Noel had warned him. Quite clearly as well, perhaps the message had not gone through that thick skull of his. He violently brought the truck to stop outside Bobby's place. Unknown to him, it was not the name the man preferred any longer nor he knew that he went by his middle name. While he had heard it around town, Noel had chalked it up to trying to keep his identity at bay from the past scandals. Opening the door he took out the shot gun and walked towards the gate.

Word had reached his ear that the Coastie had stepped inside the Sailor House after closing hours to see his sister. He banged on the door impatiently only to have said man open the door. Without thinking, he swung his fist in that face, before grabbing the collar to bring him closer, ignoring the pale face from the pain, "I warned you," Noel hissed, "I would shoot you on sight or if i hear you came near my establishment."

"I didn't come there for you. I went there for Veronica," he managed out once the pain was slowly subsiding. The punch had fraked up the balance with his bad knee and now his muscles were screaming.

"I don't care for whom you went," Noel cocked the gun, "you stepped into the Sailor House." And aimed. Then pulled out the bill the Captain had given for the drinks, "I don't need your money either." Letting the cash flutter on to the marble floor. Whatever the closeness the two had shared was dissolved away in time.

Crissy was the one who stepped between the two men after Bobby was punched in the face. The gun aimed at her and she froze but she was soon heard her sister screaming up the stairs. "Mamma! ha intenzione di uccidere papà" (Mom he is going to kill dad) that voice it was hard to miss. Crissy was still in the middle of the two grown males. She had no clue what to do. The child shook and trembled but didn't move from her spot where she was blocking the line between Bobby and Noel.

Victoria came around the corner and stopped dead in her tracks though she had her own gun aimed at Noel. "Get that gun off of my family" she took a step forward. Fully intending on lowering her weapon when Crissy and Bobby were out of gun point. Vanessa didn't move from where she had screamed. Both girls were afraid to move. "Vanessa! nostro fratello tenerlo al sicuro" (Our brother keep him safe) The Italian teen put her back to her dad and step towards the gun. She made sure she was in point blank range of it before she spoke. "You will have to shoot me first" came the words of the hot headed but very protective of the two twins. Crissy was trying to call his bluff. Could this man pull the trigger on a child. Crissy knew damn well her mother would fire the instant the gun went off.

Both Vanessa and Victoria could feel the emotions in the room and Vanessa didn't quite have as much control over them as Victoria did. Vanessa disappeared as she was told and took Kevin into one of the back bedrooms. The youngest child was none the wiser to what was going on, Vanessa started playing with the blocks with him. She let her mind open. Kevin was blissfully unaware. Victoria was frightened but protective. Crissy was scared out of her mind despite the front that was beginning put up. Though she couldn't quite get a handle on Bobby's emotions.

Victoria too could sense the high tension in the household. Her daughter had some guts but it was very stupid; but still better than Victoria standing there. The family protected one another. Victoria would shoot to kill but only if she had to do so. She knew that the man at their doorstep was still technically family.

Veronica had gone to the bar only to find her brother missing and Lisa on the verge of calling the cops because Noel had apparently made some comments about shooting their cousin. And knowing the family drama and how Noel felt about Jason, it was not a surprise when he stormed out of the bar with his shotgun in hand. So after learning all this, Ver went back out to her car and hauled ass across town. If Noel did anything, she was going to kill him. Somehow.

Pulling up to the Oxford house she parked behind Noels truck, and got out, running up the front walk, she pushed open the already cracked front door just in time to hear someone say something in what sounded like Italian. "Noel don't you even think about it!" she yelled as she ducked under her brothers arm and moved to stand in front of him, she knew what it was like for family to hate your guts either for things you can't help or for something that happened twenty years ago. She also knew she had her brother pointing a shotgun at her face and her cousin aiming a pistol at her back, totally where she wanted to be right then. "If you're going to be mad at anyone for him stepping inside the bar it needs to be me." if she had done what Noel had wanted and told Bobby to get out when he had shown up, then they wouldn't be standing in the Oxford house with just about everyone holding a gun. 

The kid was, Noel decided brave and foolish, just like her old man. How many times had he or the Oxfords pulled Bobby out of such situations as children? Too many to count. Then again looking for fights was in his blood. He looked at the teen calmly, as she took step back then forward. Her dead calm reminded him again of Bobby. Raising an eyebrow, he looked at her, "Not your battle kid," he tipped his head to get her to move, "Then again I should have expected this." Then looked at Bobby, "Can't say she ain't your kid, Bobs."

