House Arrest

Chapter 2

Day 2

Rain was napping, Ace was in his playpen, happily chewing on his stuffed animals. Life was good…except for the thing on his ankle but whatever. Fang grabbed a handful of chips before going back to his game. God he loved his sons X-box and PS3. The door bell rang.

"It's unlocked!" Fang yelled, lost in his game. Iggy walked into the living room.

"Hey dude."

"Hey." Fang didn't even look up.

"Max here?"

"Nope. Work. Kids are at school and Rain is napping so keep it down."

"Right." Iggy closed the door, walking in more before running into something. "Max rearranged the furniture?"

"Yeah."

"Great." Iggy started feeling around. Once he finally found the overstuffed chair, he sat down. "How's life?"

"Day 2 and I'm still feeling pretty good. No work, no Max, just me and my games…and two of my kids but whatever. They're the quiet ones."

"Rain is quiet?"

"Well…okay so one of them is quiet. Huh Ace?"

The baby giggled at the sound of his name. "Da-da!"

"Yeah." Fang kept looking at his game. "Off work today?"

"Yeah." Iggy leaned back into the chair, settling in. "Bet Max has been bitching about the whole thing, huh?"

"Yeah. When isn't she bitching at me?" But I love her, Fang added in his mind. "How'd you get here?"

"Cara dropped me off after a rousing night at her place."

"A rousing night or arousing Iggy?"

The blind man laughed a little. "So, anyways, how's Max?"

"Told you, she's bitchy."

"No, I meant…you know. Does she feel better now that the trials over?"

Fang paused his game, turning to look at his blind best friend. "Iggy, I don't want to talk about it, alright? It's over, that's all that matters."

"Okay, alright."

Fang got up, going over to Ace. "What's wrong buddy? You don't like being caged?"

Fang picked up his youngest, carrying him into the kitchen. "Want so pizza Ig? Left over from yesterday night."

"What kind?"

Fang opened the fridge with one hand. "Uh, we got sausage and cheese."

"Bring me some cheese."

"Alright. Cold?"

"Is there any other kind?"

Fang grabbed three pieces for Iggy and five of sausage for himself. Ace made a noise. Fang bounced him a little, going back into the living room.

"Here Ig." Fang gave his friend his pizza before sitting back down, laying Ace on the ground. The baby made a noise of joy, crawling away. He only went as far as the TV, looking at it. Fang kept an eye on him while talking to Iggy.

"Talk to Nudge recently?" Fang asked.

"…Yeah, you haven't?"

"She's kind of…mad at me."

"What'd you do?"

Sighing, Fang began to explain. "She's mad that I beat up that guy. But what he did to Max makes it okay. She said that I'm a 'bad influence' on my children."

"And she isn't on hers? Who drinks everyday?"

Fang shook his head. "Easier to find fault in others right?"

When Max got home at six, the first thing she saw was her husband sleeping on the couch, chip crumbs all over his chest. She sighed, closing and locking the door behind her. Rain, who was sitting at the coffee table, coloring.

"Hi Mommy!"

"Shhh, Daddy's sleeping."

Fang made a loud snoring noise, making his youngest daughter giggle. Max glanced at him, sighing. She hated his snoring with a passion. He quieted down, mumbling under his breath. Max walked into the kitchen, where Caden was sitting at the table, doing his homework.

"Good job, baby. You're the only one that does your homework with out being told, you know that?"

Caden giggled. Max looked over his shoulder at his work before kissing his head. "Did Hayley pick you up from school today, like I told her?"

"Yep! Her and Sky. They're fighting."

"Really?" Max asked, distracted. She had to start dinner, seeing as Fang, who just happened to be worn out from sleeping all day, had not. They ate pizza last night so tonight…she opened the freezer, pulling out frozen chicken fingers and fries.

"Yeah. Sky was kissing her best friend. But that's nasty!"

"Yeah." Max turned on the oven. "You get…um…cooties, right?"

"Yes! Carrie, that girl in my class, tries to kiss me. She chases me around all day. It's nasty!"

"Tell her to stop." The mother grabbed a bottle of water before facing her son.

"I do!"

"Then you like it?"

"No! Girls are icky."

"Icky, huh?" Max walked out of the room. "I'm a girl too, you know."

"No. You're Mommy. That's different."

"Yeah, alright." Max walked upstairs, headed to her bedroom. Once there, she laid down on the bed, sighing. After a minute, Skylar imerged from her bathroom.

"Skylar!" She sat up. "How many times have I told you that my bathroom is off limits?"

"Well, my bathroom is nasty."

"Then clean it."

"Yeah but, Mom you don't-"

"Shut up, I have a headache." Max laid back on the bed. "Go put the food in the oven and take it out when it's done."

Skylar frowned, watching her. "You're not eating?"

"I'm not hungry. Where's Ace?"

"Hayley put him to bed. Mom, are you okay?" The teen suddenly felt bad, remembering all his mom had gone through.

