Matthew-Cole " [name_m]Mac[/name_m] " [name_m]Whitman[/name_m] (40) is someone [name_f]Nat[/name_f] knows fairly well, being [name_m]Kenny[/name_m] and Lucy’s dad, as well as one of the people responsible for looking after [name_m]Beck[/name_m] when the lady who goes out with him is away. He also used to have one of Nat’s other friend’s working a weekend job as a stable hand, and met the twins she’s subsequently grown distant from on a couple of occasions, but this isn’t something he or his wife try to dwell on given there’s a lot of speculation as it is facing those two.
Generally [name_m]Mac[/name_m] has seemed a bit more mysterious than [name_f]Sonja[/name_f] to the [name_m]Davidson[/name_m] sisters’, as he’s more involved in the running of the other elements of the ranch rather than training the horses and introducing new potential riders to them, but it doesn’t mean he’s antisocial: it’s just that his background makes him better suited for the livestock caring aspect of things. He’s a very assuring presence in his quieter manner though, almost never raising his voice to make a point.
Double barrel names area tradition in the [name_m]Whitman[/name_m] family but [name_m]Mac[/name_m] made sure [name_f]Sonja[/name_f] was happy with this before they welcomed their first daughter. He’s someone who values tradition but not to an unreasonable degree, believing when something naturally needs to phase out there shouldn’t be a grand rejection or fight. This mentality [as well as Sonja’s warmth and his quiet confidence] is why they’ve succeeded in hiring additional ranch staff - including a stock manager - as [name_m]Mac[/name_m] doesn’t embody any of the archaic and judgemental stereotypes that can be associated with his living, although he credits the progressive [name_m]Whitman[/name_m] views to his paternal uncle, who came out as gay when it was a much more difficult time to do so.
In the aftermath of the tragedies to engulf the [name_m]Davidson[/name_m] family, Mac’s done his best to offer support [name_m]Domo[/name_m], as the two have known each other historically, thanks to [name_m]Domo[/name_m] being a college era friend of Mac’s older brother. The shock and trauma of the shooting is something he and [name_f]Sonja[/name_f] try to discuss when their daughters’ aren’t present, however given Kenny’s personal loss amidst this, Mac’s been doing his best to make it clear he’ll listen to her when she needs to talk, as he does with [name_m]Domo[/name_m], not that it’s easy thanks to the other man’s discomfort with vulnerable emotions.
Warning for aforementioned school shooting, homophobia, and marriage as a cover-up.
Walter-Dean " [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] " [name_m]Whitman[/name_m] (45) is Mac’s brother and Domenico’s college friend. Like [name_m]Domo[/name_m], [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] was in an ended marriage, although it ended in annulment, not in divorce. He had been with his once-wife for a year and a half but the relationship didn’t progress and the two didn’t know if it would turn anywhere. His girlfriend proposed to him, which was a surprise seeing he didn’t expect it to go into marriage, but accepted because he felt they were ready for the next step of progression. It felt odd that she was interested in her family taking roles in the wedding when before, she gave the vibe that she didn’t get along with them. They had a nice wedding but at the honeymoon, she was crying and didn’t want to spend time with him, regretting everything. She didn’t hate [name_m]Waldo[/name_m], she felt bad for him, but she didn’t want to call him “husband”. Turns out, she was not attracted to him or men at all, she married him so that her homophobic parents would accept her and believe she was straight. [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] felt awful even though he had some feelings she was gay, especially before she proposed to him, but she didn’t want to admit it to him. After all with his gay paternal uncle, he could see how the pressure was in terms of being closeted, especially around people who would react negatively to one coming out. He did have feelings for her but felt the relationship was stagnant but marriage planning was rushed so he felt he should’ve seen it coming when it fell flat. The two successfully filed for annulment and [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] and his former wife has since moved on. He knows she’s since moved to a more populated and liberated town and isn’t in contact with her homophobic parents anymore and he wishes her the best.
