"Look, I'm sorry alright?" Eventually apologised the eldest sibling, his apology mostly directed at his sister for the outburst that had been at her mostly. "I just... I want to get Rudie back, and that means quitting alcohol, and it's a fuck-load of stress I don't need and energy I don't have, so.. yeah. Sorry, alright? You know I love you, so relax, I want this to be a good trip for 'ya, sis."
And, to his word, Axel had made his sister's visit the best it could be... namely by cutting out alcohol and spending time with his sister for the first time in decades. And he, along with the others, must have done something right because, aside from one or two visits home, she hadn't really left. Rather, Axel had eagerly allowed her to move in to the already crowded house with little consideration - having his sister around and strengthening the family bond that had been severed decades prior was apparently more important to Axel than anyone realised. In truth, it was because Lucy was honest with him, and her brutal honesty helped him a lot then, and now.
It certainly helped him quit alcohol. Aside from one or two hardly serious relapses over the years, he hadn't touched a drop in eight years, mainly a result of his sister's honestly, Milli's comforting speeches and Rudie's presence, with Axel somehow -and miraculously- winning her back about five years ago, and spending that time by doing something he had always envisioned - marrying her and making her his wife. Hell, he had proposed to her two times in the week he met her. If that wasn't evidence of how much he loved her, then finally marrying her proved any doubters wrong. And she must have loved him back, because she allowed him to turn her: a predictable event if he wanted her to stay young and not eventually die one day.
Aside from that, not a great lot had changed in eight years. They were semi-changes, of course. Terry had left home with Rosemary, albeit to a house literally two minutes away and a few houses down from his father's, and the eldest son of Axel still had the occasional back trouble, though he had gained a hell of a lot of strength back, so much so that he frequented the gym and went for daily runs, recovering a lot of muscle that had been affected by limited mobility when he was younger. Seth was still dabbling in drugs, though mostly just weed nowadays; something a lot less serious compared to his days of heroin and cocaine. The boy was still pretty unlucky in love too, and in employment, given he still lived at home with his father and step-mother, though he was somewhat comforted by the fact Milli hadn't moved on either.
The other major change was perhaps Maxx's presence. The ex-husband of Milli and Rosemary's other father had moved in two years ago after the breakdown of his marriage. He was Axel's best friend, which was why the vampire hurriedly came to his side... despite the implications it had on Milli. Though, Maxx had obviously needed the assistance, being a mess at the time, and still not entirely better now from the brutal divorce that had left him penniless. Perhaps the one positive in his life was Milli - he had flirted lightly with him, innocently really, until offering a few kisses one night when Archer was out, which had led to sex. And then it occurred the following night. And the next, until a fullblown affair on Milli's part had developed that was continuing now in the present. Not that Maxx cared how Archer was affected - in the werewolf's eyes, he and Milli were soulmates and always gravitated back to one another regardless of time spent apart. Archer was simply in the way of Maxx and Milli being a couple again.
The bearded man was laid out on the couch in the living room as of present, wearing a signature chequered flannel shirt and trying to focus on the sports game on the television, despite the heat of the summer getting to him, having always preferred the cold and snow. Eyeing Milli quietly, and ensuring that other members of the large family weren't around presently, he offered the vampire a characteristic smirk. "Oi, Archer's working late tonight, ain't he?" The burly man beamed, his hands lazily rested behind his head as he kicked his sandals off. "And Rudie and Axel are going for dinner, I think. Celebrate their anniversary or somethin'. We could totally use that time wisely, I know you wanna, Milli. But hey, s'cool if you'd rather waste the night by reading or whatever--"
"Reading's fun, don't be a douchebag Maxx," suddenly retorted a pink-haired teenager of sixteen, the short demon, no taller than 5'3", plopping herself down on the couch next to Milli and setting her cigarette down. Rain was sixteen now, and had spent eight years living with the family with Matty both reluctant to and unable to move. Not that Rain cared. Her mother's abandonment had been easily forgotten thanks to the love and care of Milli and the others, which she responded to with similar affection. She was affectionate, of course - she was a succubus, and aside from the obvious sexual gratifications she showed to a few boys she was currently flirting and sleeping with at school, she was innocently affectionate with Milli in the form of hugs and cuddles, hence how she easily rested against him and offered him a grin in her ever-typical energetic way. "I dunno where Rain is," she admitted as she curled her toes absently and pouted to herself. "He said he was with his girlfriend, but she's boring as hell. I'd rather he spend time with his super cool twin sister... Have you seen my Dad? He said he was gonna get me some cigarettes 'cause I got an A on my History test~!"
"I think he went out with Lucy," grumbled Maxx, the girl's abundance of energy being adorable, sure, but utterly exhausting too. "For a walk by the river. I don't particularly care. Anything that stops her fucking whining in my ear about needing her feet massaged, I'll welcome. Pregnant people get swollen ankles, fuck me. If she didn't want that, Matty shouldn't have gotten her pregnant. It's pretty fucking simple, ain't it?"
