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Post by Anthony Montgomery on Nov 28, 2008 4:17:21 GMT -5
It had been over a week since Anthony saw Christine at the club, and he was just now coming home, or showing his face at all. He couldn't have explaind why if he tried. Sometimes, coming home was just something he avoided.
He had an amazing, loving family. It was impossible to explain why he dreaded this, really.
Dropping a bag off in the room he stayed in, he knocked on Edward's office door, opening it before being given the word. (He was never much of social rules and all that).
"Guess who?"
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Nov 28, 2008 4:31:34 GMT -5
Edward was in the middle of signing some papers when the door opened, but he heard the voice before he saw him and threw down his pen, " Anthony!" he barked in that masculine boom of his. He pushed his chair back and stood to go around the desk, " My God it's been months." he grinned then took two gulping strides that ate up the distance between them.
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Post by Anthony Montgomery on Nov 29, 2008 0:27:20 GMT -5
Anthony smiled, and nodded. "Yeah, well, whose been counting?" He hugged his eldest brother, and then pulled away. "Anyway, rumor had it that everyone else was coming home, so I thought I should, too."
He motioned Edward to sit down again. "How have you been?"
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Nov 30, 2008 6:41:45 GMT -5
"As well as can be expected." he said with a shrug, it was an easy answer to give and Edward being the ever enigmatic man he was could be depended upon for vague answers. "It's good to see you." he emphasized the way an older brother would. "What have you been up to?"
"As for the family yes they've been in and out. Christine's home though Christopher's out again."
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Post by Anthony Montgomery on Dec 3, 2008 14:41:14 GMT -5
"Yes, and Christine's not happy about it," Anthony replied with a smile, ignoring the question about what he had been up to. "I was actually hoping I'd get a chance to see Chris while I was here. I don't think he and I are ever in the same place at the same time anymore."
He shook the thought away. "Anyway, I see you and Jimmy are doing a fine job keeping the fort."
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Post by James Montgomery on Dec 3, 2008 14:43:07 GMT -5
"I hate when you call me Jimmy," a voice said from the doorway, causing a grin on Anthony's face.
James came into the room, a folder in his hands that he placed on Edward's desk. It was just a run of the numbers for the week, a report that James did for his own peace of mind, even if he was pretty sure that Edward never looked at them.
"Where the hell have you been, Anthony?"
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Dec 4, 2008 4:23:49 GMT -5
James was a mathematical genius and his acumen for finances was of great relief to Edward who had the estates to manage as well as two businesses to run and a houseful of people to shelter. Well the last title he gave to himself simply because his family was always the foremost important thing in his life and he indulged in being the eldest brother even though he knew his younger siblings didn't need him to take care of them anymore.
If there was any warmth in the house hold it came from the sibling love Edward had worked hard to protect. From an early age the Estates were settled upon him as well as all the responsibilities of the company, it was his father who often took him aside to do this or that and it could have been a point of jealousy, though Edward never liked the heavy responsibility their father placed on his head. Still he cared for his brothers very much, and he had never hid that from them, where their father might show difference Edward showed none taking up a patriarchal role much desired in the household. James came along then closer to his age and James he felt he shared the closest bond with if only because they were the two stationary brothers, as well as they had grown together, shared most of their life together, fought, and cared for the other as brothers do, but always very close. His other siblings he loved just as much as James of course. They were the younger set, the wild bunch, and Edward so long as scandal was limited, loved that in them and never tried to prevent their living their own lives. However even if Edward had set an example of how brotherhood was to be there was something about the Montgomery brothers where it had become innate to join together against outside forces definitely, and in any serious matters, and James usually was his right hand man. His CFO, his best friend.
He reflected upon that for a moment and smiled before shaking off the feeling and paying attention to what his brother's were saying, " Perhaps if you came home more often you and Christ would see eachother now and again. Although I do expect him for Christmas."
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Post by Anthony Montgomery on Dec 5, 2008 6:52:15 GMT -5
(Christ? Ha ha Wow. Maybe Anthony should come home more)
Anthony smiled. "I know, Jimmy. Why do you think I insist on calling you that?"
He ignored the question about where he'd been. It was sort of an understanding that Anthony disappeared, and no one ever truly knew where. They never expected an answer from him either, even if they always asked.
"Yeah, or, Chris just needs to time his dockings better. I'm actually sorry I missed him." His eyes lowered, just briefly, but then he looked up and smiled. "I will try to be here for Christmas."
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Dec 6, 2008 22:44:37 GMT -5
Edwards eyebrows raised and he used the authoritative voice that would brook no arguments whatsoever, " Try?" he asked certain his tone was sent as an order to reform Anthony's "try" into a "will." Christmas was the one time that everyone did come home and he would be damned if Anthony thought he didn't have to show up anymore.
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Post by Anthony Montgomery on Dec 7, 2008 16:10:41 GMT -5
"Yeah, I'll try," Anthony said, his eyes meeting his eldest brother's. If he wanted to play patriarch, Anthony wasn't going to allow it. He was an adult, not a child to be admonished and brought home every holiday.