Waldo’s uncle was a huge help for both of them and he thanks his uncle for the tremendous moral support in ways [name_m]Waldo[/name_m], a straight man, couldn’t grasp right away. [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] appreciates his small town and sees progressive movement but can’t blame his former wife for moving. After all, a literal school shooting would take place there! A cousin of his ex-wife was a teacher at the school who got shot but survived. So he’s stood in solidarity with his former wife even if they’re not super close. He and [name_m]Domo[/name_m] relate on having positive relationships with former spouses even if their stories are different. He completely respected him in his mourning of ex [name_f]Viviana[/name_f] and stood in solidarity as well over the murder of Domo’s youngest daughter. [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] was always close with [name_m]Mac[/name_m] but he’s gotten even more so over time. He finds [name_m]Mac[/name_m] a tremendous help and amazing person and really appreciated the way [name_m]Mac[/name_m] parents his children. [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] doesn’t have children but he’s a proud uncle and he works with the ranch, although during the summers, he counsels a horseback riding camp. He likes Mac’s approach in how he and [name_f]Sonja[/name_f] discuss the aftermath of the horror privately but still honestly for the sake of [name_m]Kenny[/name_m]. He values education and believes nobody should be in danger trying to seek it. [name_m]Waldo[/name_m] is an avid farmer for crops too, finding it liberating but also a great feat to grow one’s own food. While he doesn’t work for a school, he’s helped with healthy and affordable school lunches by growing some food to donate to the schools to provide for them.
TW for aforementioned school shooting, gun control
[name_f]Lucinda[/name_f] " [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] " [name_f]Siobhan[/name_f] [name_m]Brewer[/name_m], nee Thomkins (47) is a friend of Waldo’s and one of the law enforcement officers who was involved in handling the aftermath of the shooting. The incident has led to a lot of shockwaves through the local community and [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] in particular has been trying to campaign for tighter gun control laws in the aftermath, something that hasn’t been wholly accepted by everyone in the vicinity. Although people can admit the incident was horrifying and traumatic, their denial about the weapon involved isn’t a surprise to [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], as she grew up in a home where the ‘right to bear arms’ was a big deal to her father and grandfather.
They’ve both now passed away, and as guilty as she feels to admit it - even to her husband - Lucy’s relieved, as arguing with them would be soul crushing thanks to all the senseless loss and pain. She’s been doing her best to support the charity [name_m]Kenny[/name_m] [name_m]Whitman[/name_m] has been involved in creating as well, and promoting more responsibility and restriction when it comes to ownership of firearms. What’s saddened [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] the most is the senseless of everything, including the backlash for the twin siblings of the shooter, who’ve faced maligning for something they had no control over.
tw: aformentioned school shooting; discussion of preparator; transphobia
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f] " [name_m]Mel[/name_m] " [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] [name_m]Drayton[/name_m] (19) is one of the twin siblings of the perpetrator of the incident and a former friend of [name_m]Nat[/name_m] [name_m]Davidson[/name_m], granted they’ve not spoken since the horrific actions of Mels’ brother tore the community apart and saw so much senseless loss. The guilt and shame of beinflg related to such a person is something [name_m]Mel[/name_m] admits they could never put into words, nor could their twin brother or single father, who raised his children to the best of his ability following their mom walking out, oblivious to the darkness brewing in his firstborn son.
While he was solitary and seemed dismissive of others - to the point of picking fights with [name_m]Mel[/name_m] frequently about their nonbinary identity, calling them attention seeking and “a lunatic” - no-one could have imagined he’d go as far as to take the lives of multiple people, for reasons he’s remained ambiguous about since his incarceration. In a sense [name_m]Mel[/name_m] knows many don’t understand, they’re glad their brother didn’t die, as it meant he had to face justice and derision. If he does confess his motives, [name_m]Mel[/name_m] doesn’t know what will happen. They consider him a repugnant coward and refuse to have anything to do with him, a sentiment shared by the whole family, even Mr. [name_m]Drayton[/name_m], who did experience some denial at first thanks to blaming himself for his sons’ awful actions.
Of course people have had suspicions and [name_m]Mel[/name_m] has faced tough questions from some of their peers about what happened. People were convinced in the early days that the family were covering for their brother, and somehow could’ve stopped him, in spite of the fact he obtained his firearm illegally and made sure to deceive everyone around him. Some of his few friends have likewise faced this scrutiny, and [name_m]Mel[/name_m] has reached out to them too, knowing that there’s a sense of blame shifting between everyone closer to him. They can understand to some degree, they want answers as much as the police, survivors and victim’s families, but it doesn’t make the judgement easier to face, especially as [name_m]Mel[/name_m] can’t help but wonder if [name_m]Nat[/name_m] in particular hates them.
i’m choosing to not name the character to commit the offence as i don’t want a name attached to this, nor do i want the character to be introduced properly. please could people follow this request
Warning for aforementioned discussions of perpetrator (Agreed with kitkatcookie - there’s no need for a bio or name of the shooter.)
