Count On You

By: Riley

Summary - When their formerly abusive father shows interest in remarrying their mother, Kendall and Katie aren't sure how to feel about it. They had only just gotten used to him being around again. There has to be some way to stop it, right?

NOTE - Has OCs.

.:Chapter One:.

"Kendall, Katie, you better get going or you're going to be late," Mrs. Knight called for the umpteenth time in the last twenty minutes.

She wasn't stupid; she knew they were stalling for time. Katie was doing that bit she always did; pretending to be sick in the bathroom while in actuality she was playing a video game. As if the bomb blasts and the tiny sounds of people dying weren't clue enough, not even the unhealthiest person willingly spent an hour in the bathroom.

Kendall, on the other hand, wasn't good at being subtle. Plain and simple. Maybe it was because he was a terrible liar and faker; one of the few things Jennifer—or Kacy as she sometimes preferred to be called by her middle name—nor her ex-husband had been able to pass down to him. It explained why he had never gotten into any of the plays while he was still in school; his acting was abysmal. He had an affinity for copying accents otherwise quitting his job to become an actor, like James was thinking of becoming, was probably not the best idea.

"Mom, I'm nineteen years old, I think I can handle getting somewhere without being told what to do," Kendall said as he rounded the corner to stand in the foyer next to his mother. Mrs. Knight gave him a look that only a mother could, eyebrow raised, arms crossed over her chest, the stance that radiated her confidence in having him do as he was told.

"As your mother, I bet to differ," she said.

"You don't have any faith in me, do you?"

"You're forgetting that it's not long until you go out to Minnesota to play junior hockey," Mrs. Knight pointed out calmly. "And while I'm happy you understand how much responsibility you know have, whether you like it or not, your father is going to go along with you." When Kendall started to protest, she put up her hand. "I'm not having my son out in Minnesota for nine months without any supervision."

Kendall now crossed his arms over his chest, lightly kicking at the ground. "I'll be with the rest of the team and we have coaches for a reason." He shrugged. "And I'll be back every chance I get."

"Yeah, but when you have all of those boys around things seem to get crazy pretty easily," Mrs. Knight pointed out. "It was only a matter of time before my hair started to turn gray, having to worry about you boys getting into trouble at the Palm Woods every day."

"Mom, you dye your hair," Kendall pointed out. His green eyes took on an air of mischief as he looked over her auburn tresses. "For all we know, your hair is pure white." He leaned forward to get a good look at her hair and Mrs. Knight reached up, pushing him back out of her way, causing him to laugh. "Where's your sister?"

Kendall's laughter subsided as he turned to glance back at the stairs. "I really don't think Katie wants to come with us to buy some hockey gear. You only want to get her out of the house."

"Exactly." Mrs. Knight didn't bother to try denying it. Kendall had always been very good at seeing right through her. The many times she had been caught dancing to some of her favorite songs—which she had tried to convince him that she was just cleaning—the times where she had tried to play off her tiredness to be sure her kids had enough presents for holidays and their birthdays, being able to see through the positive face she tried to keep up at all times when there were moments she just wanted to break down and cry.

Her own hazel eyes moved around the foyer that spanned around them. "I haven't had a chance to enjoy myself since I finally got everything moved in and I could use the peace and quiet."

Kendall looked around the foyer as well, taking in the extravagance that his mother had only dreamed of having. It wasn't like the mansion they had for that brief moment in time in Bel-Air; it didn't need to be as big and there wasn't a need for every electronic and piece of furniture to be controlled by the press of a button. No, this was a more comfortable sort of mini-mansion that had been bought for the boys, Mrs. Knight, and Katie shortly before the news of their summer tour and subsequent breakup of the boy band. It was supposed to house all six of them comfortably, and it did Mrs. Knight and Katie just fine, but as the boys have gone all their separate ways, the left over rooms were given to them if they ever wanted a place to stay.

And she enjoyed it, but having spent the time where she wasn't following the boys on tour and holding back her sobs of displeasure of the band coming to an end, she spent cleaning and moving, hoping to get everything into its place and livable. Now that it finally happened, she wasn't going to waste a minute of sinking into that buttery couch and watching as much chick TV she could get her hands on.

"You deserve a lot more than that, Mom," Kendall said honestly. "After being our Momager; driving us to our first appearances and concerts, having to deal with a bunch of teenage boys who probably didn't make anything easy for her…"he gave her a sheepish smile. "You deserve the best. And, I love you."

Mrs. Knight gave Kendall a long look. As much as she appreciated the sentiment, she knew there was something else he wasn't telling her. "What is it?"

"I need some extra money," he said sheepishly. "You said yourself that the money we got from the band we can't use until we're twenty-one, and the money that I got from Sherwood doesn't really go a long way when things out here are so expensive."

Mrs. Knight raised a hand to her forehead. "What about the $300 a week you get with the team?"