"Something might come up. I hope it doesn't, but if it does, I'm going to need to go."
Edward had his own children, he didn't need to treat Anthony like one. He knew for a fact his reaction, outwardly, at least, would have been much different if it were James instead.
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Post by James Montgomery on Dec 7, 2008 16:13:06 GMT -5
James, seeing the defiance in his brother's eyes, decided to step in before things got ugly.
"Well, try as hard as you can, Anthony. We'd love to have you, as always, and I know the kids miss you. Are you hungry?"
There, an effective change of topic should help, he thought, glancing at Edward.
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Dec 10, 2008 5:58:52 GMT -5
Edward was less than appeased and kept his steely eyes on his youngest brother, no Anthony wasn't one of his children, but the holidays were the only time when everyone was home, for Anthony even to insinuate that he'd rather be somewhere else angered as much as it hurt. Edward didn't demand much from his siblings though many in his position might have, but he did request that they make some time out of the year to be with family and it wasn't an outrageous demand.
"What is this grand thing that might come up that would prevent you from seeing your family all of whom you haven't seen in Lord knows how long, not to mention Samantha who you haven't seen since she was a child?" he asked almost harshly, " This is her first Christmas with us and you would be elsewhere? It isn't bad enough that she hardly knows her father, but you would deny her your presence as well this Christmas when Lord knows what sort of Christmases she's had to endure from that woman, may she rot in hell?"
Edward was more than bitter over the separation between him and his daughter, what was even more crushing, was for how powerful a man Edward was, he could do nothing about the circumstances surrounding his daughter. Of course now he would want to do everything he could to make it up to her and that included a full family Christmas dinner of which he would drag his brother to if he had to, it was one day out of three hundred and sixty five only one day that he demanded the family be brought together, surely that one day Anthony could make it, if not for seeing the family, then at least to welcome Samantha back into the folds.
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Post by Anthony Montgomery on Dec 17, 2008 1:44:16 GMT -5
Anthony made a growling noise in his throat, and saw James rub his eyes.
His easy going, fun loving attitude was gone, and he was on his feet again. "I didn't say there was somewhere I would rather be, just that something might come up. You're not Dad, Edward. I don't have to report to you, and if I have to be somewhere else, then you're going to have to deal with it. I will find some other way to make it up to Samantha... but you know, thanks. It's good to know you only want me home for *her* sake. If you care so much about her, then why-"
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Post by James Montgomery on Dec 17, 2008 1:45:30 GMT -5
"Stop," James interupted, cutting Anthony off before he said the one thing they both knew would send Edward over the edge. His voice was low and threatening, and his eyes dared Anthony to finish his question.
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Dec 17, 2008 7:37:23 GMT -5
Edward froze. He knew exactly the question Anthony was about to ask and it triggered every muscle in Edward's body to prep for a fight even if it was his youngest brother.
He had been growing angry beforehand, if he wasn't Anthony's father, he didn't know who was. The man who donated the sperm to create the four Montgomeries was no more a father figure than a plant would be. He had loved and cared for his youngest brothers as if they were his own and he was at so young an age himself that he often felt himself breaking under the strain of being both "heir" and father. Responsibility for one of those jobs was by far enough, but he loved his brothers, and perhaps needed them to an extent since he had invested so much of his life's energy into raising them himself, James along with him.
He admired his brothers for different things but James he admired so very much for his quiet strength. He was truly the diplomat in the family. While Edward had to play disciplinarian, and as he had also inherited their father's temper could rarely check it in time, James was there to listen to the problem, to resolve it in a manner that didn't require yelling, but so often Edward didn't know how to do that, he worried far too much about far too many things it was a wonder his health hadn't gone. Although, his health did go for a while, though James was sworn to secrecy. While Christopher and Anthony were out gallivanting around the world, before Sheryl had come into his life, Edward was not a well man. Physically nor mentally.
Marrion's depravity in denying him his daughter sucked the health from him. He didn't eat unless forced food, couldn't sleep, rarely did much but drink and drive himself into the ground with business matters, while at night he'd caress a special handgun and a golden bullet. Only God knew how many times he had loaded the gun and unloaded it while holding a bottle of whiskey in one hand. James had happened in on him once on Samantha's birthday. Edward hadn't been allowed to see her though Marrion had been promising him for months. Marrion the witch had done everything in her power to take away Edward's dignity and succeeded in making him pay, making him beg, and making him feel less than a man. He caressed that loaded gun that night and might have indeed ended things had James not have arrived to bring him to his senses or at least distract him until it was morning and Edward had fallen asleep.
James more than anyone understood how haunted Edward was about the years Marrion had his daughter, and he was wise to stop Anthony from saying anything more.
He turned away from Anthony quickly to hide the look on his face that at once was murderous then completely shattered.
Why had he stayed away? Why had he let Marrion keep Samantha? Why didn't he fight for his daughter?
Marrion's threat still loomed over his head, "I'll kill her before I let you have her Edward. She's mine. If you come near her without my permission she'll be the one to suffer for it."