[name_f]Befraw[/name_f] “ [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] “ [name_f]Xelat[/name_f] [name_m]Nemrû[/name_m] (26) is feeling the stigma in a sense, though not in the same intensity as [name_m]Mel[/name_m]. She’s currently dating a friend of Mel’s infamous brother. She agrees with Mel’s stance to disassociate and not discuss the shooter’s name, and [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] is also glad not to see his face again. She knows it might be dehumanising, but he already dehumanised all those people at that school by the actions he did. To perceive him as anything else after what he’s done would be insulting. Admittedly he was conventionally attractive, but [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] has nothing nice to say, with his terror completely driving anyone’s attraction away from him. [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] isn’t a stranger to “pretty privilege”, beauty used as an advantage for good and even a mitigation for bad. [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] has been bullied when she was 10 by a pretty girl in her class, but because she was pretty, people defended her and wouldn’t speak out against her. They couldn’t imagine she’d be so mean and were quick to call [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] a liar, but [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] knew it was because of her looks. That’s how her bully was able to get away with it for so long.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] [name_f]Befrî[/name_f], who grew up looking more beautiful, felt she even had “pretty privilege” in a way. She played volleyball as a teen and played in college as well. She was decorated by her school and community, but she wasn’t really as good as they perceived her. They just liked her more for beauty and she had teammates who were much better but didn’t have that celebration. At first [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] didn’t pay attention and felt criticism was just petty hate but after college, she realised she really had been overrated. She felt good about the praise but wasn’t that into volleyball and really felt “decent” in terms of her play. She’s found a completely different career change, but it wasn’t because of perception or pressure. She’s become a police officer after completing at the academy – a move inspired by [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] and her crew and sparked by everything that’s occurred. [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] has a bunch of respect for the heroes of this calamity, feeling they’re the ones who deserve the attention and light shined on them, not the perpetrator.
[name_f]Befrî[/name_f] knows her boyfriend was a friend of the perpetrator but that her boyfriend was just as deceived as everyone else. Obviously the man isn’t friends with the perpetrator anymore, and even if this hadn’t happened, he’s convinced his ex-friend still wouldn’t have been friends with him. Befrî’s boyfriend has been more open and true with himself, something he didn’t feel with his ex-friend who had a streak of toxic masculinity within him. [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] is of Syrian Kurdish descent, which she’s felt more and more open with talking about as well. She knows that neither the family nor friends of the perpetrator were behind this in any way. The hardest part behind these actions is the forced reality of never knowing why this happened. She’d love answers as much as anyone else, but she knows that’s not an excuse to speculate on innocent people. Is she really sure she wants to hear a confession from him? [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] would feel a sense of pain hearing his voice She has sympathy for [name_m]Mel[/name_m], their twin, and their father; given the reasons of “you can’t choose who you’re related to”. Still, she doesn’t blame them for refusing to see him as family despite the blood-relation, much like she feels about Lucy’s late blood-related relatives who were biologically her father and grandfather. She knows they’re all nice people and want to live their lives, even if it’s simply through wanting to be left alone. [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] wouldn’t mind talking to [name_m]Mel[/name_m] about other topics, like their hair and makeup styles. Not because of being “pretty” however, but because it’s opened a creative expression of who [name_m]Mel[/name_m] is, the real [name_m]Mel[/name_m], not just “a sibling of [REDACTED].”
[name_m]Christian[/name_m] [name_m]Robert[/name_m] DeCodo (26) is Befrî’s boyfriend. He was a former friend of the attacker who was taken aback by the horrific actions done at the school. He had no clue. His friend held back on these details. He wanted to be the friend to count on when people were hiding stuff, but could not predict what was being hidden. They were part of an anti bullying club at school and that was how the two met one another. Yet little did he know, this guy bullied his own younger sibling [name_m]Mel[/name_m]! He can’t stand bullies from his past and would never shoot a school because of his past. He hates when people think bully victims would do that. And the attacker has never been bullied. He loves [name_f]Befrî[/name_f] but assured it is not because of her beauty alone. They are very close and want to get a home together. He works as a medic. He has friends associated with everything whom he still talks to.
[name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] [name_f]Lauren[/name_f] DeCodo (20) is Christian’s sister and the baby of their sibset, as well as the only girl. Raised by their maternal grandparents, the DeCodo’s had a difficult start in life, on account of being born to alcoholics. In spite of their eldest son having already been removed from the home by the time [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] was born, nothing could prize her parents away from their priority substance, and it wasn’t really a shock to her grandma and granddad when they took her in at the age of nine months. Really they’d been preparing for it since their daughter announced her pregnancy, with [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] and [name_m]Teddy[/name_m] [the middle of the trio] being removed from their mother and fathers’ custody together.
