Mrs. C left later in the evening when the snow fell and darkness covered the skies above. She was of course, reluctant to go but a good push out the door was best for Viktor and I.

I was still leaning with my back against the door, listening to Mrs. c descend the staircase in front of the house. I heard that she managed to skip the middle step. Seemed she knew that it was wonky at best. I travelled to the living room where Viktor sat on his phone. I settled down next to him and leaned back with a heavy breath.

"She's a lot fo work," the Don said in the silence, referring to Mrs. C.

"Yeah," I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "She means well though."

Viktor grunted, not agreeing but also not contradicting my statement. He didn't know her as well as I did and she hadn't had the chance to stay long enough with her to pass clear judgement. In the silence that lapsed between us, I let out a yawn, making sure to cover my mouth.

"You should go to bed," Viktor said.

"Who are you texting?" I asked instead.

Viktor sighed, knowing I wouldn't go and get the sleep I desperately needed. "My little sister. I'm making sure she knows we are coming over and I'm arranging the necessary security."

"Do you trust the people you're telling?"

"No," he stated truthfully. "But I don't see another way to talk to Kira."

I nodded, accepting that nothing was ever going to be the same. Not until Viktor's doppleganger was killed and we are able to get the mafia in order. I leaned close to the Don and placed my head on his shoulder, wondering how my life hd changed so drastically. Even the fact that I was here, in my old house... I thought I'd never step foot in this place again.

"You're dozing off," Viktor commented after a while and I had to blink the sleep out of my eyes because I had started to go to sleep.

"I'm not tired," I declared straightening up. Viktor turned to give me and incredulous look and I smiled lazily at him before leaning in and planting my lips on his.

I sighed at the simple bliss of this action and I brought my hand up to cradle his face, my fingers brushing along the stubble on his cheek. Viktor willingly opened his mouth for me and I couldn't help but smirk against his lips even as the tables turned and his movements dominated mine. His hand went around my waist and pulled me close until I was almost in his lap as our kiss changed tempo to something faster, hotter and more sinful. My head was clouded, my body warming up with desire as the heat of his body kindled a flame inside me that burned bright behind my closed lids.

"You're distracting me," Viktor breathed, slowly pulling back. When I opened my eyes to gaze into his, I noticed that his pupils were dilated and a deep blush rested on his cheeks..

"I'm not sure I understand what you're saying," I decided to play dumb, running my hands down, over his heaving chest, feeling his fast heartbeat under my fingertips.

Viktor cursed in Russian under his breath, leaning in to press only two short kisses on my lips before he detached himself from me.

"Bed," he commanded and I rolled my eyes but decided to oblige.

"Fine," I grumbled and got up, brushing non-existent dust off my mum's dress. "You'll sleep in my room."

"And you?" Viktor asked getting up, his dropped shoulders showing he was in fact, considering to go to sleep as early as he was making me.

"Don't worry about it. Go. I'll lock up," I suggested and we parted ways as I went around the ground floor, locking all doors and windows. Viktor went up the staircase and in my direction of my room.

I lingered downstairs for a while, just looking around at the things that held so many memories. I smiled sadly and run my fingers over the shelves, couches and frames within my reach. It hurt a lot, being here but nothing had triggered me and I was happy about that. I had to stay positive.

Going up the stairs, I felt a weight settle on my shoulders but I knew I'd be relieved of it some day. It all started with how Viktor and I's journey was going to end. At the beginning of this, I didn't think my view on the world would change but it had. Significantly. I'd found someone new to care about. I had a purpose, a goal and an opportunity to use my skills.

A soft smile rested on my face as I made the last step on the first floor but as I made my way to my room, it dropped. The light was on but the place was empty. I heard a thud and when I turned to gaze down the hall, light was coming from Peirce's room. I slowly walked in that direction, my heart pumping fast in my chest.

I stopped at the door because I hadn't gone further than this that day and would never but someone already had. Viktor stood in my brother's room, looking at some of the old school books that still sat on his desk. On hearing my entry, he looked up.

