Old wood creaked in harmony with the short sigh of a simple man. Light washed in through the large window of his 'office' as lazily and inquisitively as a cat who had just woken up. Now sat, the simple man brushed a simple hand through his simple hair, causing the light to highlight the now silvering roots. As a tree has ring-marks to mark it's age he had a creased face outwardly proclaiming his general age. He never tried to hide it. No wrinkle cream, no hair colouring. Age hadn't pulled away his handsome features. If anything they brought those features to light in another way. The man had a look of patience and softness to him; hardship had chislled away youthful arrogance. The man lifted a small picture up and angled it favourably in the light. Within a bronzed frame stood three figures; the fourth being off the ground, lifted by one of the previous. That always made him smile, the image of his youngest daughter laughing as she did. This picture was taken thirteen years before. It felt much longer. The father's muddled memory often made the past mud-like but the day of that photograph never semed to fade in his mind's eye.

"No."
Erica Kristoph stood stoicly and stubbornly with that defiant decleration thrown from her now sealed lips. Legs planted firmly apart, arms folded like armour across her chest and a well-timed breeze swishing her black hair and light dress dramatically. She would've been much more intimidating if she weren't a ten year old girl. A short one too.
"Well that's a shame, Erica, it really is, because you have to go and stand by your brother." Alex Kristoph had dealt with his second eldest daughter many times. It never seemed to get any easier. His thick brows converged above his nose as he mirrored his daughters stance. It never occured to him that she was stubborn because daddy was stubborn. All that mattered was defeating this adorable yet unmovable opponent.
"He smells"
"No, he doesn't"
"Does"
Alex gritted his teeth. He was a simple man. A simple man does not always have all the time in the world. This he conferred to his daughter. Her reply was a simple confused look.
"Look," Alex crouched to her level, "this photograph is very important. It also needs to be taken now because both the photographer and I have things we need to do. This costs us more money every second we delay."
"Mummy's not here"
Erica's father needed no reminding. Alex stopped crouching and wiped his hand down his face. Today was not his day.
"This photograph is for mummy"
"Then she should be in it"
His daughter's replies were like lightning in delivery. It always unbalanced him to be answered so quickly. Glancing away from her he could see his other three children. His eldest daughter, Maria, always looking out for his youngest daugter Bethany. Why oh why, pleaded Alex mentally, why couldn't Erica be as well-behaved as that near-silent angel of his, Maria? As he watched little Beth run around like she was on amphetamines Alex's eyes focused on Erica's twin brother. Jared Kristoph was not an identical twin. Nor was he a happy twin. Alex's frown of frustration turned to concern.
"Erica."
"What?"
"Why is Jared sad?"
"..." Erica looked away, "Because he smells really bad"
This was going nowhere.

Alex's reverie was broken as the sound of a familiar voice echoed through the near-silent office.
"She's a goddamned nightmare, absolutely crazy!"
The father in the creaky chair turned to his son. Now twenty-three, Jared stood tall and lean. His face was long and if he was thinner he would be almost a skeleton. Jared's eyes were pleading as they looked at his old man, seeking some kind of comfort and support from his 'goddamned nightmare'. Alex smiled toothily. He knew why Jared was irritated so.
"And what has young Erica done now?"
"Where do I start?" Jared began his pacing. If wrinkles and creases were signs of age, then the blue suit that clung to him was an ancient artifact. The set of his brow, the embers glowing behind his brown eyes, the set of that unique mouth, all were shared with his twin. It was probably the only way you could tell they were related so closely. "First she's all 'Help me with the preparations' then it's 'Why're you doing it wrong?' and then she gets mad and does her rambling ranting...rage party of a yelling fest, y'know what I mean, just because I'm trying to help her unlucky fiancé plan his stag night, then she calls me here and, bam, soon as I try and help she forces me out!"
"Marriages can put people under a lot of stress" Alex diplomatically put forward.
"Yeah, I guess..." Jared mutters, peering over his simple father's shoulder, "Still looking at that old photo?"
"It's got lots of meaning for me. Should have lots for you, don't you remember?"
"Course I can" Jared replied, gazing at the worn photograph lovingly held by Alex.

"I'm not going to give it to you!"
"But it should be mine!"
"No, back off!"
Early in the day with the sun yawning in the east two children fight nearby to a solitary tree. This squable is new but not uncommon. In the shde of the tree Jared pushes at his sister, a fist clutched to his chest as though he was holding onto his heart. Erica was ferocious and overpowering. Since he could remember Jared always associated those two ideas with his twin sister. That and how much shorter than himself she was. At this point in time that fact made her somewhat more frightening to the young boy. Jared's red-faced sister was on the verge of tears. Neither of them knew if those were due to anger or sorrow.
"Give it me!"
"Mum gave it to me! So it's mine!"
At some stage in their lives all women inevitably learn of the male's most famous weakspot. Often this is learnt through practicing the exploitation of that weakness. On that sunny blue-skied day, before the photographer came, Erica discovered that boys can be made to let go of what they hold onto with a shattering kick between their legs. Jared doubled over and fell to the floor. The air refused to enter his lungs and he choked on tears as his sister stomped on over and reached for that which he had held most precious. From the grass her hands raised a shining trinket on a chain. A small and very old, in both style and creation, pocket watch. Like Gollum with his precious she held it with awe. Erica opened the locket to the picture held within. Upon the inside of the lid rested a portrait of two people. Their faces were as warm as a fire, genuine smiles of borderless joy beaming out to Erica.
"Mummy...Daddy..." Erica practically whispered.
Through his sobs Jared's words cut through her amazement, "...it's mine..."
Erica turned, both hands firmly planted on her hips and stared down on her slowly rising brother.
"Mummy is ill, so she wasn't thinking properly. She would've given it to me otherwise"
With this resounding statement of obviously irrefutable fact, Erica stomped off to the rest of their family inside the nearby building. She only looked back once before she went into the hospital. Jared was crying to much to notice the flicker of pure guilt across his sisters face.

