Pham Family Going Solo - Stephen 7.4

It was a beautiful Saturday morning. Stephen had gone to see the family at the graveyard and Saraphine went to the library. Wilhelmina had come inside from the garden to work when she saw a familiar face.
"Benjamin! What are you doing here?"
"I came to take you away with me, Wilhelmina."

Wilhelmina couldn't believe it.
"Benjamin...I'm happily married to Stephen! We have a baby! What we had was a quick summer romance! Get out of here before I get my parents-in law to throw you out."
"You mean those cops? Don't worry I took care of them"

"What?!"
"They're gone. Nothing can stop us from being together now. You can bring the baby. We can raise her together"

Wilhelmina couldn't believe it. They were dead...? No. They couldn't be! She had to protect them! She had to keep Tina safe!

Wilhelmina was still weak from the birth and couldn't turn but that wouldn't stop her.
"How could you kill them?! They did nothing to you!"

"Nothing? That cop broke apart my parents' marriage! His son stole you from me! They did not do nothing!"
"Were all those phone calls you?"
"No...that was my father...but then he had two kids with his horrid girlfriend and he stopped. I had to finish what he started!"

Wilhelmina couldn't take it anymore. She attacked him. They fought for a long time.

Their fight was brutal. Benjamin staggered out the front door...bleeding from his head. Wilhelmina was weak. She slowly fell to the ground. She was glad that she was able to protect Tina and hoped that Richie and Janet weren't actually dead.

Her wishes were in vain. Richie had been given quick stab to his spine. He died right there in the master bedroom.

There was no body to be seen of Janet. She was just a pile of ashes due to a stake to the heart.

Quintalyn had run into the house when she had heard the commotion.
"Oh nonono..."

Grim arrived right on time. He was used to his visits to the Pham household over the years but he wasn't expecting this. Souls from this house were usually of natural causes.

Meanwhile, Tina had slept through all of this.

Janet went willingly. She had lived a long life and was happy to go. She would be with her darling Richie after all.

Stephen and Saraphine came through the door at that very moment.
"Wilhelmina!"

"Mommy! Mommy come back!"

"W-Why?"
Grim had no words for him.

Wilhelmina begged for a little more time.
"Please! I have a baby! Tina needs me!"
Grim was not moved.

It was Richie's time to move on and Grim made his way upsatairs. The family followed him and discovered Richie.
They couldn't believe it.
"Dad..."
"Richie..."

"Richie...no"
"Daddy!"

Richie shook Grim's hand like an old friend. He remembered when Grandpa Peter died when he was a teenager. Wherever he was going...he would be with family.

Grim left soon after to leave the family to grieve.

Later that week, Quintalyn received a call from the police station. They told her they had caught the murderer. She asked who did it and got an unbelievable answer. Benjamin Pok. Of all the people...to kill out of jealousy. It disgusted her.

Stephen couldn't handle this. They had barely been married a year. Tina was without a mother and Saraphine was now an orphan. This wasn't fair.

"Oh grandma"
"It'll be ok Stephen. He's in prison now"

"That doesn't make it better! They were too easy on him! He should've gotten the death penalty instead of serving 3 life sentences!"

"I know how you feel Stephen. I want nothing more then to see him suffer but we can't afford to think like that. Saraphine and Tina shouldn't have to grow up in that environment"
"I can't help it"
"I know"

Stephen held Tina whenever she cried. He didn't want to think what he would have done if Benjamin had gotten to her.

He just hoped he could do this on his own.

The nights were hectic.
Saraphine had nightmares...horrible nightmares about Benjamin escaping.

Stephen couldn't bare to sleep in his bed and spent the nights on the couch.

Something had to change.
"Grandma...I think we should move."
"I think you're right dear...this place...is haunting us. In town?"
"No. I can't live here knowing what happened. None of us can. A new start for all of us."
"Alright...where would you like to go?"

AN// The reason I decided to move is that no one within the family seems to be ageing. Nothing I did seemed to fix it. I figured a move might help. In another note, do you guys want some virtual tissues?