By the time he had gotten some sense of what was happening, Crissy was being wall between the cousins, as she had stepped forward, he grabbed her by the shirt and pulled her behind him, "Don't do that again," he told her and lifted a finger to halt any protest he saw coming, "ever." The old nickname had his stomach knotting up while his jaw and neck tensed, swallowing painfully. It hurt to hear it again. Travis had been to start with then it had spread like a wildfire, "Actually that would be, Jase. I don't go by Bobby anymore." The name reminded him of his father. And he was the last person, Jason wanted to remember.

By the time he re-aimmed at the Guards officer, Ver was now blocking his way, silently cursing, he threw her a dull look. For a split second he knew why she was doing what she was; on the other hand she had no idea of the fully story. He looked at Bobby after the man had corrected him and frowned, then shook his head, "You don't know half of what he has done. Then again he might have told you." His loyalty lay with his aunt and uncle as much as it did with Ver.

"Veronica," Jason called her name, "Step aside. Not your fight either. I failed to heed his warning. I told you he would shoot me."

<<Tag: Victoria Oxford , Veronica Anderson >>

Victoria didn't move from where she stood. There was still a shot at Noel. Victoria was also well aware that the gun was trained on Veronica. "Last time I say it. Get the gun off my family." Victoria would defend Veronica too. Crissy just shoved Bobby off of her. Victoria would handle that later. "What was done was done to save the life of his family, and you turn your back on him" her voice raised loudly. "You have NO idea what he went through for YOU!!! she hissed. Victoria wanted to add in marrying a woman he didn't even love; but that had changed. "He gave up EVERYTHING so you wouldn't have a bullet in your temple; but you are so dense you can't even see past your own short sighted views.

Vicki could sense her husband's anger. This was New York all over again; just with the coin flipped. So help her she would protect Jason or die trying. The red head had resolved to that a long time ago. Victoria sorted through emotions and tried to make sense of them. "You are angry Noel. I get it. But taking it out on Jason isn't the answer. This was my father's doing. You want to blame someone blame a dead man! While reasonably calm the hurt was in her eyes. The only thing keeping her out of tears was the gun in her hand. If it was one way to work Victoria up into a frenzy it was to threaten family.

Crissy stood between Bobby and Veronica. "No Papa. Because family watches out for each other." Crissy put her hands on Bobby's shoulders and tried to get him to move back. Her face pleading with him to just stop. She didn't move from where she was but she kicked at the wall in frustration. Upstairs Vanessa could sense it all but just kept Kevin busy. Though the child heard the screaming and took off down the hallway. He made it down the stairs before Vanessa caught him. The next thing she saw was the 5 year old attached to Bobby's leg. Crissy tried to pull him off. Vanessa wouldn't move from the top of the stairs she was too frightened by Noel. Kevin didn't let Crissy pick him up. He just clung tighter to his dad's side.

"Kevin go back upstairs with your sisters" Victoria tried to keep the strain out of her voice.

"Ascoltate madre. Per favore? Lei sa cosa è meglio." (Listen to mother. Please? She knows what is best) Her voice shook as she spoke from the top of the stairs.

Veronica lightly rested a hand on Chrissy's shoulder, she didn't mean to barrel into the kid when she had entered the house, "Noel, I do know the full story, and honestly, most of it is crap drama over things that happened in the past. It is not worth shooting anyone over and I am sure as hell not letting you do it in a house full of kids." where was her baseball bat when she needed it? It would have been easier to wack him upside the head rather than deal with the her bullheaded brother. By now another one of the kids was screaming, Veronica did not turn to see who it was, she kept her eyes on Noel.  She kicked herself for not giving Steve a call before following Noel to the house, if anything he would be able to get Noel out of the house. "I am going to ask you nicely one last time. Lower the gun before I kick you in the balls and take it from you." her threat was serious, and while is was a cheap move, it worked when she needed it to. 

He stared at Bobby in shock as Vicki finished telling his side. Lowering his gun as brain tried to process what was being told to him. They were hating him for saving them? Granted they followed the lead of their Uncle Bobby. He heard Ver speak but did not process the words. Taking few steps back he still did not leave his eyes from Bobby's face who looked awkward as the past was spoke of.

He knew the moment Vicki had started talking where it was going to lead, "Vicki," he spoke, "don't." He wasn't ready to open those cans of worms. Hadn't considered it. Now years later he didn't see the point of bringing things up. He had only told Ver as she had been the only ear he had that night. Partly the drink had relaxed his brain and tongue to spill it all. He was well aware that Noel was looking at him. He kept a hand on his son's head, "He's not here to hurt daddy," he told the boy, trying to keep him calm, "Go with Crissy." The response he got was a whine and shake of head.