One-on-one counselling; group therapy; in-patient treatment, none of it worked for Gabrielles’ parents, and she admits now she’s older, she does hold resentment towards them for how they never tried for her and her brothers’. She channels a lot of this into her artwork, primarily working with oils, and depicts the stages of obsession and dependency in abstract manners. It did concern her grandparents a little when [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] began this, as they didn’t want her to become fixated on curing her parents, however with therapy also involved for her, she’s found it to be very productive and more useful than trying to make sense of her estranged mom and dad’s minds.
[name_m]Christian[/name_m] has always been the person she comes to in a jam though. [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] doesn’t want her grandparents overburdened after all they’ve done, and Teddy’s not the sort of person who thinks always before acting on emotion. Now twenty-three, he has three children from two relationships, both of which have now ended, although he’s a dedicated dad to her nieces and nephew. [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] credits their displaced childhood as to why these romances were so intense and reckless for [name_m]Teddy[/name_m], as she knows his heart has always been in the right place, even if he’s not got the bigger picture in mind.
This dynamic has changed more recently though, as [name_m]Teddy[/name_m] and [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] were greatly concerned following the incident with Christians’ former friend committing such a heinous crime and leaving devastation in his wake. It’s been their nieces and nephew who’ve proven the greatest help during this time, keeping [name_m]Christian[/name_m] distracted more so with their games and suggestions of imaginary concepts, but while [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f] is still a dedicated art student, she’s never forgotten how the DeCodo family tends to handle things: bottling or absolute eruption. And like her, [name_m]Christian[/name_m] has always gone for the former where serious stress is concerned.
Warning for aforementioned addiction, gun control, and bullying.
Eduardo Colin Hodge (79) is Christian, Teddy, and Gabrielle’s maternal grandfather and one of their main caretakers during their childhood. Raised by two military nurses, Eduardo always had a respect for the military and was proud of Teddy for joining, not that he’d consider Christian and Gabrielle any less. He is a physiotherapist, inheriting that medical likeness from his family and seemingly passing it to Christian. Sometimes he blamed himself for how his daughter and her husband turned to addiction, though he had repeatedly warned against this. Eduardo was often worrying for Gabrielle since it seemed she was blaming herself as well for her parents not listening to her. Even though he knew she was doing the best she could, even more than that! He encouraged her to find time and love for herself because she is a wonderful granddaughter and deserves to be happy. Eduardo and his wife were very loyal to one another and proud of their grandchildren’s lives.
Eduardo is very serious about his daughter and son-in-law, insisting he would not be able to live with himself if they died or did something reckless under the influence of alcohol, and while this hasn’t happened, he can’t get past what their addiction had done to them. They were in such a bad situation with their children, who resented this and couldn’t see them as parents when they weren’t there. Eduardo and his wife noticed they were never there for them either. Sometimes Eduardo blames his son-in-law but other times he’s accepted that both are in the wrong. Eduardo’s other daughter has stepped in and stated that her sister has ignored her as well and she’s done so much to get them help, but they won’t budge. Eduardo doesn’t want the alcohol to “win” and he’s tired of how everything turned out. Eduardo almost had the same problem growing up before he met his wife. He was constantly antagonised as a kid, much like Christian was. He’s glad Christian took a stand against the stereotypes of the bullied kid turning into a school shooter and knew Christian wouldn’t ever do that. The boy who picked on Eduardo was actually the man who grew up to be Lucy’s father, who since passed away. That boy constantly made threats that his dad could “defeat Eduardo’s dad” and that Eduardo’s dad was a “sissy” for being a military nurse, since he was the type to act like nurses were “a woman job”. Not to mention the fact that he undermined the role of nurses and acted as though Eduardo’s parents weren’t really helping the military if they weren’t the ones going out to combat.
Eduardo wasn’t meek, he told off the kid that his family is “nothing without guns” and they’re not truly strong people. Naturally this offended the bully, but it got him off Eduardo’s back. Eduardo is glad for Lucy being a great person despite her past and that Lucy is not the type to force the “right to bear arms” mentality just because her late father and grandfather did. Eduardo’s other daughter is friends with Lucy and Eduardo is completely cool with this, he just wishes Lucy’s father could have been a kinder person to him. Eduardo has bonded more with Gabrielle lately, seeing her artistic side and feeling good that she’s doing her best not to be the one who needs the most protection or the one trying to give the most protection. Eduardo is the youngest child of his siblings so he relates to that, though he’s adamant on Gabrielle as a human and not just a “role”. Eduardo likes being a great-grandfather to Teddy’s children as well and loves seeing them as cool little kids, seeing these children actually are the youngest. He likes to talk to her about artwork and how it’s been a coping outlet, potential career path, and a genuine hobby for her. He loves the idea of people enjoying what they get paid to do. Despite their ages, he and his wife are both working, and they haven’t talked about retiring much. Most of it has been trying to keep their finances stable enough given the task of raising their three grandchildren, but they never found their grandchildren a burden. In fact, once they do retire, they’re going to spend as much of their free time with their grandchildren as possible.