"I'm fine. Go do as I asked. And tell Hayley to check on Ace, alright?"

He almost told her that he and his sister weren't talking but he stopped himself. She had enough going on.

Fang woke with a start. He looked around. Where was Ace? What time was it? Did he miss the football game?

"Daddy! You're up!" Rain stood up. "Look at me picture!"

He really wished she'd stop yelling. "It's great, Rain." He stood up. "Is Mommy home?"

"Yeah. And Hayley and Sky and Cay-den."

Fang stretched before going up the stairs. He and Hayley had fought that morning, again about what she was wearing. He was feeling slightly bad about it. Fang went ot her bedroom door, opening it.

"Hey, baby girl, I wanted to-" Fang stopped. "Hayley!"

"What?" She looked up from her text book, her boyfriend, Seth, looking up also.

"You know the rules. He's here this door stays open!"

"Dad, he's all the way over there and I'm on the bed!"

Fang didn't care at the moment that they weren't anywhere close to each other. "No. You broke a rule. Get out, James."

"His names Seth." Hayley stood up. "And he does not have to go. Just because you're in a bad mood about being stuck here doesn't mean that you have to ruin everyone else's lives!"

"Do not yell at me. You broke a rule."

"You broke the law!"

Seth stood up. "It's cool, Hay, I was leaving anyways."

Seth walked past Fang before hurrying down the stairs and out of the house.

"Dad, you are such a-" Hayley stopped herself.

"Such a what? Come, Hay, say it so that I can ground you even longer!"

"What is going on in here?" Max walked down the hallway. "I'm trying to sleep."

"She was in here, with the door closed, with that boy."

"What boy?"

"Jacob."

"His name is Seth, Dad. Seth!"

"Does it look like I care?"

"Fang." Max sighed, putting a hand on his arm. "I have a headache. Just shut up for a minute, alright?"

Fang nodded. Max looked at her daughter. "That is a rule, Hayley."

"Skylar's rooms up in the attic and he does God knows what up there!" Hayley crossed her arms over her chest. "Why doesn't that matter? Because he's a boy?"

"Damn right."

"Fang!" Max looked up at him. "Go check on Ace. Now."

"He's not crying."

"You're about to be if you don't leave!"

Fang looked at his daughter before walking away. Max sighed, going into the room, closing the door.

"Hayley, you know that he doesn't like-"

"I don't care! I'm not a baby."

"I know." Max seriously did have a bad headache. "Just keep the door open from now on, okay?"

"We weren't doing anything! He was all the way over-"

"Hayley, calm down." The girls mother closed her eyes.

"Are you okay, Mom?"

"Fine. I just…I'm going to bed. Make sure they all eat and Caden takes a bath, alright?"

Hayley nodded. "Okay. Do you want me to bring you dinner or-"

"No." Max walked out of the room, going back to her own. She laid down on the bed, planning on going to sleep. She was close to it when she felt a hand on her face.

"Mommy!"

She opened her eyes. "Hi Rain. Go eat dinner."

The little girl giggled. "Make sure Mommy eats."

"I'm not hungry."

"Daddy says Mommy has to eat."

"Did he?" Max closed her eyes again. She knew why Fang was worried about her but she wasn't not eating because of what he was thinking. She wasn't because she didn't feel good.

"Yeah. Him say no let Mommy feel bad."

"I'm not, sweetie. I just have a headache. Go eat."

"But Mommy-"

"Now Rain."

That's what Rain meant by bossy. She got off the bed, running into the kitchen. She climbed into her chair.

"Mommy not hungry," She announced.

Fang, who had Ace in his arms, sighed. "Okay."

"But she feels bad, Daddy! Make her feel better."

"I will." Fang sat a plate of food in front of her. Hayley put ketchup on it for her younger sister.

"Don't bother Mommy so much," the older girl ordered gently.

"Not bod-er! Daddy say too."

"I know." Hayley smiled at her. "You know what?"

"What?"

"Friday, I don't have any plans. You want to sleep in my room and have a slumber party?"

"Cay-den come?"

"Ew, no. He's a boy."

Rain giggled. "Yeah. Him boy."

Caden stuck his tongue out at them. "So? Girls are nasty."

"You say that just because you don't have a girlfriend. Because no girls want you." Hayley sat down.

"No! Girls are…just nasty."

Skylar walked into the room, burping as he came. "Did anyone give Caden a bath?"

"I can give myself a bath! I'm a man."

Hayley snorted. "Yeah, okay."

Fang set each of his children's plates on the table before walking away, headed to Ace and Caden's room. He laid the baby down in the crib, kissing his head.

"Da-da."

"Yeah." Fang ran a hand down his face. "I love, Ace."

The baby giggled.

"Go to sleep, alright?" Fang kissed him again before making him lay down and putting a blanket over him. "Good night, baby boy. See you in the morning."