A third set of footsteps followed, this time it was a man wearing cop's uniform, he was tall and lanky and oozed every inch of a small town deputy - one of many McKade had. "Lisa called," he spoke as looked at Noel, "McKade wants you in that cell to cool off," the man placed a hand on Anderson's shoulder, "or I hurl your ass there, Noel." With a grunt the other man walked off and towards the car, "Sheriff wants a word." Toothy as he was nicknamed was sure McKade would want to know if the man was going to press charges.

Bobby nodded, "I'll be there." And watched the officer leave, then faced Veronica, "Thanks, you got here in time." It was obvious that Noel would have fired at him. He also had to deal with the can of worms that were opened. Now it was Crissy turned and a cold look was aimed at his kid, "At time like these you hide as you get told to. Next time, don't you dare come in front of a gun."

"Where the heck is my cane?" It had clattered somewhere on the floor when Noel had punched him.

<<Tag: Veronica Anderson , Victoria Oxford >>

Victoria lowered her gun when Noel lowered his. As she had promised. Victoria was a woman of her word. Before spewing off her mouth she set her gun down on the table. "Don't? I most certainly will. You have blamed ALL the wrong people throughout the years. First it was my fault. Somewhere in there it was Jamie's fault too right and Travis' fault. It's totally Travis' fault for making sure Jamie was taken care of and loved. She's still family Robert and she's not mixed up with some crack head on the corner selling drugs. You didn't have to turn your back on them. She's happy and that should count for something. It's your father's fault for trying to lead you in a direction you were already headed; just not at a fast enough pace. Because you wanted everyone safe Bobby. Robert the ONLY thing you are at fault for is protecting your family from Galacio and Galacio is the the ONLY person you should be laying the blame on. He's dead he cannot hurt us anymore. Man up Jason! I'm beside you don't make me pick your ass up and drag you to fix this; because you know damn well I will." she was yelling but it wasn't to tear him down. This was finally something she decided to spill whether Noel and Veronica were standing there or not. The woman wasn't letting her husband give up that easily. Victoria had sorted through the emotions and hurled them back in some sort of order that made sense to her.

"No one wants to break the ice and look where it leads. Veronica and Crissy standing in front of a gun! Both of you girls that is about the dumbest thing either of you could have done; but I would have done the same thing." she didn't add in the part about being pretty sure if she had that Noel might not have had a problem shooting her too. As she let go of the emotions tears drained. Most of what she had said she had been holding onto for so long. The gun had broken it all down and caused her to spit it out.

Crissy felt Veronica's hand on her shoulder and she backed away. Crissy didn't know her and she didn't trust people easily enough to touch her. Though it was her dad that got her lip as Noel was taken down to the police station. "Too bad Daddy! You are part of this family too and I would do it again to protect you. I really don't give a damn if you punish me for it. I can promise you it will be a lesson not learned. Because family is more important than any rule" she spouted back. When he asked for his can she reached down and picked it up off the floor gently handing it to him as she kissed the side of his face. Crissy was known to be belligerent but this was the first time she down right refused to heed him.

<Tag: Jason Robert Oxford and Veronica Anderson>

Struggling with the words that were coming out his wife's mouth. He didn't meet anyone's eye in the room. In fact he couldn't, knowing that every word hit home expect one or two. He had always blamed himself for the mess that was created. And took it out on the wrong people instead. Not that he had meant to. He knew Jamie well enough to know that she would have never gotten involved with a crack head, but the pain he had caused her won't have thought sensibly. With Simon and Rick for protectors; there was little doubt that she would have fallen for such life. He had turned his back on them and for a good reason, "Damn right I did," Jason threw out, "turn my back on them. I did do it again if it helps them keep their lives. For that I won't apologise or have regrets. While my father played right into what I wanted, but it was his words that sliced." And his actions afterwards, "Your father isn't the only one to blame, I'm the other person who takes bulk of blame." Walking a little around as he fought with himself for words, "Right now it's beyond fixing."

He looked at Ver and Noel before Toothy took him out, Former Navy SEALs had shock written all over his face,  gazing back at Ver, he cupped her face, "Don't do that again," he told her, "Anything happened to you; everything I have done would mean nothing." The sacrifice of 22 years would literately mean nothing. It would make him think that Galacio had won a small battle in a big war from the grave. That was not something he would let happen.

As he daughter mouthed off, he glared at her, "I don't want you to do that again," his was firm, "is that clear? Sweetheart, you have your whole life ahead of you." He had already lost everything, "Losing you isn't an option. It will kill me if anything happened to you." Since the girls were conceived and born, they had given him a reason to keep going. While Vicki had become his strength, the twins were his lifeline.

<<Tag: Victoria Oxford and Veronica Anderson >>