[name_f]Leiana[/name_f] [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] Buckton (32) is another relative of [name_m]Christian[/name_m], [name_m]Teddy[/name_m] and [name_f]Gabrielle[/name_f], and while she’s not a blood relation of [name_m]Eduardo[/name_m], they know each other pretty well. She’s a cousin of the trio, being the cousin of their dad, who was also raised in a chaotic household. It’s something [name_f]Leiana[/name_f] thinks is just tied to the family, as it’s been common for difficult personalities and substance abuse to extend across the tree of names, impacting a lot of people along the way.
Named in part for her father, [name_m]Phillip[/name_m] Buckton, it’s something [name_f]Leiana[/name_f] finds difficult. He was a chronic alcoholic who’s first and great love was drinking, putting it before just about anything else in life. A lot of visits between father and daughter were cancelled thanks to his addiction, and while he is sober now, [name_f]Leiana[/name_f] hasn’t made constant contact with him, as he’s gone back and forth between quitting and drinking before.
Leiana’s grateful that at least her mom wasn’t troubled by the same issues, and she was the person who raised her mostly. [name_m]Eduardo[/name_m] kindly offered Leianas’ mother a lot of advice through the worst spots of her exes problems, and this is why [name_f]Leiana[/name_f] thinks so highly of him, as he wasn’t just focused on helping his direct blood relatives. Leiana’s hoping to start her own family soon, but figuring out what she wants to do with her dad and contact is what’s holding her back.
Dana Marguerite [Fox] Buckton (60) is Leianas’ mother and Phillips’ ex-wife. His drinking was already an issue by the time Dana began seeing him, but this was something successfully hidden until she fell pregnant. It wasn’t a planned conception, and the forced proximity led to Dana recognising what was going on. She firmly believed in not holding someone’s issues against them though, and this is what led to their marriage, shortly before Leiana was born. Dana admits to deeply regretting this now, as she sometimes feels Philip saw this as a sign she’d always be there, no matter how he behaved.
There wasn’t a specific dramatic incident that led to her finally ending things, instead it was the cycle of broken promises. Dana couldn’t trust her husband to have their daughters’ best interests at heart, and that was too much for her to handle. She never wanted Leiana to feel unsafe, although it still pains her that the emotional damage has been done. Although her daughter doesn’t hold any grudges or blame her, Danas’ admitted to Eduardo that allowing herself some slack isn’t as easy, especially given Philips’ continued behaviour. Dana would say she isn’t affronted by his actions towards her, it’s what Leiana experiences because of his promises and letdowns.
Post-divorce, Dana kept her married name to provide her daughter solidarity and to prevent any sense of shame. She and Leiana often see each other to form more positive memories. At the moment, they’ve both been learning sign language at weekly classes. Eduardo has further encouraged Dana to not beat herself up over and over, especially with what Leiana has accomplished, including bonding with his grandkids who’ve appreciated an understanding listening ear.
[name_m]Evan[/name_m] [name_m]Walter[/name_m] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] (63) is Dana’s older brother by three years, a steadfast and grounded presence in her life since childhood. While Dana’s nature leans toward nurturing and empathetic, [name_m]Evan[/name_m] has always been the more pragmatic and protective sibling. From a young age, [name_m]Evan[/name_m] acted as Dana’s quiet guardian, stepping in when she needed support but never trying to overshadow her independence. His calm and collected demeanor often contrasts with Dana’s tendency to internalize her emotions, making him someone she feels comfortable opening up to when life becomes overwhelming.
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_m]Evan[/name_m] and [name_f]Dana[/name_f] share a strong bond rooted in mutual respect and unwavering loyalty. [name_m]Evan[/name_m] admires Dana’s resilience and dedication to her daughter, [name_f]Leiana[/name_f], and has always offered a listening ear or a shoulder to lean on during her struggles—especially when she was navigating the challenges of her marriage and eventual divorce from [name_m]Philip[/name_m]. Though [name_m]Evan[/name_m] is generally measured in his opinions, he’s made it clear to [name_f]Dana[/name_f] that he has little patience for Philip’s behavior and fully supports her decision to prioritize her and Leiana’s well-being.
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_m]Evan[/name_m] is happily married to his high school sweetheart and the two have raised three children together. Now a proud grandfather, [name_m]Evan[/name_m] enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, taking them fishing, or teaching them about the importance of patience and hard work. He worked for years as a mechanical engineer before retiring, and his methodical mindset and problem-solving skills still shine through in his approach to life.
