Nephylim

They are absolutely true friends, just like Jay is to them. You're welcome

They did. Long time coming but it only gets better from here

Jay was asleep. Going through their story again seemed to have been easier this time, especially with the twins petting them and promising over and over that they still loved Jay and they’d make things right. Even so, it had completely exhausted them and they’d fallen asleep mid-sentence. Amara had immediately telephoned Alexei and told him in a quick, succinct way, exactly what had happened. It had seemed clear from hearing only one side of the conversation that Alexei had said all the right th

Yes, I did wonder about that. Amara shouldn't have pressured Jay, but he's coming from a position of love and worry. If anything, I was concerned about people coming down hard on Drew for not being more proactive on Jay's behalf. I just think he was stunned by the force of Amara's emotion

Thank you so much! Sadly it is happening far too often

I agree. Sadly, cases like Jay's are by no means isolated incidents. It really happens. In the UK it's the CPS who make the decision whether to bring a case to court, and if so how - what charges to bring etc. The CPS are swayed by political thinking as well as the letter of the law and at the moment (at least when I was practicing) the political climate was to bow more to pressure for tough sentencing rather than compassionate treatment. I think you might be surprised by the "chat" with LAdy Jane for a couple of reasons.

I one-hundred-percent agree.

Me too! And what happened to Jay is one of the reasons it doesn't get stamped on a lot harder. What is it with people that they seem to feel the need to punish the victims?

For sure

Thank you for commenting. I wholly agree!! Prison is way too good for them. Maybe a few hours in a room with the victim's family!

Unless things have changed in the last five years (since I stopped practicing as a solicitor) it's not possible in the UK to adopt a person over the age of 18. That being said, I have every confidence that Drew's mother will adopt Jay in all but the legal sense

There are some people who excuse their current behaviour on a bad past. There are others who use that past to springboard them to better things. Anger can be turned into passion. Pain can be channelled into drive and focus. This is exactly what Jay did

It's really sad. Things have been changing in the UK. Not sure about the US, and it's partly our fault - the stupid general public. I'm sick of laws being passed and decisions made as a reaction in anger and the whole sense of justice and fairness is skewed. There was a time when the victim of domestic violence, or any other kind of violence, was treated with compassion, until there was "public outcry" about people "getting away with murder", usually in reaction to the families of the murdered person who were amazingly blinkered by the harm done by that person. Maybe they didn't deserve to die but to push someone to the point where they would do that is opening the doors to whatever comes as far as I'm concerned. At the end of the day no human being takes the life of another without being affected in some way and someone who kills in these circumstances carry their own punishment with them every day for the rest of their lives, they don't need the law to heap on more. This whole idea of "reasonable person" is skewed too. How could anyone say what would be reasonable when faced with something like this. Sorry for the rant. My own professional experience together with the research I've done made me mad about this and in a way ashamed to be part of the legal system that would do this.

Yeah, he had it rough, but he's a survivor, a fighter and he's earned every single thing he has, including the twins' frienship

After three cups of coffee, some tears, some laughter and a whole lot of hugging, Jay decided they were ready to go back inside. Drew assured them they didn’t have to tell anyone anything, and that Drew would stop the twins asking questions if Jay didn’t want them to. He’d also offered to speak to Lady Jane. Jay made him promise not to, but it was one promise he had no intention of keeping. Jay stalled at the front door, but before Drew could say anything, they squared their shoulders and ti

“Have you never had counselling?” “Not since the hospital. I think maybe they mentioned it but…things happened.” “I’m sure they did, but has no one ever discussed this with you? Has no one ever explained that sex without consent is rape and that you can’t give consent when you don’t have a choice. Even if you seduced someone, even coerced them into having sex with you, if you believed you’d be hurt, or even killed, if you didn’t, there was no consent. You were a victim, Jay, don’t forget

Me? Mischievous? How very dare you? Haha. Actually, I like that description. More mischief coming next time.

Everyone makes bad decisions, but you're right, I don't think trying to do the right thing can ever excuse treating someone as Lady Jane treated Jay

She's definitely underestimating the twins, although she could be forgiven for that, at least given her past experience of them (or lack thereof) And yes, she is cruel, but not deliberately so, unlike their mother. I believe that if Julianna had known she would have taken pleasure in torturing Jay over it. At least Lady Jane hasn't done that - at least not just for fun.

Hmm, I'm not entirely sure Lady Jane was trying to help Jay, but she certainly wasn't deliberately trying to hurt them. I'd say they were more like collateral damage, someone she was prepared to throw to the wolves to protect her cubs. I'm not sure the boys would think of the bus, although Ceriann probably would.

Hugs. Don't worry, I have plenty Jay is a wonderful character and they've had it rough, but it will get better.

Jay is stronger than they seem, and Granny Graice isn't. She's got one heck of a shock coming and so does Jay, but in a much better way.

Jay's had it tough, but it's made them strong, and a secret shared is a secret so much easier to bear. I have a feeling Jay will only get stronger from here. Also, as you find out in the next chapter they weren't merely a victim of fate even back then. Jay is a fighter and they will never stop fighting.

Jay is fortunate in that they have friends who care more for them than they believe and a new family who will fight for them in any way necessary.

Lady Jane definitely needs to be pulled down a fair few pegs and made to realise that people are more important than image and reputation. Not sure Drew's the man to do it though. Jay is such an interesting character, and we've still only heard half the story.