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Hiring the volume key on speaker phone, I try to contain myself but my laughter is just as smug.

"I don't really think there's anything to be giggling about!," John mumbles into the speaker.

"Would you cool it!," I chuckle between breaths. "The kids are alright. Besides, he asked nicely didn't he? You accepted— not that it was necess-,"

"It was too necessary! She's my only daughter, you know. And I don't have a problem with it besides the fact that you keep trying to rub my face in it," There's a long sigh on his end. He pauses, but I hear the rustling of keys and a door shut.

"Don't you think this may end badly...," John continues. "What if it's too -,"

"No. It'll be fine.," I adjust myself in my seat, preparing to answer but still he interrupts me.

"What if you're too-," he begins to ramble on about nonsense that I haven't got the time for. So I shut him down, immediately due to my impatience.

"Look, Deacy...We're all battling memories and to be quite honest, he would have wanted it this way. And I for one, will not give him the satisfaction...,"

"And by "him" you mean...,"

"Jimmy— who else."

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Charlie:

As we walk up the front steps to the house, Lily is on one of her annoying sprees once again.

"So what is it this time, Char?," Her nasally voice peeps. "Outrageous shopping spree? Protestor pick-up? Have you scraped a gaping whole into the ozone layer with the amount of hairspray you-,"

"Stop!," I turn on the spot in front of the door as Richie grumbles something unintelligible.

"It's not about me this time.," I cross my arms and roll my eyes at her with a scoff. "This is Richie's little idea. He's got news," I emphasize the word with air quotes.

The door swings open to reveal the wholesome image of my godparents, Rose and Roger.

"Oh! Hi, loves!," Rogers raspy voice has deepened with time making him sound older than he is.

"Isn't this a nice surprise— come in," Rose waves her hands and she helps us out of our coats and hangs them up for us. She's always been like our second mom.

We all exchange loving hugs and small chatter as we make our way into the living room. As Lily begins to ask about Emmy's whereabouts, I take the time to walk around the room.

Photo after photo lines the top of the dusty, old grand piano sitting near the large glass window. I run my fingers along the keys, the dust collected let's me know that it hasn't been touched in quite a long while.

As I look at the swans waddling in the water of the lake outside, I start to reminisce about the times when my father would play us beautiful melodies. When he started teaching me to play the piano, I remember feeling so overjoyed to sit beside him. My high voice mingling with his deeper tenor as we'd have little father-daughter performances at this very piano.

"If you can't reach the keys, we can just play it together. Here...," His large, soft hand guides my fingers into place, while his other hand points out the left hand.

"You play that side, this is my side," He winks at me with a smile. That gorgeous smile that only my handsome father could give me and make my entire world feel whole and complete.

Eventually, I learned to play better as I grew older. A lot of the times, Pa would sit and listen on the couch. He'd nod his head along, eyes closed and fully relaxed as I'd play and sing some of his favorite tunes. He always kept a glass of liquor in his hand, but my father was no drunk. The man was a saint! At least to me. To me he's the best Dad a girl could ever hope for.

"So, what are the both of you up to?," Richie asks. I turn away from the window to see everyone has settled down for some afternoon tea.

"Nothing much, Rich," Roger begins. "Just being two old tarts is all-," Rose jabs him in his side quickly with the touch of her elbow.

"Watch your language. They're still children," She really is too overprotective sometimes.

"Oh, we've been here and there. You know, not much else to do with Emmy at university. She'll be back for Christmas of Course, but that seems so far away," She speaks so softly, it's hard to understand her.

The two of them sitting together, snuggly underneath a thin wool blanket— they're picture perfect. As the conversation flows, I take my new Polaroid camera out of my purse and snap a photo of my godparents. I'd like to make a collection one day of all my snapshots, if only I didn't have the habit of giving them away to the subjects.

"How is everything with you, Char?," Rose interrupts my thoughts.

"If I find that photo floating around the internet, I'll yeet that camera into the lake!," Roger exclaims, wagging a finger in my direction as I set the photo down on the coffee table in front of me.

"Everything's fine, thanks," short and sweet. That's how I keep my answers when it comes to family. They needn't worry so much about me— I hate it.

People make mistakes. And lord knows, I've made plenty. But, I'd like to live that down now. If only everyone else would forget....

*********

(Charlie's memory...)

"I'll never be ready in time! He's almost here!," I try to sit still as Mum finishes my makeup. I'm really nervous for tonight's dinner. It's the first time that Adam will meet the family. The only one who's met him is Richie and that was already awkward enough!

"Stop huffing! I'm almost finished," Mum tried her best to calm me down as she finishes my eyeliner. I wish I could be as beautiful as Mum, then I wouldn't have to bother with caking so much onto my face.

"Wow," Dad smiles back at me in the mirror of my bedroom vanity. "You're stunning, darling. This bloke better behave himself," he tuts with a quick wink.

I roll my eyes at him, stifling the giggle that wants to escape my mouth. "Oh, stop it," Running my fingers through the crown of my hair, I turn to slip into my shoes. "He'll be here any minute. You promised to be nice— remember....,"

"Sure, I'm always nice," he shrugs as if offended, before pulling me into his arms for a hug and pecking kisses on my cheek. I quickly tug away from him. "Quit it! You'll ruin my make up!,"

The doorbell rings and my heartbeat plummets into my stomach, trapped in the knot of my belly. "I'll get it!," Dad bellows from beside me.

My eyes go wide as he walks away snickering with a little skip in his step. "Freddie...," Mum says with a warning tone. "Yes, yes dear, I know. I'll be a good boy," he smirks as he walks down the staircase.

Ew! Can they like not do that while I'm standing right here! It's nice to see him this way, he's been acting rather secluded lately, but really.. now is not the time!

