Eli

"Daddy please! It's the Disney princesses on ice! Who knows when they'll come here again?"

"Thandie I said I'd think about it."

"But dad you have to let me go! If I don't I'll be stunted forever."

"Stunted? What a wide vocabulary… I'll consider it Thandie."

"Okay."

She walked away looking defeated with Julia written all over her little face. Disney princesses on ice. Do I really want to put myself through the torture? Do I really want to endure seeing all that pink? We haven't really done anything in three months though…well since… I guess this is where fatherhood gets painful. I'm going to take her to see Disney princesses on ice. Help me god.

Clare

We got to our seats at the ice show and Violet would not stop bouncing in her princess dress. She's a big princess Aurora fan so when she heard about this there was no stopping her. She bounced and squealed more. Maybe ice cream and pizza before the show was a bad idea. She's so keyed up. Ten minutes later her attentions went to another place. Eli, Thandie and Taylor came and sat beside us. Thandie was dresses like Belle while Taylor opted for Mulan's battle outfit. Eli was wearing a tiara and he looked pissed. We all shifted so that the girls could sit together. Eli sat beside me.

"Don't say anything about this please?"

"What? It's sparkly. Which princess are you?"

"Haha… the things I do for my girls."

"Well that guy down there has on tights. You got out pretty darn easy."

"Yeah I guess…. So how you've been?"

"I've been fine. You?"

"I'm trying to be okay."

"Well… I think I finally am. I finished Blake's journal…."

"And?"

"And…. Have you finished Julia's?"

"I haven't picked it up in weeks."

"Skip to the back… if she's written that far."

"She wrote in it every night up until her death. No matter how late she got home. What did Blake say?"

"It's not my place to tell you."

"Clare please…"

"The children."

"They aren't paying attention."

"This isn't the right setting Elijah."

"Coffee at my house after the show…you're going to tell me what happened."

"Okay."

The ice show went by quickly. I don't remember much of it but I do remember pink tulle dresses and skating trees…. After the show Violet, Thandie and Taylor were still amped up. They were hungry too and they begged us for McDonalds so we stopped there and they ate while playing and recapping the show. Eli looked like he was in another world. When I tell him what I have to tell him he'll really be on another planet.

When the three princesses were done eating they started to wind down. I carried Violet out of McDonalds and she drowsily thanked me for the night. I kissed her cheek and she started to snore softly while I put her in the car and strapped her seatbelt. Eli carried Taylor and Thandie out. Both of them were fighting sleep but they couldn't resist dozing off on his shoulders. He put them into his hearse. I beat him home by a few minutes but he didn't forget that we were supposed to talk. I carried Violet over and I lay her in bed with the twins. They had both fallen asleep in Taylor's room…

A lump grew in my throat as I walked back into the living room where Eli was pacing pack and forth nervously. I sat down and I cleared my throat to cue him to sit down too. When he was seating I started spilling the beans.

"According to Blake… Julia was pregnant but she decided not to get a third abortion so they were going to run away together…it was that night they died. They were leaving us. They were also leaving because there was a lot of heat on them."

He went to the back for about five minutes and he came out holding Julia's diary at his side. He looked defeated and torn. She must have written about it too then. He sat on the couch in silence pulling his hair. I could tell by the way he was blinking that he was holding back tears. A few minutes later a car pulled up and a guy came in.

"Eli what is it? You said for me to get here ASAP. Are the girls okay?"

"They are in there sleeping… Them and Violet. I need you to watch them for me Adam. Clare and I need to run an errand."

"O…okay."

I was scared to get into the hearse with Eli. In the first place…it's a hearse. In the second place… he looked a little unhinged. As soon as we pulled off he unleashed his anger.

"That fucking bitch! I did everything I could for her and now I find this out! Gosh I wish she was still alive so I could kill her myself! I can't believe the fucking nerve of her having unprotected sex with him! She really didn't care about me at all. And then she was pregnant…how in the fuck would she know whose baby it was? She probably killed my kids Clare! She fucking murdered my kids! It's right here in her motherfucking journal and she didn't have remorse! She didn't even sound remorseful to be leaving Taylor and Thandie so I guess even if she hadn't died I was still going to be a fucking single parent! I fucking hate her!"

"Are you okay?"

"No I'm not okay!"

"Okay."

I didn't know what he was going to do so I just stayed quiet. We pulled into the cemetery where they were buried. Maybe he's going to shoot the messenger… I hope not. He got out and he motioned for me to get out too. He got a sledge hammer from the back of his hearse and we stalked through the garden of corpses until we reached Julia's grave. The tombstone was heart shaped and one half of it already had Eli's name on it. He started tearing down the marble with the sledge hammer. He's stronger than he looked. It was chipping left and right. He didn't stop until the half of the marble heart with his name on it fell onto the ground. When it did he broke down crying as he leaned his head against Julia's side.

"Julia why did you do this to me? What did me and the girls ever do to you? I tried… I tried to love you… Dammit I tried! I loved you with everything I had in me. Did I mean anything to you?"

"Eli come on…She can't hear you."

"Aren't you even mad just a little?"

"I'm furious Eli. I'm so mad I could hit something. My husband who I did everything for got another woman pregnant and was planning to run away with her and leave me penniless. For that reason… I'm happy he died. Since he was going to leave regardless, I'm at least happy I got money, the house and some stability out of the deal. I'm happy he died because instead of my little girl wondering why he didn't want us….she can have a happy image of him loving us and just having to leave involuntarily. So excuse my French but I could dance on Blake's grave."