"Get out," I stated, my voice colder than I'd ever heard it. He had no right coming to this room. None.

"Peach—"

"Out!" I snapped, cutting him off. "You speak to me when you're out of this room."

"It's Peirce's room isn't it?" he asked and I froze, looking at him with surprise and horror. I didn't think I'd ever mentioned my brother in front of him. Not in name.

"You... how..." I asked shaking my head to try to put my thoughts together.

"I checked your phone," Viktor admitted softly. "A long time ago, when you'd called me the first time. You've been calling him."

"What the fuck Viktor?!" I snapped, my breathing turning heavy.

"I didn't know you then but..."

It finally clicked. "That's why you've been treating me different isn't it?" I inquired, rage pulling from the depth of my heart. "You found out hadn't you?"

Viktor's silence was the answer I needed and it pulled a dark, humourless laugh from me. He pitied me. He thought I was crazy. He was just like everyone else. The anger in me was hot and blinding but it was fueled by so much grief that I tried to suppress.

"Wow," I whispered to myself. "Wow."

"Look Peach, we should talk abou—"

"You're not going to be my fucking therapist!" I shouted, my anger consuming me, burning me to the core. "I don't need to talk about jack shit! Get. The. Fuck. Out!"

Tears blinded my vision. Angry and grieving, blurring Viktor's image and that of my brother's bedroom.

"Get out," I whispered, my voice softer, my fight draining as a lump rose in my throat. Viktor didn't move and I took the liberty to enter the room, grab his hand and try my best to pull him out. I could be angry with him, I could shout but not here. Not in this room.

It didn't even smell like him anymore. It was stale, old, dead. I hated it so much. Everything was still, unmoving. It made it seem like he was gone. He wasn't. He wasn't gone. I'd find him. I'd save him even when he didn't want me to. I would. I had to.

But Viktor didn't move. I didn't want to be in here but I couldn't let him disturb this room. Peirce was coming back. I was going to make sure of it and he had to find the room untouched, as he'd left it. Viktor pulled me to him, caging his large arms around my body and I struggled, my breath rushing out in harsh pants.

"He has to find it perfect when he comes back," I said, my voice breaking as the tears took over. "He has to find it perfect and you're disturbing the peace. Get out Viktor. Please. We should get out."

I barely managed to get all my words out. Why didn't he see we have to go? Why couldn't he understand that being in this room was wrong?

"This is wrong," I revealed to him, shaking my head and struggling in his arms with the little strength I had. "This is wrong. We can't be here. He has to find it perfect."

"He's dead Peach," Viktor said into my ear, his deep voice soft but I heard it. How couldn't I? His breath fanned against my ear.

"He's not!" I cried, repeating my words a few times over. He wasn't gone.

"He is, baby. He is. You have to let him go." I didn't know Viktor's voice could be so soothing but he was wrong.

"He's alive. He... he... Peirce...." My chest wracked with sobs and I tried to get away from Viktor, from this room, from the memories of it all.

"They found his body. You buried it," Viktor said to me, being careful with his words. A whimper left my lips and I shook my head.

"It wasn't him. I told them it wasn't him," I cried, the fight slowly leaving my body as my version of reality cracked before my eyes. I had been called to identify a body. It was burnt, nothing but black churred ashes but it was not my brother. He wouldn't die by a fire.

Peirce was alive, somewhere. I just had to find him. I'd left him messages. I wanted him to come back. He listened to everything I sent. He did. I know it. Or he would. I believed he would. He couldn't just be gone. This was my brother we were talking about. He always had something new up his sleeve.

"I'm sorry baby. I'm sorry he left. I really am," the Don whispered and I completely broke down. My body sagged and Viktor dropped to his knees, cradling me in his arms as wails broke past my lips and my body shook with the thunderous force of my sobs.

"He's just missing," I tried to convince myself through my tears. Peirce would come back to me.

"He's dead."