"That's for living expenses and since I'm going to be staying with the team in a group house for the most part, when I'm not staying with Dad or doing my school work, I'm probably going to be working at Sherwood again when I'd rather not." Kendall held out his hand. "So I need some money now, please."

"Fine."

Mrs. Knight walked over to her purse, which sat on the table by the front door, and pulled out a couple of twenties. She handed them over to Kendall as Katie came clomping down the stairs, each step showing her disdain. Once she reached the bottom step, she walked over to her mother, holding out her hand as well.

"Sweetie you haven't needed money since you first started getting your allowance," Mrs. Knight pointed out.

Katie's lips twitched and her mother recognized the quick, money-hungry glint that flashed through her eyes. Then it faded and Katie's expression morphed to one of insistence. "I know, but if Kendall's getting money, I should too. Especially since I'm the one that has to listen to nothing but hockey mumbo-jumbo for the next three hours."

"I thought you were happy I was chosen to join the Magicians," Kendall said.

"I am," Katie admitted. "Because I can get more money off of your autographs now."

Kendall rolled his eyes and took his car keys off of the counter next to Mrs. Knight's purse then placed her hands on Katie's shoulders and steered her towards the front door. "We'll see you later, Mom." He waved over his shoulder, pushing Katie out the door and locking it behind them.

Mrs. Knight waved back as the door closed. She breathed in a deep sigh, immediately reveling in the silence, and walked to the kitchen to start a bowl of popcorn. For the first time in a long time she was ready and willing to do absolutely nothing for the day.

"What about this one?"

"I don't know...the grip doesn't feel right."

"It's a hockey stick just pick one!"

Katie threw her hands into the air and stomped down the aisle of the sporting goods store, running her fingertips over the long row of hockey sticks, threatening to knock them all over…if not pick one up and whack both her father and brother over the head with it until they begged for mercy. Whichever one came first.

"Relax, Katie, we're almost done here," Kevin Knight said. He took the stick back from his son and replaced t on the rack. Not after balancing it in his hand for a few seconds. "Yeah, the grip isn't right on this one, and it seems too lightweight." He placed a hand on his chin and looked over the selections of equipment in front of him once more. "You just need one good stick and then we can get some others when we're back in Minnesota."

"Right." Kendall sat down on the bench that held the pads and helmet they had already selected.

Kevin glanced at him. "You're still not used to the idea of leaving are you?" He asked. "I mean, it was bound to happen, no offense, but boy bands don't live forever."

"I know," Kendall agreed. "It's just…weird not having the guys by my side on the ice anymore." He raised a hand and dropped it to his lap. "I mean, I know they're all happy for me and James is really excited to start his solo career with Gustavo when he's not acting in whatever thing he can get, and Carlos is getting ready for his wedding to Steph and directing some stuff."

"But Logan's going to be in Minnesota too," Kevin pointed out. "Isn't he studying at the University?"

"Yeah," Kendall agreed. "But you know Logan, he's taking every credit he can to maximize his pre-med stuff." He waved his hand. "He's probably going to be studying all the time. But it's not just that, it's missing birthdays and holidays and staying friends with everyone—"

"Yeah, but then you'll get drafted by a major team and will make lots of money," Katie pointed out, coming back up the aisle, holding onto a purple hockey stick. "What's better than that?"

Kevin turned to Katie, eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms. He gazed at her for a long moment until Katie snapped at him for staring. "Sorry, I'm just trying to figure out how we ended up having one kid that's so money hungry."

An uncomfortable silence filled the three Knights and Kevin nodded, turning away. It was going to follow them wherever they went, no matter how much distance they managed to put between them and the past. The fact of the matter was Kevin had been a hockey player at the peak of his prime; having kids seemed to get in the way as he was one step away from going pro and he had to stop so that he could support his family better. He ended up becoming a lawyer and when Kendall started to show his own talents with the sport his father loved, Kevin had turned hungry. He recognized the passion and natural talent in his son and wanted to make sure he was able to get as far as he could. Unfortunately, he had taken it to the extreme and started to push Kendall harder and harder, ultimately living vicariously through him. It alienated Mrs. Knight, who had been staying home to take care of Katie at the time and as their confrontations increased he became more and more pressured, ultimately starting to hit Kendall.

It had all come to a head one night when Mrs. Knight had come back home to find Kendall crying and hiding behind the couch, shaking with fear a fresh bruise on his face, and Kevin pacing back and forth in their room, holding an ice pack to his hand. It had been the last straw and Mrs. Knight had given him the ultimatum to see someone and to get help or to leave. His pride had been too great and he left, abandoning the family and making things hard for them, ultimately having Kendall get a job at the grocery store at thirteen to help his mother make ends meet.