[name_f]Estia[/name_f] [name_f]Maretta[/name_f] [Sanzone] [name_m]Fox[/name_m] (63) is Evan’s wife and high school sweetheart. She actually went to prom with him and is one of only two friends who’s still with their prom date. Estia’s best friend is the only one who went solo, she thought she could just pick someone up at the dance which didn’t work out. She laughs about it now since she had a good time regardless and had a beautiful dress with lots of photos taken. She’s now married herself and feels that she had the better deal solo anyway – she can enjoy looking back at all her old prom pictures without some other guy she’s not close with anymore to be in any. Estia’s joked with her grown children when they were teens that they should always take some solo pictures at prom, not just date pictures. It’s been in good jest, but they all followed the advice anyway. [name_f]Estia[/name_f] and her friends back then have a pact that when they’re all 65, that they’ll do a prom redo, their literal “senior prom”.
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f]Estia[/name_f] gets along well with her sister-in-law [name_f]Dana[/name_f], feeling she deserves so much appreciation for being the glue of her family. [name_f]Estia[/name_f] relates in some sense given her mother had an addiction to smoking, though she genuinely wanted to get better. Her mother smoked a lot before her marriage and children, gave it up after her wedding, but kept relapsing. Thankfully she never smoked while pregnant or during the first years of Estia’s life, though she did during her adolescence, but hid that it was an addiction. [name_f]Estia[/name_f] felt like she had to see this as normalised, and was admittedly surprised when she overheard her mother wanted to quit. Her mother never truly gave up the habit until [name_f]Estia[/name_f] was engaged to [name_m]Evan[/name_m], and Estia’s learned that it was a long and challenging process for her. She’s still smoke-free and her health has improved significantly, which Estia’s found beautiful to see. Estia’s working for a non-profit aimed at curbing addiction, though she’s made it clear that this doesn’t mean she’ll blindly defend [name_m]Phillip[/name_m] when [name_f]Dana[/name_f] has done far more to help [name_f]Leiana[/name_f]. She’s fine with destigmatising addiction but she doesn’t see it as an excuse to ignore family. Estia’s children are aware and empathetic, but they agree wholeheartedly on the [name_m]Fox[/name_m] parents’ views, especially since their parents are so active.
[name_f]Carly[/name_f] [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] (Greene) [name_m]Fox[/name_m] (29) is [name_f]Estia[/name_f] and Evan’s daughter-in-law. She’s married to their youngest son. They were definitely not high school sweethearts as there’s a four year age gap between them. They did attend the same high school though but didn’t know each other. They met on a blind date three years ago when Carly’s friend convinced her to go out with a friend of her brother’s. They hit it off and got married two years ago. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] is now pregnant with their first child but they only recently found out and haven’t told anyone yet. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] teaches two beginners art classes for an art studio in town, one for kids and one for adults. She loves painting and enjoys helping others find the joy in it too.
[name_f][/name_f]
Growing up, her family life was extraordinarily normal. Her parents fought occasionally, she and her older brother got on each other’s nerves but loved each other, they had a dog, and a little house in the suburbs. Then when she turned 14 it was like everything hit the fan all at once. In that year, her mom got breast cancer, her brother was expelled from high school, and it was revealed that her dad had been having an affair for like ten years when the woman came to their house pregnant. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] is very grateful that her mom immediately put her in therapy because that was definitely needed. Because the cancer was caught early, her mom was in remission after a few months.
[name_f][/name_f]
Her parents were divorced the following year and her dad married his affair partner soon after. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] had to go stay with her dad every other weekend. Her brother had turned 18 by then and didn’t have to. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] hated every minute of those weekends, except for getting to spend time with her baby sister. At first, [name_f]Carly[/name_f] hadn’t wanted to like her new sibling but she realized it wasn’t her sisters fault and they still have a great relationship now. Carly’s stepmom went back to work three years ago and so [name_f]Carly[/name_f] has been picking her sister up from school ever since. That’s basically the only contact [name_f]Carly[/name_f] has with her dad and stepmom, unless there’s something special going on for her sister. She’s never talked badly about her dad and stepmom because she wants her sister to make her own mind up about things.