Those two words were so final. As Viktor said them, I broke. Hearing everyone else whisper them to me was easy. I could brush them off but when Viktor declared it so, it felt different.

"I miss him," I whispered, clinging to Viktor, soaking the hoodie he wore with my tears and grief.

"I know. I miss my family too. My mother, my father, my uncle, my brother..." Viktor pulled my face up, cradling it in his hands, using my thumbs to push my tears away as fast as they came. "Markov told me that holding onto someone is deadly. That connection can mess with your mind. Grief can be overcome. It'll take patience, time and lo—" he cut himself off, gulped and continued. "When you fight through your pain, you'll be born anew. Learn to appreciate memories, good or bad. But remember they are just that... memories."

"I don't want Peirce to be gone," I confessed.

"I didn't want my family too either but here I stand, one more person in my life. My sister. She needs me so I keep my head straight and stay with her," Viktor leaned to press his forehead on mine. "Now I have you malyshka and you have me. Don't disappear."

I reached my arms out and wound them around his neck, being as close to him as I could.

"Peirce is dead," I declared under my breath, forcing the words out. They passed along my lips as a hot sword would, cutting my vocals open, revealing my pain. Still, I didn't want to believe them.

"That's it baby. We'll get through this. Together," Viktor declared.

"I'm sorry about Markov," I stated, realising that he too should be grieving. He'd lost too much as well.

"I'll grieve for him as I do for my family, silently as each day passes."

"You don't have to do it alone anymore," I said, opening myself up to him. He nodded against my head and we reached common ground. I shifted so we both sat on my brothers floor, side my side, our arms around each other.

"Sing to me," I requested Viktor with a whisper. He took a deep breath and begun.

"I potashchit vo lesok. Pod rakitovyy kustok. K nam, volchok, ne khodi! Nashu Mashu ne budi..."

I listened to Viktor's deep angelic voice until everything became dark. My lids were heavy, swollen from all the crying I had done but I felt like there was less on my chest, admitting my brother was fully and utterly gone. He walked away, he left but I still held unto hope he'd come walking back but until he did, to help me cope, I had to understand that my brother was gone.

At some point, Viktor moved and I was lifted off the ground, into his arms. I tightened my hold on him as he walked us to my room and lay me down on the open bed. He pulled the sheets over me and before he could leave, I grabbed his hand.

"There's no other laid bed in the house," I grumbled under my breath. "The bed's big enough. Jump in."

Letting his arms go, I leard the door shut before the bed dipped behind me. I shut my eyes as Viktor settled down and soon fell asleep. Hours passed as I stayed awake but my lids remained shut. Unsettled, I got up and picked my phone from my bag in the corner of the room. I settled back in the bed, glancing at Viktor who was fast asleep.

The glow of the light against my face made me squint but I managed to find my brother's number and call.

If you're listening to this it means I'm too busy or you're too unimportant for me to pick up the phone. Do what you must. I won't promise to listen to your voice mail though.

"Hey Peirce," I whispered into the phone. "This is the last time I'm calling. I... I'm letting you go. Or, I'm going to try to. Viktor and I were in your room today. It hurt. So much. I still feel like my heart is being pulled in different directions but... hey. I'm still standing."

I took a deep breath and blinked back the fresh wave of tears that wanted to come. "You're dead. I have to accept that. Holding onto you has been... draining. If, by some miracle, you are still breathing somewhere, I just want to say I fucking hate you for what you did to me."

I laughed sadly, wiping away the tears that still fell. "I hate you but I'll still make you soup if you come back. I'll be seeing you whenever I kick the bucket as well. Just..." I sighed. "Goodbye Peirce. I love you. So much. I always wanted you to know that. I guess you do now. Don't be too much of a dickhead in your next life or whatever. Stay... peachy."

I ended the call. I wouldn't be doing that anymore. Who knew.

I set my phone aside and lay down, facing Viktor who seemed comfortable on his belly. I closed my eyes and he shifted, pulling my close.

"We'll make it through this baby," he sleepily whispered and kissed the side of my head.

And... I believed him.