"So uh, my kidnapper... I-It was my mum." Oliver held his breath. John had listened to everything he said about being drugged and waking up in a strange room, and then Vinny finding him and his kidnapper suddenly making an appearance.
John watched him with a deepening frown.
"I'm sorry, what?" He could tell by Oliver's worried eyes that he had not misheard him.
"I don't want you to get angry. Dad, I don't think she was very well, she was really different and-"
"Your mother was there?" He interrupted.
Oliver slowly nodded his head.
John sat back in his chair and stared at the bookshelf behind his son. They were sitting in the library. Oliver took him there because he thought it was a nice and peaceful place to release his troubles.
John couldn't think with ease. His ex-wife was behind all this chaos, worry and terror?
"But, she shouldn't have been there. She shouldn't have-" He couldn't finish his sentence. He was so confused about why the mother of his child would want to do that to her own son. "Did she hurt you?"
"She didn't hurt me. But she pointed a gun at Vinny and then herself. Dad, she tried to make me choose who to kill. She went crazy and I didn't know what to do, she had guns and she nearly killed herself. I can't even think clearly. Why would she try and do-" John silenced him with a hug. His mind was racing, but Oliver needed comforting.
"Shhh let's not talk about it right now. Just calm down, everything is going to be okay." He soothed and rubbed Oliver's back.
"But why? Why would she do this?" Oliver swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't like to get upset, but now that he was letting his mind think back to her, he felt really hurt by it.
John pulled back to see his frustration and his sadness.
"Son, I don't know. I don't know why she would do such a terrible thing. But I'm more than sure we can get her help," He said. "If she was as mentally ill as you say, then she needs the help. But please, don't upset yourself about it. Yes, I'm very angry and upset by this, but we won't benefit by going over the memories, trying to seek answers that we might not get."
John wanted to scream and throw things around, yet he needed to look like the mature person and someone who Oliver could look up to and feel relaxed around. It would also be good if he could take some of his own advice too.
"Can we do that? Can we get her help?"
"Yes, of course, we can. The police will find her if they already haven't and they will help her."
Oliver nodded. He knew she would be found, but he was worried that she'd try and hurt herself again and maybe even Vinny.
"Duke and Madison have gotten maximum security from now on, so you and Vinny don't need to worry about this ever happening again." John was trying to reassure him. "Alright?"
"Okay." Oliver cleared his throat.
They both sat in silence for a moment. Oliver was not holding back his thoughts, it would be better for him to let them run freely instead of burying them away. John was trying to stay calm, but he needed to speak to Duke and Madison about this. They needed to find Oliver's mother.
* * * * *
"I cannot believe that happened." Duke sat back on the couch. They were sitting in the dining room. Vinny was perched opposite his parents, enjoying the soft leather.
"Me neither," He mumbled. He told them about Oliver's mum and the impossible choice she gave to her son, and then he told them about how she almost killed herself.
"How was Oliver on the journey home?" Madison asked.
"I could tell he was trying not to think about her, but he's really affected by it."
His parents nodded, How could he not be?
"The poor thing, you have both had a rough couple of days. It's like everything that could possibly happen, happened."
First, it was Scarlet, then it was the weird Desmond situation, now it's a kidnapping?
"I can't believe it. Oliver's mother?" Duke shook his head in disbelief. "I'm going to phone the police and see if they have her in custody."
Vinny watched while he stood up and walked over to the phone as the door opened, revealing John and his soulmate.
Madison got up to talk to John as Oliver's eyes found the vampire immediately. Their eyes subconsciously lit up. He didn't hesitate to sit right next to him. He needed to be close when he felt like this. It was hard for them to be apart when one soulmate was upset.
Vinny watched him for a few precious seconds, loving to take in his presence.
"How did John take it?"
"I think he's angry. He was trying to hide it, but he's definitely upset." Sighing, he looked over at his dad.
Vinny could tell that he needed to cheer his soulmate up.
"Oliver," He spoke, making him turn. But as he faced him, Vinny leaned forwards and wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into a hug. Oliver smiled, also wrapping his arms around his Vampire. He loved being this close.
They took in each others warmth and familiar smell. Feeling completely surrounded by one another was extremely comforting and helped to clear the humans busy head.
He tried to pull away so he could see Vinny's face. He loved the emotions in his eyes.
"Just hug me," The vampire muffled into the side of Oliver's neck. He felt him smile on his shoulder as they settled back into each other. Oliver took a big intake of air and exhaled it. He moved one of his legs and put it across Vinny's lap so he could be even closer.
