Happy Family

Ryan Wolfe loved his niece, his nephews and his sister. What he didn't love, however, was that every month or so, Ryan's twenty-six year old sister Kate had different man in her life. The one he was going to meet tomorrow would be no different. He understood, though, it's hard to raise three kids on your own and try to keep a brilliant job.

It wasn't too hard on his five year old twin nephews, Sam and Cole, They are too young to understand what happened. All they knew was that their father wasn't around anymore.

Ryan's fourteen year old niece, Lauren, however, was different. It was still hard on her,. She was only 5 when her father lashed out and hit her mother and Ryan intervened and the memory still plays in her head.

Lauren's father wasn't the same as the twins. Her mother thinks that's why she and Ryan get on so well and are so close. Closer than close. They were best friends for life.

Lauren was used to her mother's frequent relationships. She and Ryan started placing bets recently on whether or not they would last more than two months.

Ryan pulled into the driveway and heard Sam and Cole arguing from the pool as he got out of the car. He smiled to himself but his smile grew bigger when he saw the back of Lauren. She was sitting on the lowest branch of a tree leaning against the trunk, ear plugs in ears, book in lap. She always reminds him of himself when he was her age. Everyone said the look alike. Both had soft, brown hair, brown eyes and a great complexion. They both had the same personality, same taste in music, books, sports, both had OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and both loved science. Lauren even wanted to be a CSI when she grew up.

When Ryan reached the tree, he could hear her music playing. She hadn't noticed him, so when he grabbed her ankle and pulled, she nearly fell off the tree and gave out a little yelp. Ryan got into such a fit of laughing he had to lean against the tree, tears pouring down his face already. It never failed.

"Ryan" she said, whining. When he could stand on his own two feet on his own, Ryan walked to face her, wiping tears from his face. "That's not funny" she continued, trying to kick him and finally getting him on the arm.

"Oh god, you've got to be kidding, right?? That was the best thing I've seen all day," Ryan replied Lauren dumped her things on the ground narrowly missing Ryan's Head, Then jumped down herself, land on Ryan, causing them both to fall to the ground.

When they got up she said a quick hi and gave him a big, bright smile and a quick peck on the cheek.

"Hi," he said back. He picked up her things, put an arm around her shoulder and lead her into the house, down the hall to the kitchen and placed her things on the counter. "So... How was school?"

She hesitated and then said, "Fine. Do you want a drink?"

He nodded. He sat on the stool at the end of the counter but was soon ambushed by the twins, who were soaking wet. He said hi to them both and gave them a quick kiss on the heads.

"Here you go," Lauren said, giving him and iced tea before turning to the twins and saying, "Go dry off. You're soaking uncle Ryan."

"We have towels," Cole, the youngest, said.

"Yeah," said Sam, "and we want to stay with Ryan."

"Yeah... wait what???" Cole looked at his twin brother, confused. Ryan looked at Lauren and pretended to be hurt, while Lauren, while Lauren took a sip of tea to hide her amusement.

"Yeah-ah," Sam looked at his twin, "Besides we want to go back out."

"I thought you really wanted to spend some time with me," Ryan said.

"Well you left your swimming trunks here from last time," Lauren said. Ryan laughed and got up.

"Fine you guys win, alright?" Ryan asked getting his trunks from the washing machine. He went to the pool house to get changed, while Lauren went to get her swimsuit and the boys went back outside.

When Lauren was ready, she got herself a drink and went out to her uncle and brothers and sat down beside the pool, placing her drink on the table. When she turned around again, Ryan was looking at her stomach. She looked down and realised she had forgotten to take out her belly-button ring. Ryan looked at her, waiting for her to explain.

"Look, I got it done a few weeks ago," she caved. "He was a professional. Just don't tell mom, please?"

He swam over to her. "Alright! But she will find out sooner or later..." and with that he grabbed her ankle again and pulled her down, causing a big splash. Lauren pushed his head under the water and swam away. The boys started splashing each other and then got four soft balls each and fired them at Lauren and Ryan. They were hit by the first five but caught the last three and returned fire.

"Hey guys, I'm home," Kate Wolfe said cheerfully and loudly so to be heard over the splashing and laughter "And I have someone I really want you four to meet."

And with that she stood aside, revealing a man about forty-five, light, ginger hair and dark sunglasses