Eli stood up and stumbled over to me. He was just starting to sober up from his anger but I could still see the hurt in his eyes. He stood beside me and we looked at the half demolished tombstone. He watched it for a minute before walking back to the hearse. I followed him and we sat there for a few minutes in silence before he took off going back to our homes. When we arrived he parked in the driveway. I went to try and get out but he grabbed my hand swiftly.

"Please I just need a few more minutes…."

"Okay."

"I'm sorry if I acted like a mad man tonight."

"It's okay Elijah…Really. You were just letting it all out."

"Things are going to get better right?"

"Yes. Lots better."

"Great. I hope so. I'm going to the cabin next weekend. I think you and Violet should come along too. It's a fucking mansion. They have a man made pond, a playground and even water mobiles. Oh and what did you mean before about heat being on them Clare?"

"Didn't Julia write about it?"

"I skipped to the end. I don't know."

"Eli they were selling drugs."

"What! I cannot fucking believe this! In our houses?"

"No…no… according to Blake's journal their apartment downtown was where it all happened."

"Good…"

"Clare I'm glad I can talk to you. I would talk to my friends but they don't really understand."

"Yeah it feels good to vent."

"Even though I did do most of the venting."

"It's okay Eli just calm down…"

"Okay… You should really consider coming away to the cabin though. It could be fun and the kids could get some fresh air."

"What's that? It sounds like fun"

Eli

Clare went into the house and she got Violet. I told them goodbye and then I went into the house to sit down. Adam was playing a video game. I grabbed the scotch from the liquor cabinet and I poured myself a nice big glass.

"Whoa chief…are you trying to be hung over tomorrow?"

"Adam if you found out what I found out tonight…you'd turn the bottle bottom side up."

"Well what happened?"

"Julia had multiple abortions, she and Blake were selling drugs out of their secret downtown apartment, she was pregnant again and the night they died they were running away together."

"Wow… here let me go get the ever clear."

"Adam why would I have that? It's illegal."

"I forgot this wasn't still college. How about this, I just pour you another glass. If you want to get shitfaced I could just take the girls. They don't need to see you drunk…but you definitely need to get drunk."

"I don't want to get drunk alone."

"Well what about that totally hot MILF across the street?"

"Adam don't call Clare a MILF."

"Well she is definitely one Mother I'd love to Fuc…"

"Don't say that Adam. Not only because Clare is a decent lady but because if Fiona knew you were checking out other women she'd have your head on a platter. My wife is dead, I need my best friend."
"Alright dude but seriously…She seems…do you like her?"

"I like her just fine. We've known each other for years. Our kids are growing up together."

"Not that way."

"Adam Julia just died three months ago."

"Yeah she just died three months ago."

"Its only been three months hasn't it…"

"Yeah. Not that I won't ever think about dating again. When I'm ready Clare will definitely be on my list… she's nice, beautiful, our girls are crazy about each other and I know she likes them."

"Well when wedding bells do start ringing again call me and I'll be the best man again. I think my tux still fits."

"Adam you are messed. I'm not going to get drunk so you can skedaddle. Are my girls still sleeping peacefully?"

"No. They are in your room camped out at your TV."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. They even showed me the picture of you in a tiara. It really bought out your eyes."

"Shut up… They are awfully quiet."

I went back to the room and I heard them talking just above a whisper. It was about me.

"Daddy is still really sad about mommy."

"Well it hasn't been that long. Maybe we can find a new mommy."

"I don't want a new mommy."

"Not like that…you know what I mean. A new lady for daddy to do…grownup stuff with."

"Ohhhh. Well she has to be nice."

"Definitely. And she can't have any icky boys!"

"Ewwwwww! Boys. What about Violet's mom? She's nice and pretty and she can cook!"

"Yeah! How are we going to get them together?"

"We will discuss it at the meeting tomorrow."

I chuckled to myself and I walked into the room, busting up their little planning session. I kicked off my shoes and started jumping on the bed. Yeah I know it was immature and irresponsible but I felt like it. They joined me happily and when we were all bounced out I let them get bathed and then I put them to bed.

I went back in my living room and Adam was knocked out on the couch. I threw a blanket his way and I turned into bed. I must really be pathetic if my own children are trying to hook me up with somebody. While their gestures are sweet I'm just not ready.

Clare

I combed the glitter out of Violet's ginger hair. She's like me that way… While I was grooming her she started talking to me. I enjoy these moments with her. I hope they don't stop when she's older.

"Mommy."

"Yes baby?"

"Do you ever wanna get married again?"

"Maybe one day baby… Probably when you're all grown up. Why?"

"Because… I think Mr. Goldsworthy is perfect for us."

"Really now. What makes you think that?"

"I mean the guy has a steady job, two adorable kids and…nobody picks on me when he drops me, Taylor and Thandie off at school."

"Violet who is picking on you?"

"This girl named Rachael."

"Should I talk to your teachers? What does she say?"

"She says I'm stupid and ugly and that's why daddy died. But on the days she sees me getting out of the hearse she doesn't say anything to me!"

"Violet why didn't you tell me about this before?"

"I didn't want to bother you."

"You are never bothering me. I'll go talk to your teacher and schedule a conference with her mom tomorrow."

"Okay."

The nerve of that little bit…brat…picking on my baby! I'm going to give the principal, the teacher and her mother a piece of my mind. When I go up to that school tomorrow I'm going to be fierce. When you mess with my cub you have to deal with me…the angry mama lioness.

So what did you think? Reviews please.