Beggin' DeVito's Story

Tommy strained the pasta and listened to Renee sing the baby back to sleep, she soon joined him in the kitchen wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder,

"Smells good"

she smiled up at him

"I try"

He shrugged before turning to dish up, she kissed his cheek and sat at the table gushing about something the baby had done that Tommy had missed, he hated missing the little firsts but they had an even balance going they shared the household tasks and any parenting responsibilities, they had a good thing going and Tommy often thought about how lucky his only son was, he grew around arguments and violence between his parents and often blamed them for his many shortcomings but Frankie didn't have to worry about any of that he and Renee were solid.

-

The walk felt like a million miles, he pushed his key in to the door praying that Renee would still be in bed, he turned and closed the door behind him walking through the lounge no sign of Renee, he began to breath a little easier until he reached the kitchen, sitting at the table was Renee, her long black curls tumbled over her shoulders to Tommys surprise she was fully dressed, not in her pyjamas and robe as he expected her to be, she may have even had a little make up on, with a cigarette in her hand she locked eyes with him,

"Where were you?"

she asked looking him up and down noting his dishevelled appearance

"Sweetheart I'm so sorry, I got carried away I slept at a friends place"

"What friend?"

"Just a friend"

He silently scolded himself for lying to her knowing he should have come clean as soon as he came in, she stubbed the cigarette out and walked towards him,

"What sort of friend gives you hickeys Tommy?" she pulled his shirt collar away from his neck taking him by surprise "Huh? Tell me that?"

He clamped his hand over his neck,

"I'm sorry I got so bogged down and things just didn't seem right between us I was bored"

"Bored? Bored of taking care of someone who took three bullets for you I nearly lost my fucking life Tommy whats wrong with you?"

"I know I can't apologise enough"

His head still hurt but it was almost immeasurable compared to how he was feeling emotionally, sure he got laid he dealt with some urges but not in the right way, not with the right person. He was expecting her to scream and shout he was expecting things to be thrown, instead she walked past without even sparing him so much as a glance. She sat on the sofa putting her head in her hands feeling the familiar burn behind her eyes as she let the tears stream out, she felt bad enough for being a burden on him anyway, to know that she had pushed him in to another womans arms had driven her to breaking point, he watched as her shoulders heaved her muffled sobs cut deep in to him, he sighed and sat next to her pulling her head to his chest and resting his on top for a few seconds there was silence only broken by an occasional sniffle from Renee, within seconds she threw his arms off of her fragile frame anger flashed in her eyes,

"Don't touch me!"

she wailed, pushing the words out through heavy sobs,

"Just let me hold you!"

He begged she kept fighting against him landing soft punches on his chest and swiping at his face he dodged them all expertly before taking her wrists and pulling her close again slamming his lips in to hers, she kept pushing away and yet hungrily wanting more she was fighting a battle against herself,

"I hate you!" she whispered between sobs "I hate you so much!!"

"you don't"

He whispered hoping the more he denied it the less true it would be, he knew he had fucked up the weight on his heart was heavy but he wasn't letting go not at risk of her getting hurt again, She pushed him away with shocking force only to have him pull her back towards him, he was becoming more desperate, their lips connected once more only for a sudden violent shove to knock Tommy back, with a swift flick of her slender wrists her hand connected with the side of his face, she stood up as quickly as her surgery wounds would allow and stomped up the stairs, leaving Tommy sat in silence his face burning and heart aching, he flinched as a door upstairs slammed, it had little effect he could still hear her heart breaking.

Hours passed and Renee was still in the bedroom she attempted to busy herself arranging and rearranging all of the cosmetics on her dresser, she stopped still staring herself down in the mirror the still raw scar on her chest glared at her like a beacon demanding her attention, she gently traced her fingertips over the slightly raised pink line, she took a deep breath and inhaled deeply, dabbing her eyes with the edge of her sleeve, she ran her fingers through her hair pushing the loose curls off of her face, she stood slowly and straightened her clothes out a strong sense of determination crept up on her.

She walked downstairs, he was cleaning the kitchen,

"Tommy?"

She called out as she walked towards him, he glanced over his shoulder before turning to face her, his shoulders sagged, he sighed loudly,

"What?"

"You ever and I mean ever pull that shit on me again you won't have to worry about the Mafia cause I'll fucking kill you understand?" her voice broke slightly but she continued "I nearly died because of you I'm sorry I haven't exactly been in the mood to fuck but I haven't been in the mood to fight either yet it somehow seems easier! now stop being a martyr all is forgiven but this is your very last chance DeVito and I mean it this time!"

he stood dumbfounded his normally placid Renee had not only just sworn at him she had threatened him too! there was a tone of truth in her voice making him believe she was not to be reckoned with he nodded and remained in silence still unable to maintain eye contact without guilt knotting the pit of his stomach, he nodded looking at her properly for the first time in a few months, she was still lovely from her long dark curls to her deep hazel eyes and down to her slender legs, he wrapped his arms around her neat waist and pulled her body to his, without a word he kissed her gently on her forehead holding her to his chest for a few seconds breathing everything in the faint floral scent every inch and contour he could feel through her clothes and counted his lucky stars that he could still call her his.

-

Renee enjoyed the normal things in life, being well aware of who her husband was she became used to being stopped in the street by random strangers asking if they were right in guessing his identity, thats why she insisted on a parent facing pushchair, the thought of the same women who had dirty thoughts about her Tommy cooing over her son,

"Are you Tommy DeVito?"

they were asked multiple times a day, sometimes he would say no and sometimes he would say yes and spend a few moments being treated like a god but today he said no, the small family went for lunch and then done their weekly grocery shop, he was proud of himself for becoming so domesticated, Renee often laughed off his announcements and smiled as he brimmed with pride after cooking a meal or doing a load of laundry but to Tommy it was a small victory.