"Don't worry about it, Dad," Kendall reassured him, breaking the silence. He rubbed his hands on the legs of his jeans, almost nervously. "We're…past that and we're better now, right?" Were they past it? Not completely. But they were getting better, after Kevin's resurfacing shortly after the boys had arrived in LA, Kendall and Katie battled having him back in their lives until Kendall turned eighteen and the need for answers on both sides had become too great to ignore.

"Right," Kevin agreed.

"This family moment is all sweet and everything," Katie said sarcastically. She twirled the hockey stick in her hands before holding it against her hip, balancing on it. "But can we please get something to eat now? I'm so hungry that the smell of the footballs in here is torture."

Kevin laughed and reached out, mussing Katie's hair. "Does your mother not feed you?"

"Now that Carlos is out of the house we have nothing but food," Katie said. "Sometimes I don't think she knows what to do with herself. She comes home with so much food that we have to practically give it away."

"She's a mother, Katie, what do you expect," Kendall said. He gathered the sticks and pads, juggling them in his arms as he stood up from the bench. The three walked over to the counter to pay for their items. "Mothers like to take care of people and Mom's always been like that. She's probably just not used to having such an empty house again."

"Who knows," Kevin said. "It may not be so empty for long."

Katie looked sick. "She's not pregnant is she?"

"Ugh!" Kendall's face screwed up with disgust. "Thanks for that mental image." He dropped his items on the counter and took a step back as the cashier started to move through them, scanning the barcodes. Kevin moved down to the card swiper, eyes steady on the screen as the total continued to climb.

Kevin laughed. It wasn't the kind of laugh that went along with something funny. No, it was the sort of laugh that proved he was hiding something from his children. It was something that parents seemed to master over the years, keeping their kids in the dark about things that they had unknowingly referred to or wouldn't be able to understand until much later.

Kendall and Katie exchanged glances before taking the already scanned pucks off of the counter and started to toss them up and down in their hands. "Alright Dad," Kendall said slowly. "What aren't you telling us?"

"And in case you haven't noticed, we have the power here," Katie added.

Kevin glanced back and forth between his son and daughter. "Would you really pelt me with hockey pucks over something as stupid as this?"

"As stupid as what?" Kendall prompted.

"Unbelievable," Kevin murmured. He turned to the cashier and swiped his card through the card swipe, using the electronic pen to put his signature on the transaction, and took the bags that now held their things. He ignored Kendall and Katie as they walked out of the sporting goods store and to his car in the parking lot. "And I thought that Garcia kid was a nut job. Ow!" He brought a hand to the back of his head where a welt formed, having been gently hit by a puck. He turned to face his children, Katie smirking back at him, walking back over from retrieving the puck. "Katie! I could ground you for that!"

"You could try," Katie replied.

"But there's more where that came from," Kendall said, the most evil of grins on his face. "Now, put the bags in the car and tell us what you're…not…telling us."

Kevin shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. Using his key, he opened the trunk to the car and stuffed the bags inside. With a pointed glance, he took the hockey pucks from his kids and put them in the trunk as well. "I'm not saying anything, Kendall, I've…just been thinking…about your mother and I lately and…what went wrong between the two of us."

Katie snorted.

"It's just that things have been going well between us for a while, we're not the same people we were before…maybe things need to change."

Kendall twisted his mouth to the side. This made no sense. He was dating, his mother was dating, why was he talking like this unless he wanted to…"you want to get back together with Mom?" He asked incredulously. He felt his jaw drop and did his best to close it, but he was frozen. Admittedly, at the beginning, he had dreamed and hoped his father would come back and he and his mother would start things fresh. As time went on he understood that it wasn't going to happen and his own bitterness against his father's leaving them and not having his short-lived childhood abuse confirmed took him over instead. "Are you serious?"

"Really?" Katie's expression mimicked Kendall's.

"I was just thinking about it," Kevin defended himself. He fidgeted with the keys in his hand, running the metal over his fingertips over and over again."

"But…you haven't been around that long and…you'd have to go back to court to get remarried and—"

"We're separated, Kendall," Kevin pointed out. "Not divorced." He pressed his hand to the lid of the trunk and slammed it shut. A serene expression crossed his face. "And nothing lasts forever."

A/N: Why, why ,why are my first chapters always short? (Shorter than my chapters usually are, anyway). Unlike most of the BTR stories I've written, this one is more lighthearted than the ones I've done before. It focuses mainly on the Knights but the rest of BTR and their friends are important too because what they go through affects them. Plus, I had fun writing Kevin's and Mrs. Knight's back stories in Memories and Melodies and thought hat revisiting them and their interactions with each other here would be fun.

This story is during BTR season four before they "took a break" (so before the summer tour mentioned in BTDreams) and decided to go their separate ways, though they're still close. That being said, I have some other stories that are set during season 4 when they're still together and others that aren't that I'm working on as well.

This story does include OCs, just a fair warning. Thanks to those that still read and review.

Cheers,

-Riles