A phone rang out with chirrupy tones and once more broke the silence of the light filled office. Jared stopped his peering and answered his mobile phone. Without many words he excused himself. The phone call seemed very serious to Alex. Jared never left anywhere quickly. Running a simple hand through his simple hair again Alex returned to his lone musings. It didn't last long. Another altogether more feminine voice broke his concentration this time, causing Alex to turn.
"This is never gonna work"
Same pleading eyes, same furrowed brow, same worried lip as his last visitor. Erica stood and stared at her father as if pleading for comfort or support. Her hair was loosely tied back, dark as night. She wore a single blue clip at one side to keep the excess hair that had fallen loose from obscuring her glowing brown eyes.
"What's bothering you, Erica?" Inquired her old man, beckoning for her to come closer.
"This wedding...this entire thing. Nothng's right. I try to get hold of oine thing and there it goes...'I'm sorry, we're all out,' or, 'We're overbooked, we can't make it' or some other bloody stupid problem. And James, dear god, that man makes me want to scream!" At this proclamation Erica's slender fingers knitted their way through her hair, poised to tear, "Whenever I discuss it with him he's never angry, or impatient, or serious he...he just laughs! That over-relaxed laugh, that same damn laugh that, it's like, as if to say Oh how silly'!"
Alex's chuckle at his daughter's immitation of her soon-to-be husband brought him a rather harsh glare. A quietness decended upon them both as Erica slumped into a nearby chair. Unlike the previous peace this quietness was heavy. Oppressive.
Erica's voice broke slightly, "I miss mum."
"I know."
Father and daughter were united in their mournful silence. Erica broke the stalemate once more.
"What picture is that?"
Alex smiled, turning it to her, "You remember this, right?"

"Cheese!"
A bright flash snapped out and captured the four children together, even if a certain one stood apart, grumpily cluthing onto something in both hands. Alex believed he knew what had happened. He had visited his beautiful wife in hospital earlier that day. It hurt him deeply to see her like that. She'd lost all colour. She sweat bullets and was feverish. The doctors didn't know how to treat her. It was hopeless. Alex had visited two days before and she had asked for him to bring their four children. She had been holding onto something for each of them. Not everyone got what they were meant to be given though. Erica kicked up a fuss, yelling at doctors, berating everyone as though she was much older and all other people were to lame. Her dear father had escorted her out and after a stern talking to he decided she didn't deserve her present and had withheld it. In hindsight he knew it was cruel. No-one's perfect.
"Jared..."
Lost in his thoughts Alex hadn't noticed the twins coming together. Brought back to earth, he watched the silently. Jared was crouched facing away from Erica, his face the darkest of storm clouds.
"Jared, I want a hug"
Erica had a problem with two things: asking politely and apologising.
"Go away" Jared practically snarled out. But nothing could deter the young girl. Jared looked stunned and Alex was stunned as Erican just gave up asking or demanding and hugged him from behind.
"Sorry"
This utterance brought Maria's attention. The eldest daughter, still trying to keep a hold on Bethany, looked up at her father with the most puzzled of looks. He could but shrug. Jared turned around to Erica and his hand was forced open by his twin. She dropped something into Jared's palm.
"Mummy said you should have it," grinned Erica, "I don't want it because it's yours."

"Your mother..." Alex started to fumble in his desk, "You remember I took your gift from her away?"
"Yeah. I never did get it, you cruel, forgetful old man"
"Easy, easy, fangs away."
Erica folded her arms across her chest like armour. "That was the last time any of us ever spoke to mum."
"We all thought she had more time...that's why we took that photograph, for her, remember?"
Alex ceased his fumbling and dragged open the folds of Erica's armour, before placing a rather small object into the palm of her hand.
"This was her present to you, Erica. It should be useful to you now."
Erica couldn't help but cry. Looking down into her palm, tears move silently down her cheeks. A silver circle of metal rested in her unfolded hand, a single tiny blue gem embedded into that flawless silver. Her mother's ring.
"That was passed down through her family. I'm sorry I didn't give it to you until now, but hey, it'll probably fit now." Alex tried to shrug off any form of melancholic or overindulgent emotions with that statement, still trying to be the cruel forgetful father who simply forgot to give the present back. It was more comfortable that way. The ring reminded him too vividly of a certain smile and a certain voice.
Erica assaulted him lovingly, wrapping her arms around his aged neck.
"Thank you..."