They hugged for the entire time that Duke talked on the phone with the Police.
"Okay, thank you," He said before hanging up. He glanced over at the boys to see them engulfed in one another's comfort. It brought a little smile to his face.
"So, I've just spoken to the police," He said as he sat next to John. "They caught Oliver's mother and she's being charged with their kidnapping. She admitted to everything."
John sighed and glanced at his son. She wasn't in any of their lives for years, but now she's back and it isn't for good reasons. Poor Oliver only wanted a mum who cared. If they looked at this in a brighter light, he gained a completely new family who loves him just as much.
Vinny finally pulled back enough to see his soulmates eyes, shining with the same love he felt in his heart. He connected his fingers behind the back of his neck and expressed his happiness.
Oliver put his other leg on his lap.
"Please, make yourself comfortable," Vinny mumbled sarcastically and watched the human roll his eyes. He reached forward and put his hands on the sides of his face. Vinny always got butterflies in his stomach when they were close enough for their noses to touch.
"I will." Oliver felt his fingers tangle lightly in the back of his hair. He loved that feeling. He lingered his lips close to Vinny's, but he was in the mood to play games. He knew it would distract his mind from his mum; he didn't want to feel sad any more.
Just as they were about to kiss, Oliver pulled his head back with a grin. Vinny watched him bite lightly on his bottom lip.
"Come here," He pulled gently on the back of his head, but Oliver resisted. Vinny's eyes expressed amusement, he could see what Oliver was doing.
"Oh, so It's like that is it?"
Oliver chuckled and casually crossed his arms.
"It's like what?"
"I really have to kiss you." The vampire released his hands from the back of his neck and tugged on his jumper strings. Oliver's heart skipped a beat. He really wanted to kiss Vinny too, but he was enjoying teasing him.
"Well come and get one then." He shrugged like it was no bother.
A low chuckle escaped Vinny's lips and Oliver felt like he melted into the couch. Vinny quickly leant forward and pinned his soulmate down. He gasped in surprise but pushed on his chest to keep him from getting closer.
"Kiss me, Oliver," Vinny said tenderly, trying to smother him with affection until he gave in. It was very hard for the human to resist.
"I told you, you have to come and get one," He grinned.
Vinny tried leaning in to kiss him, but Oliver was strong enough to keep him up.
"You're making it a little difficult."
"No, I'm not," He said innocently with a cute smile.
"How am I supposed to resist that?" Vinny's heart crippled.
Oliver attempted to tickle his soulmate who was leaning over him. surprisingly, Vinny jumped and quickly grabbed his hands and Oliver watched in shock.
"Are you ticklish?"
"No."
Oliver could tell he was lying. He then pushed forwards and tickled him again. Vinny immediately squirmed under his grip.
"No... Oliver!" He began to smile.
In a desperate attempt to get away, he tried getting up but Oliver pulled down on him and pushed him off the couch. He pinned Vinny to the floor and continued to tickle him. His mind exploded when the vampire began to laugh. He had never heard anything more beautiful and addictive.
Their parents had looked up when they both fell off the couch. Madison grabbed Duke's arm at the sound of their son laughing. They couldn't remember the last time he did that.
It was also unusual for Vinny to act so childish with someone, but it was amusing for everyone in the room to witness their humoured relationship.
"Oliver... Please... stop!" He breathed in between bursts of laughter. He tried to protect himself, yet his soulmate was enjoying it too much.
After deciding that he had shown his happiness for too long, he opened his eyes and grabbed Oliver so he could spin him around and pin him to the ground.
"No more, no more." He attempted to get his breath back.
Oliver was more than satisfied. He made Vinny Vanderwood laugh uncontrollably. He did not put him down as someone who would be ticklish, but he thought it was incredibly cute.
A few moments went by before Vinny stood up and pulled Oliver up too.
"That never happened, you hear me?" He straightened out his waistcoat.
"Oh, but it did," Oliver grinned.
Vinny stopped and glared. Oliver raised his eyebrows at his sudden seriousness, but Vinny quickly stepped forward and closed the gap in between them. Without hesitation, he pushed his lips against his soulmates.
Oliver took a moment until he kissed back and wrapped his arms around his waist. Their minds instantly fogged as warmth filled their chests. Their bond felt at its strongest when they got this close. They both cherished the taste and the feel of each other's lips while they shared this affectionate little kiss.
Vinny then pulled his head back with a twinkle in his eye.
"Finally."