Chapter Seven: Wind It Up

"Hello?" Completely got off guard and in the center of a crisis, Martie squinted at Marco at the door. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Marco," With an uneasiness in his voice and fear from all the wailing and screaming inside the room, Marco re-introduced himself. "I forgot to give my shower present to Oliver." He displayed the bear in his hand.

"Do you know anything about babies?" Martie held one of her hips and leaned her helpless body against the open door.

All Marco really knew about kids is what he'd learnt in health class.

"I guess, I know a little." He thought out loud.

"You'll do, fine." Martie was up for anything. She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him into the apartment and led him to where Dylan was standing and shushing Oliver in his arms in the middle of their living area.

"Oliver." Martie stood on her tip toe and stared up her son in his dad's arms. "Look what Marco brought you."

Marco shook the bear around in one hand, but Oliver didn't so much as pause for a moment.

"This is hopeless. We have The Omen child." Martie flopped back on their well worn out couch and held her hand over her head.

"He's a baby, Martie, they cry. We'll figure it out." Rocking Oliver in his arms, Dylan told her without looking over to her.

"My mom says that babies like something routine to pay attention to. That's why mobile's are so soothing. Just something routine like a picture, a fish tank or a CD or something." Marco said but, it didn't seem like he was actually be heard by either Dylan or Martie. Until, moments later Martie jumped up from the couch and dashed into the back room.

"Here." She held up a small bronze trinket in her hand and showed them as she came back into the living room.

"Do you plan on shoving that in Oliver's mouth?" Dylan took notice to it as she winded it up.

"No." She shook her head at Dylan and snarled. "It's a music box that I got from my Nana years back. I'm surprised I even have it." She took Oliver from Dylan and put him back into his car seat and then placed the music box next to it. He still cried like a baby while it played next to him but soon the crying turned into whimpers which transformed into sniffles which soon became silence. All three of the teenagers in the room were filled with relief.

"Thanks Marco." Dylan turned and it was just how it used to be between he and Marco. He patted his friend on the back.

"You're such a peach." Martie jumped back onto her feet. "I'd say I'll name my first baby after you but," She glanced between Marco and Oliver. "It's a little late for that."

"Next time." Marco joked. It was the first time he'd truly felt comofrtable and pleasent around Dylan in a long while.

"Well, I gotta jet. Thanks so much, Marco." She kissed him on the cheek and then dashed over to the entrance. It was the first time since Dyaln got home that he realized Martie was wearing her grey Pizza Hut golf tee shirt, blank pants and her apron.

"Where are you going?" Dylan watched her slide her runners on.

"I got to catch the 62 and then the 16."

"What for?"

"I'm going to work." She said like he should've known.

"You just gave birth." He told her.

"Are you serious?!" Her big brown bugs eyes widened like tea saucers. "I know but, I've got to go to work. My boss called, they're short waitresses and it's not like we're sitting on a mountain of mad cheddar, Dylan." She threw on her winter coat and zipped it up just before her throat.

"The doctor told you to take it easy. You haven't even been home a full day."

"Rest is for girls." She grabbed her tote purse, ran over to where Oliver was sitting happy as a clam and gave him a quick peck and then darted off to catch her bus.

"This is a zoo." Dylan sighed as he rested down on the couch.

"It's sort of expected." Marco assured him and as awkward as he felt, he stood still in the middle of the living room.

"Some dad I am, hey? I can't even comfort my own son."

"He's a week old, Dylan, cut both you and Oliver some slack." Feeling more and more at ease, Marco took a seat next to him, but he didn't get too close. "I think you're doing a great job."

"The idea that my dad could be right, that I can't do this. That kills me. He thinks I won't be able to balance school, a part time job, hockey, and a baby. I think somewhere at the pit of my stomach, I know he's right, too."

"Prove him wrong. Nobody's right until you let them be." Marco channeled his inner Oprah and began to convince Dylan, at least, he tried.

"I had know idea how hard this would be. I didn't think it would be a cake walk but," He sighed exasperated. "This is so nuts." He slid his hands up through his hair and then down his face. He watched his son just sit and listen to the repeative melody from the trinket next to him. "Thank God you came, I don't think he'd ever stop, if you hadn't." Dylan continued and looked over into Marco, who was watching little Oliver, Marco just smiled soothingly at Dylan. They felt so comfortable with one another, it was like none of the drama had stormed between them both. "And for the bear, that was sweet."

"Well, I meant to give it to him yesterday. I just left too soon. Speaking of which, I should probably head home." Marco got up from the table but, Dylan reached up and wrapped his hand around Marco's wrist.

"Do you have to?" He asked with a cocky smile. Marco just waited for him to say something else. "Why don't you stay here? Work some more of that Marco magic on Oliver." He tilted his grin and winked up at the adorable Italian standing in front of him. It only took a moment for Marco to agree.

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A short sort of sweet chapter. I thought we could use a break from mama drama for a moment. Let me know what you think of it and if you have any suggestions or requests for this or a new story let me know. I love your comments more than many things.

Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani.