickly as she could.
Victoria didn't feel any point of ease until she pulled onto her long driveway taking in the familiar vibes of home. Putting the car in park she got out groaning and taking a moment to stretch before walking over to the trunk as she unloaded her bags. Ducking deeper into the trunk she nearly slamed her head into the hatch as a high pitched squeal rung through the air followed by the slam of a screen door.
"Tory!"
Victoria whipped around to see Garrett running down the steps and towards her smiling as big as his cheeks would let him. She dropped what she was doing and met him halfway falling to her knees catching him in a tight hug. She barely even flinched when the screen door slammed close again. Looking up she locked eyes with Wiley as he stood there with his hands in his pockets, she smiled and scooped Garrett up and ran to her other brother wrapping him in a hug as well as small tears ran down her face.
"God I missed you guys." Victoria mumbled in to her brothers shoulder.
"We missed you too Vee, happy to finally be home." Wiley stepped back looking at his older sister. "Have you gone grey?"
"Okay you little shit, what are you two doing home already?" She asked placing Garrett on her hip.
"Grandpa kicked us out two days ago since I turned 18."
"Yeah that sounds like Robert, but forget that old coot happy birthday sweetheart." She smiled hugging him once again.
"Are you back to stay?" Garrett asked playing with his sisters hair.
"Yeah, i'm not going anywhere and neither are you guys. Were going to be a family again." With that she kissed his cheek earning a giggle in return. "Now let's go inside and think of a way to celebrate our homecoming and Wiley's birthday what do yall say?"
"Ice cream!" Garret yelled as he jumped down and ran inside causing to dogs to bark, leaving his older siblings behind.
"We don't have to Vee really."
"Yes we do, you only turn 18 once and think of it as a thank you for keeping the kid safe." Victoria mused ruffling up his already messy hair.
"There's no need to think me that was all you Vee, i've learned from the best." He looked down for a moment before looking back at his sister with a frown. "Besides its my fault we had to leave, if I hadn't of wanted dads attention so bad he would have never found us and took advantage of what we have. Im really sorry Vee I understand if you hate me or want to kick me out like grandpa, I know im a fuck up."
She reached over and smacked the back of his head with a huff making him look at her. "Okay first of all shut up. It's not your fault that Kip found us, he took advantage of your need for a father figure trust me, i've fallen victim to the same act. You're not afuck up either, trust me i've done far worse and there is no way i'm letting you leave once i've got you back. Were family and we stick together, and i'll be damned if anyone tries to change that you hear me? Now get your ass inside and think of something to do birthday boy. I'm gonna get settled in and see the dogs."
Victoria kissed Wiley on the forehead before disappearing into the house with the faint sounds of Garrets laughter and barking. Wiley looked down smiling feeling better than he had since they had to leave finally feeling at home again before walking into the house himself.
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"Are you sure about this kid?" Victoria asked leaning against the brick wall arms crossed.
"As sure as i've ever been about anything Vee, It's important to me." Wiley smiled over at her looking at the neon lights across the street.
"Alright then let's rock and roll." She grinned throwing her arm over his shoulders.
The bell rang as the two walked through the doors into the colorful building full of various pieces of art. Victoria took a seat as Wiley walked up to the front desk before being escorted to the back giving his sister an excited grin. She sat there with a fond smile on her lips as he had insisted on wanting to do this alone. It had been so long since she had seen him so happy that she was more than happy to let him have this moment, he deserved it. She had sat there for nearly an hour in silence before her brother came out nearly bouncing. He looked at her with such a big grin she couldn't help but laugh softly.
"That didn't hurt at all." He hummed finally reaching her side.
"I told you so, now show me what you got kid." She mused.
"Okay but first you have to promise me two things. First you can't get mad, and you can't hit me since now it's permanently a part of me."
"I promise now show me what you wanted so badly." She laughed feeling excited.
He pulled open his button up shirt showing her the now slightly red area above his heart. There sat three words neatly written in cursive script and black ink was the new permanent addition to his tanned skin "Victoria Rosalie Hale". Victoria couldn't help but let tears roll over her cheeks and brought her hand to her mouth to keep her laugh muffled as to not disturb anyone. Wiley began to panic at the sight of tears and tried to calm her down before she forced him into hug nearly smothering the poor boy.
"You little shit, why the hell did you choose this as your first tattoo?"
"Because you have always been there for me and never gave up. You became the parent figure I needed, and stepped up when no one else did. I never had a mom but I did have an older half sister who was hell bent on keeping me out of trouble and setting me straight. You are the strongest person i've ever known and hell I probably wouldn't be alive today if you never took me in, you are the soul reason my heart still beats. So now when I look down you will always be there to give me strength like you always have. I love you Victoria, you have been the best big sister and parent figure a screw up like me could ever ask for." Wiley looked down with a small smile tearing up as well happy with his choice of a first tattoo.
"You are going to be the death of me one day kid you know that, but I love it so much, and I love you. I've never raised a kid before but I did a pretty good job with you, yeah we fight and we fuck things up but we're a family and we will never be perfect. I am so proud of how you turned out and that all of those long nights and arguments turned into the beautiful soul you are now, I truly do love you kid. Now let's go home and order a pizza, we've both been away for far too long." was all she said paying off his tattoo and dragging her brother out the door.