He shook his head to get her voice out of his mind and focused on Samantha's face. There was a picture of her on his desk and he was staring at that now his hand reverently reaching for her before he dropped it remembering who was in the room. It was alright...barely, for James to see him like that, but Anthony was a different matter. To Anthony, to Christopher, and to the rest of the household, the rest of the world, besides Sheryl of course (though he didn't like to show her his weaknesses either), he was a strong and capable man who was afraid of nothing, and who could handle any situation. He was a powerful man, one that didn't weep for the loss of his daughter, one that didn't show weakness.
He cleared his throat and replied in a voice cold as ice meant to cut and intimidate which on most business associates worked quite well, on his brother however it probably wouldn't work other than to annoy, " You're right. You're a man now and...you may have needs that arise. Come to the dinner or not, it's your call."
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Post by Anthony Montgomery on Dec 17, 2008 15:23:34 GMT -5
Anthony sent a flaming look at James for stopping him. How come no one ever asked the question? So what if it upset Edward? Some things should. He shouldn't be blamed for not being around the first Christmas the girl had with them when she could have had 15 Christmases with them.
"This is ridiculous. I'm out of here."
He held up a hand when he saw James start to protest. "No, don't. You always side with him, and I don't want to hear it this time. Neither of you have any idea what's going on in my life, or Christopher's, you realize that? So even if you're trying to play father to us, Edward, you're doing a miserable job."
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Dec 17, 2008 16:03:28 GMT -5
He turned hearing that last statement almost in shock but he didn't say anything and rather let Anthony leave.
He was doing a miserable job as father? Well no he didn't doubt it. He was a miserable father to his own daughter heaven knew how the girl could bear to look at him. He didn't believe Marrion's threats. That a woman could harm her own child. Didn't believe it until he sent Samantha a gift for her forth birthday and had the gift returned along with a nervous houself who begged Edward not to send anything else if he cared at all for the girl. Edward was revolted by the tale that Marrion had locked Samantha in her room without food for three days, what kind of monster had he married?
He did try once to get her back, and with incredible force that he had almost won, it fell on Samantha's shoulders as she had private time with the Judge. Though mothers generally had control of these things Edward had done everything he could including bribing the judge to get her daughter back. When the ruling came back in Marrion's favor, Edward crumbled in disbelief asking the judge why. The horrors that came to his ears as the man stared contemptuously at him still were atrocious to Edward. Marrion had played her card well, instructing Sam what to say to the judge. Samantha was still so young and so terrified of Marrion that of course she did her mother's bidding.
After that Edward didn't hear from Samantha in a month, and had no news about her either. He had enlisted Nicolas to help and a few others. He had his spies watching for Samantha, but when they returned no news of her either he began to fear that Marrion had indeed killed his daughter. His terror was so great he nearly killed himself trying to see her, that when Marrion produced evidence that Samantha was still alive, Edward's last shreds of strength disappeared. That everlasting threat of Marrion killing his daughter and the fear he lived in was too great for even as great a man as he was. He was afraid of pushing too much, he never knew what would set Marrion off, and thus it was he lived in terror from his ex-wife.
Not to mention the other depraved things the woman asked of him.
And now Anthony, a boy he had raised was calling him a failure too? He had no idea what was going on in Anthony's life? Well how the hell was he supposed to know? Anthony was an adult, and it wasn't as if Edward didn't ask, only a million times. But what was he supposed to do? Tie Anthony down and keep an eye on him? Or send spies after him like he did Samantha? Godric. Anthony would hate him even more.
Edward gave James a look that signaled utter defeat before he went around his desk and sunk into his chair. Why did it have to be so hard?
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Post by James Montgomery on Dec 21, 2008 2:52:44 GMT -5
"Ignore it, Edward," James said, almost immidiately as Anthony left. "He's always been different from you and I... more like Christopher. And as much as he hates to admit it or realize it, he is still a kid himself. He's only, what, 22?"
He didn't know where the anger in Anthony had come from, but he wished he could help. "It's a shame Chris left already. He's always been the only one who can really talk to Anthony."
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Post by Edward Montgomery on Dec 21, 2008 7:22:51 GMT -5
Edward sighed running a hand through his hair as he found a chair. Now that Anthony was gone he was free to look the mess that he actually felt, he really only felt comfortable doing that in front of James, and barely in front of his wife. " He's right though...I don't know what's going on his life...I wish I did..." he shook his head, " Before Sam came home...I would have known..." he said with his jaw clenched a bit. Before Sam he didn't have his own children so to speak so he butted his head into his nieces and nephew's life, and his younger brothers. But now that Sam was home he focused all his attention on his daughter, or most of it, but he had a long time to make up for.
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Post by James Montgomery on Dec 23, 2008 20:45:17 GMT -5
James shook his head. "No, you wouldn't have known, whether or not Sam was home. Anthony has never been open, even when you've forced him to talk he's been vague. No one resents Sam being here. Even Anthony, you know that."
He felt bad for Edward, but none of this had to do with Sam. "Hell, even if he does resent her, he can grow up. I'm glad she's here, and she'll have her first Christmas with us."
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