Love and Other Lies

~Anna Marie~

We arrived. I am super nervous about the talk but I know we need to have it. We walk up to the door and I can see the hesitation in Dimitri, I knock and wait for the door to open. I hear the shuffling of someone's feet and the clicking of the lock. I don't know who's more nervous, me... or him.

~Dimitri~

I'm terrified. What if she doesn't want to be with me after hearing my story. It's not too late for an annulment. What if Gerard is screwing me over again? The lock clicks and I take her hand, the door starts to open and I gasp. It's Mikey. I haven't seen Mikey in years. I was struck to the core, I can't move. His face lights up at the sight of seeing me and Anna lets go of my hand to let me hug him.

"Come in" He said, opening the door wider for us to come in.

"Mikey" I stated in disbelief.

"Dimitri. Way to long brother." He replied wrapping me in a hug again. He let go and turned to my wife. "This must be your beautiful, understanding, amazing wife I have heard so much about." He said, putting her hand out for her to shake. She laughed and wrapped him in a hug.

"You are my family now, hugs are mandatory." She smiled. Mikey nodded and gave her one more squeeze before letting her go. We all sat after giving Gerard his hugs too. Here we go.

"So, how much of our story do you know Anna?" Mikey asked her. She took a minute to think and then began her reply.

"I know that you guys were druglords in New York, Dimitri has OD'd, you guy's have a dead sister, I don't know much else" She said.

~Anna Marie~

"Ok, well we should start at... drug lords." Mikey said. He took a deep breath. "My mom and dad had a baby... me, and everything was fine until we got a bit older. Mom and dad decided they wanted one more. Gerard was already a jealous brother with me in the house. I was about seven and Gerard was sixteen, he decided to hang out with the wrong crowd... the stoners and the addicts.... I noticed he left a lot but when you have a baby and a seven year old in the house I guess you don’t really notice what your oldest is doing. Gerard was gone more often and I took up on his following, but instead of falling in with that crowd I became an artist. Dimitri and Gerard got closer and closer, Mom and Dad started to notice the absence. But mom was pregnant again, so no one really noticed how bad it had gotten. By that time I had moved out on my own and Dimitri was eight. Gerard slummed around our parent’s couch or passed out at a party, but Dimitri, he was young, and looked up to Gerard. They were inseparable. One night, Dimitri came home without Gerard. Dad finally fed up with the boys went after Gerard, looking for all of the drug houses and parties he could. There was just so much stress with Ashley being a toddler and screaming all of the time, I think Dad just wanted to get a grip on the family. Dad was super careful at all of the places he went but when he saw Gerard he let go of all of his caution and went straight for him... missing the meth needle that was sitting on the ground. He stepped on it and inserted the rest of meth into his foot. It was just a little prick, not a lot of it went in.. but it was enough to get him hooked. He came home antsy, he wanted more. Gerard came home the next day to see mom in tears. He told her what happened at the party and they tried to help Dad get off, but the monster had it’s talons deep into his brain and there was no saving him. They got a divorce and she moved Ashley into a different apartment with her, Dimitri decided to stay with Dad. Gerard’s status went up in the drug world, along with Dimitri’s. They were notorious, no one could touch them. Dimitri became better than Gerard, hell he was the police’s worst enemy. He sampled his drugs, and ended up overdosing one to many times. Gerard came to me the last time and we called mom. She told us she moved to Oregon and would be there soon to pick Dimitri up. We had to get him out. Of course the band was super strong during all of this and we hit our lows. Gerard cleaned up and got married. I can’t wait for you to meet our wives, they’ll love you.” Mikey finished his speech and the guys just nodded. I took in a deep breath and smiled.

“You have all been through so much. But there is one more thing I need cleared up.” I said, everyone perked up, ready to answer.

“Anything” Dimitri replied, grabbing onto my hand.

“Ashley” With one word I saw all of their faces drop.

“Ashley was in the wrong place at the wrong time, Mom had to go to a meeting in Sacramento, she couldn’t figure out any where else for Ash to go, so she decided that she would leave her at dad’s for two days. I didn’t know that because I had been going around dealing and hitting the party circuit. Dad was passed out on the couch and Ashley was in the spare bedroom drawing pictures. I was on my way home when I decided to make one more deal. I should have just gone home... but I was greedy, The guy I was selling too wanted more than I had on me, so I told him to come with me and i’d get him some more. I had a stash at the house and I wanted the extra money. We went to the apartment and I got out the stash, I started to make the deal when he pulls out a gun, I pulled mine out because I wasn’t about to get my ass shot. It was escalating quickly and I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty. We started shouting, Dad didn’t even move... The door to the extra bedroom creaked open and the guy shot in a panic. Ashley’s face was pure agony. I got mad, I was about to shoot the guy when he dashed out of the door, I would have went after him if I didn’t hear her whisper. I ran over to her and grabbed her into my arms. She told me that she loved me, and she didn’t blame me at all. How could someone so young and in so much pain be so nice? She died in my arms.... she died smiling at me. Not as a criminal, but she was smiling at her older brother. That’s when I decided I was done. No more dealing, or using. I had to get Dimitri out too. Ashley is the reason for MCR. She is the reason I am alive. She saved us, by dying herself.” Gerard was bawling by the time he was done telling the story I think we were all crying after the story was told.

“She sounds amazing” I said, wiping my tears away.

“She was. I just want to say, welcome to the family Anna.” Gerard said, getting up and hugging me.

“Don’t stay up too late tonight” Mikey winked. Gerard and Mikey walked out of the room. I turned to Dimitri confused.

“They got us the hotel room... they think that something is going to happen. But I can wait... I can wait forever” He whispered.

“Forever is a bit long isn’t it...” I smiled. I think i’m ready. And I know he’ll stop if I’m not. He cracked a smile and I kissed him. It’s now or never.....