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[name_f]Carly[/name_f] and her mom are very close, which is to be expected seeing as her brother moved out as soon as their mom was in remission and he got his GED. It was just the two of them for a very long time and sometimes she resented her brother for that. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] lived at home while getting her art degree and literally felt terrible about moving out when she and her husband got married. They came over for dinner often because [name_f]Carly[/name_f] was worried about her being lonely. She doesn’t worry about that anymore because her mom is getting remarried soon. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] is very happy about that, and she’s going to be maid of honor. [name_f]Carly[/name_f] and her brother have patched things up in recent years and she is a great aunt to his three kids. She’s also gotten him to hang out with her and their sister a few times, something she’s very happy about since he’d refused to do so all those years ago.
[name_f]Farrah[/name_f] [name_f]Nicole[/name_f] [name_m]Marquez[/name_m] (15) is Carly’s paternal half-sister, whose birth was a bit of a cataclysm, a reality that’s often played on her mind. Her parents prefer to avoid explaining how they got together, but it’s not as if people around [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] are blind or ignorant. At school she has received very awkward questions from thoughtless peers, and it’s not like her mom and dad are the easiest of people anyways; especially her father, whose treatment of his ex-wife feels too uncomfortable for [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] to think about most days.
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Having [name_f]Carly[/name_f] around is very important to [name_f]Farrah[/name_f], and her older sister is the person she feels has kept her grounded throughout the years. Between her parents wanting to shut everything out and a brother who didn’t have a relationship with her, Carly’s kindness means everything to [name_f]Farrah[/name_f], and she’s determined to be the best aunt to her unborn child as a way of honouring her sisters’ behaviour. Unsurprisingly, [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] herself is quite introverted. Her style is the main way she expresses herself, and thankfully her parents don’t mind. Then again they’re wrapped up in work and socialising often, so they don’t give her much bother mercifully.
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[name_f]Farrah[/name_f] has her mothers’ surname as another attempt at distancing her parents from the past, but it is something she considers important, as it brings her closer to her heritage and allows for some escapism. She’s fluent in Spanish and plans on studying it in some capacity when the day for college comes around. It did make her more nervous about finally meeting her half-brother, thanks to his strong animosity towards their father, however he’s never taken offense at this. [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] tends to still be nervous she’ll upset him in some capacity, but time [name_f][/name_f]- and Carly’s encouragement [name_f][/name_f]- have helped her in overcoming this intrusive though.
[name_m]Axton[/name_m] [name_m]Jace[/name_m] [name_m]Greene[/name_m] (32) is Carly’s older brother and Farrah’s half brother. Having grown up in the chaos of their family’s disintegration, [name_m]Axton[/name_m] took on the role of the family’s protector. The tumultuous events of their childhood, especially their father’s infidelity and subsequent divorce, deeply influenced his character. After moving out at 18, he obtained his GED and worked various jobs to support himself.
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Despite the distance, Axton’s love for his sister, [name_f]Carly[/name_f], has always been a constant in his life. [name_f][/name_f] He admired her resilience, especially how she navigated their turbulent family dynamic with kindness and grace. Although he resented their father for his choices and felt protective of [name_f]Carly[/name_f], he struggled for years with his own feelings of anger and betrayal. He managed to open the door for healing only when his firstborn arrived. [name_m]Axton[/name_m] and his partner now have 3 children. He wants to make sure that his kid’s family life will be much better than his own.
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Axton’s profession as a mechanic allows him to channel his hands-on nature and provides a stable income. He owns a small garage where he enjoys working alongside his close-knit team. In his spare time, [name_m]Axton[/name_m] is a passionate outdoorsman, finding solace in nature—hiking, camping, and teaching his kids about the world around them.
[name_m]Robin[/name_m] " [name_f]Bobbie[/name_f] " [name_f]Angela[/name_f] [name_m]Richmond[/name_m] (59) is [name_m]Axton[/name_m] and Carly’s mom, and a woman who’s weathered a lot. [name_f]Bobbie[/name_f] prefers to not think about her ex-husband, and they have no contact. They don’t even see each other where their 3 shared grandchildren are concerned, as their son has no contact with his father whatsoever, having pretty much banned him from the house. Although [name_f]Bobbie[/name_f] does feel some guilt about this, it’s not something she addresses, as sorting things out for her ex-husband is the last thing she wants to do.
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Since meeting her current partner, there has been a bit more contact between the various parts of the family, as her ex-husband isn’t happy Bobbie’s fiancé sees the grandkids he doesn’t, but this isn’t something she comments on. Rubbing things in his face feels a step too far, even if she has nothing good to say about him. Looking back it doesn’t surprise her that the pregnancy caused things to change, but perhaps what angers [name_f]Bobbie[/name_f] most is the idea he would’ve kept up the rouse while she was going through cancer treatment. With how much image means to him, that feels all too possible.