Fang walked out of the room and into his. Max was sleeping, snoring softly. Fang closed the bedroom door before laying down next to her. She looked so small and fragile to him. Fang grabbed one of her hands, holding it in his. It was so, so tiny. Kissing it gently, he couldn't help but to remember that night. The night she came running into the house, screaming, running into their bedroom, crying out to him. He shouldn't have let her go out so late, even if it was for diapers. He should have picked some up on the way home. Why was he so stupid? Why?

Max opened her eyes slowly, having felt him rubbing his fingers across hers. "Fang."

He smiled a weak, soft smile. "Hey."

His wife pulled her hand from his grasp. "I'm sleeping."

"And hungry."

"No, I'm not."

Fang kissed her head. "Not even going to ask me how house arrest has been going?"

"No."

Pulling her closer to him, Fang laughed a little. "Iggy came over today."

"So you weren't the only one messing up my house?"

"No."

"Hmmm." Max laid her head on his chest. "Don't yell at Hayley so much."

"She had a boy in her room!"

"Fang, calm down. They weren't doing anything."

"Yeah, just like we weren't doing anything when we were-"

"You can't hold what we did against her and you know it."

"Still, I don't like Jesse."

"His name is Seth." Max rolled her eyes. "You need to go make sure our kids aren't killing each other."

"Eh, let them fight it out. We have too many anyways."

Smiling slightly, the woman closed her eyes. "I'm off tomorrow."

"Great, I get to spend the whole day with you."

She could tell by his tone that he was being a jerk but said nothing. "I love you."

Fang ran a hand down her back, gently rubbing in between her wings. "I love you more."

"I doubt it."

"Yeah, me too."

Max laughed slightly, pushing away from him. It was silent for a few minutes before Fang got up.

"I'm going to go check on things."

"Okay." Max closed her eyes again. "See you in the morning."

"You're assuming I'm not going to wake you up again."

"Fang-"

"Kidding…sort of." He walked out of the room, passing the hall bathroom where he heard Caden talking excitedly to someone, probably Skylar. Fang went into Rain's room, which was across from her older sister's. There was a huge fight about who's room Ace would share. When Caden lost the battle, as Max said boys share rooms with boys, girls with girls, the then five year old didn't talk to him mom for a whole day. Which, in the scheme of things, wasn't that bad but at the time was amazing.

"Are you sleeping, yet?"

"No! You no tuck me in!"

"Oh." Fang acted shocked. "Am I supposed to do that?"

"You Daddy!"

"I am?" He went over to the girl, kissing her cheek. "Welll then I guess I'd better tuck you in, huh?"

"Yeah."

Fang pulled her Hello Kitty blanket up around her, handing her the Tigger doll that Iggy bought her on the day she was born. Fang gave her a kiss before standing.

"Sleep tight; don't let the bedbugs bite."

"Daddy!"

He smiled at her. "I love you Rain."

"Love you too."

"Good. Now go to bed." He walked out of the room, leaving the door opened as always. Hayley was walking up the stairs when he came out.

"Hey, H-"

"Don't talk to me. I am no longer talking to anything with a dick."

"You are not allowed to say that word."

"Sue me!" The girl went into her bedroom, slamming the door for effect.

"Hey, does that include Jeff?" Fang called out.

"He's name is Seth and he just broke up with me, over the phone. He said that he can't deal with my a-hole of a dad!"

Fang sighed, running a hand over his face. "Hayley-"

"Just leave me alone."

Fang walked down stairs in search of food. He made a sandwich before going back up the stairs. Caden was now in bed, Skylar headed up the attic stairwell.

"Hey, wait a sec."

Skylar turned to look at his dad. "Yeah?"

"What do you know about this…John kid?"

"Seth?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if you must know…"

"Get on with it, Skylar."

The boy nodded towards the staircase. "Come into my office."

Fang groaned, following him. "Now tell me-"

"Wait." Skylar closed the door before turning on the light switch. The room turned red from the light.

"W-"

"Red light bulb. Don't tell Mom."

Fang sighed, trying to remember the last time he was up here. "Spill about Jerome, now."

"Seth, Dad. Seth Mass. He dates a girl for a few weeks, fucks them, and dumps them."

Fang frowned, not even correcting him on his language. "He just broke up with Hayley..."

"Chill, Dad. They didn't do it."

"It?"

"The it it."

"How do you know?"

"How do I know anything?" Skylar laid down on his bed. "Now pay up."

"Excuse me?"

"You owe me, Dad." Skylar looked at his father, reminding himself of the fact he looked nothing like him. "I gave you the info, you give me the cash."

"How about I don't tell your mom about those magazines under your bed?"

Skylar sat up. "How did you-"

Fang smirked. "You're not the only one that knows things. You're sister's been around longer than you have, and doesn't charge."

Skylar frowned. "When did she-"

"When she came home late a few nights ago, she ratted on you." Fang started down the stairway. He was lying through his teeth. He took a shot and got lucky. But his kids were already mad at each other so why not?