I start to walk out of my bedroom, when Mum grabs me by my shoulder. "Wait," She says with a nod. "You've got to make an entrance," She smiles, seemingly giddy and excited as her teeth bite down on her bottom lip.

I nod my head at her, smoothing out the bottom of my dress in nervous anticipation. We both stand in the doorway, listening to Dads voice from downstairs. He's always got that "listen to me, I'm better than you" arrogance to him when he lays the charm on nice and thick. I just hope he doesn't scare aDaM away.

"Oh, no sorry. We didn't order anything new, dear. Try next door-,"

"Dad!!," I shriek, completely mortified as I rush down the steps right as he flings the door shut.

He throws his head back, cackling as he stand a few steps away from my terrifying glare. He chuckles into his hand as Mum stands beside him, trying to hide her smile.

"Well, go on then. Open the door," Mum insists, slipping her hand into Dads.

Opening the door, I see the back of my poor boyfriends head as he stands just off the front steps.

"Adam! I'm sorry— come in! My dad thinks he's funny," I grab his arm pulling him inside, his expression is one of fear and confusion.

"Sorry about that, dear. I forgot you were coming," Dad extends his hand politely.

"Not a problem, Mr. Mercury. I'm a really big fan," Adam eagerly shakes Dads hand. And of course, my father visibly turns on the spark.

"Oh, of course you are darling! You'd be crazy if you weren't!"

I'm a little apprehensive about leaving Adam to wait in the living room with everyone else as Mum and I set dinner on the table.

"Do you think you could tell Richie to be nicer. He hasn't said a word to Adam and I know it has to be intimidating and uncomfortable and-,"

"Oh don't worry about it too much, Char. Your brother and father are harmless, you know that.," Mum giggles as she places the last of the glasses down in their place.

The awkward silence is deafening when I walk towards the living room. Adam is sitting on the couch, Richie and Lily are on their phones across from him and Dad...well, Dad is just staring at him as he takes swigs from his cup of vodka n' tonic.

"Would you like a drink?," Dad offers Adam, gesturing his glass towards him.

I stand back in the doorway a bit, Adams eyes meet mine as if he's asking me for the answer. He seems extremely nervous and frozen to his seat. "Y-Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mercury," he mumbles.

"Mmm," Dad nods as he gets up to walk towards the liquor cart beside his chair. He mixes him a drink and passes it to him silently. Even with his back to me, I can see from Adam's face that Dads mere presence scares the daylights out of him.

I sure hope he doesn't get too put off by this family gathering. The only one who would be worse off is me.

"The tables all set," I announce and Adam practically spills his drink as he rises from his seat to stand next to me.

Together we file into the dinning room, but I guess nows the time for proper interrogation. Before we can even warm our seats Dad starts firing off questions left and right.

"So you're a singer?," Dad smirks cockily. "Where have I heard your songs before, dear?"

"Uh, well— yes. I sing.," Adam nervously fiddles with his napkin in his lap as he clears his throat. "But you probably haven't heard me anywhere— tough to find a break if you know what I mean,"

"No, darling. I assure you I don't-," Dad lifts his chin only to meet my eyes and thankfully he takes the hint and begins to dial it down a notch.

"It takes a lot of hard work, determination and passion to reach this kind of success," he flicks the wrist of his arm that leans on the table, twiddling his fingers towards himself.

Well— the nonchalant is nonexistent here. I should've known.

I try to unsuspectingly soothe Adam, placing my hand on his knee beneath the table, but he pushes my hand away quickly. Silently he scolds next by tapping one finger on top of my knuckles.

Strike one.

"I assure you, sir, my work ethic is very rigorous. I am passionate about making music and one day I will have this success....maybe more,"

Oh, great. Now he's got him all fired up. Let the diva wars begin.

"Mmm, yes. We'll see," Dads hearty chuckle is usually a comfort but now feels like some sort of challenge. "Good luck to you, boy," he nods as he pokes a helping of food into his mouth.

The wine is not nearly enough to be passed around in the awkwardness of the room. Or maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm the only one who feels it.

"Soooo," Mum must feel the silence a bit harshly, too as she tries to start the conversation again.

"Where did the two of you meet?," she asks. A common question. Expected really, but oh how the story goes.

"A bar-,"

"A show,"

We answer simultaneously and I nervously laugh, playing it off.

"W-we met at a bar but only because I wanted to watch the show and—shit!," With my jitters on fire, I accidentally spilled wine from the rim of my freshly poured glass. The next instances happened way too quickly for me to back track.

Dad stands from his seat quickly, handing me his napkin as Adam does the same but starts to dab my chest from the sticky liquor.

"Th-Thanks Papi,"

"You're welcome"

"It's nothing"

Dads head snaps around so quickly when he hears Adam respond at the same time. His eyes darken and the tips of his ears turns the deepest shade of red that I've ever seen. I swear you could strike a match to the fire emanating from his twisted glare.

"GET OUT," he sneered through gritted teeth. And, that was almost the last time we heard of Adam.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I want to hear it all. From the beginning. You all were there, you know better than I can remember. I just want to make sure this is a good move," Rich pesters.

I swear he's obsessed over things from the past. What ever happened to love and let die or que sera, sera. Richie's not that type of person. He lets things eat him. He thinks too much.

Roger's face turns noticeably sullen, his crystal blue eyes stare passed our heads like he's watching a vision from another time. Rose immediately tries to comfort him, rubbing his arm tenderly.

"Never mind, Uncle. You don't have to if you-,"

"That's quite alright, Lily," Roger replies, coming back from his trance. "If you kids want all the details......"

The doorbell rings, interrupting the rest of the story. "I'll get it," I say as I quickly walk into the hallway, opening the door I can't help but smile at the sound of his voice.

"It's mind boggling, what can I tell you? I haven't got the fucking key, darling"