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Seeing her kids come into their own has been what [name_f]Bobbie[/name_f] calls the best healing she could’ve had, especially [name_f]Carly[/name_f], who she knows weathered a lot more as the middle child and peacemaker. Although she appreciates that her daughter was concerned about changes, Bobbie’s pleased she’s come into her own and is now starting her own family, as it’s everything she knows [name_f]Carly[/name_f] deserves, as [name_m]Axton[/name_m] achieved in his own way too.
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] D’Arcy (30) is mother of Bobbies’ grandchildren and Axtons’ partner, who loves being a parent without any hesitation about acknowledging this fact. Being an only child is what’s made [name_f]Ava[/name_f] so eager to have a large family. While she sometimes bonded a little with the children of her fathers’ girlfriends, he never settled down with any of them long enough for a deeper connection to form, and this did cause some turmoil in a young Avas’ life.
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He was in the military so she moved around frequently, and having a more grounded sense of companionship is something she often wished for. It’s why she’s so relieved her children have one another through thick and thin. Having lost her mother to terminal illness[name_f][/name_f] when she was only a baby, [name_f]Ava[/name_f] does wish she had a bit of a closer relationship with her dad nowadays.
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He’s nowhere near the nightmare Axtons’ father proved himself to be, however he’s never been that communicative, in spite of Avas’ best efforts. She has often wondered if he’d hoped for a son, as most of his interest in her is thanks to her talent for woodwork and DIY maintenance, whereas her passions for baking and playing the piano aren’t shown as much interest. [name_m]Even[/name_m] her career as an allergy nurse didn’t reap a lot from him, which did hurt [name_f]Ava[/name_f] more than she likes to tell people, thanks to how hard she worked for her degree.
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Being with [name_m]Axton[/name_m] has allowed her to find someone she feels safe opening up to though, especially as she doesn’t want their kids to ever feel isolated in their emotions. She unsurprisingly has formed a strong friendship with [name_f]Carly[/name_f] too, and is delighted about her pregnancy. The recent reconciliation between [name_m]Axton[/name_m] and [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] also means a lot to [name_f]Ava[/name_f], who just wants the people she cherishes most of all to feel connected, supported and valued.
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_m]Arbor[/name_m] D’Arcy-Greene (6) is [name_f]Ava[/name_f] and Axton’s firstborn and Bobbie’s grandson. He’s currently obsessed with motorcycles after he saw one at his dad’s garage. [name_m]Jack[/name_m] has been told about his paternal grandfather but never met him, due to [name_m]Axton[/name_m] going no contact. Since Bobbie’s fiancé has been around for as long as [name_m]Jack[/name_m] can remember, he’s taken on that role. He met [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] once a few weeks ago and really likes her. He thinks her purple hair and her being able to speak two languages is cool. [name_m]Jack[/name_m] loves being a big brother and is always enlisting his siblings to come with him on his outdoor adventures. He definitely has his dad’s love for the outdoors. He’s always excited to go on hikes or camping. [name_m]Jack[/name_m] is very close to his mom as well. He loves helping her bake and can’t wait until he’s old enough to make something by himself.
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] D’Arcy-Greene (3) is the middle child of [name_m]Axton[/name_m] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f]. While she’s not as naturally drawn to the outdoors as [name_m]Jack[/name_m], Maisie’s always happy to go along with exploring if it means more time with her big brother and dad. Flowers are what always makes it worthwhile for [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], as she’s obsessed with flower fairies and will let absolutely everyone hear about this. She inherited a book about them from her mom and for her it’s pretty much a bible!
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Seeing her nana, [name_f]Bobbie[/name_f], is also something [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] loves. Her middle name was chosen as a tribute to her, while her first name is for Avas’ late mother [name_f][/name_f]- whose middle name was [name_f]May[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- because both of her parents wanted to pay tribute to their mothers. The pregnancy of her Aunt [name_f]Carly[/name_f] is something else Maisie’s delighted about, as she took to becoming a big sibling really well herself. And the fact her Aunt [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] has purple streaks in her hair is also considered the coolest thing by [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- not that she says it as she doesn’t want to seem like she’s just parroting [name_m]Jack[/name_m].
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f] [name_f]Bloom[/name_f] D’Arcy-Greene (2) is the younger sister of [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] and [name_m]Jack[/name_m], who loves to be in the company of one of them at any given moment. She’s very easily excitable and has a lot[name_f][/name_f] of energy, something her parents usually find themselves having to keep in mind when they’re arranging for babysitters, thanks to the challenges this can present. It doesn’t mean she’s any less loved than her brother and sister though, far from it. In fact, they always seem to love having a little sidekick/playmate!
