A/N: Thanks for reading. Enjoy!
"I ate all of my lunch today. See." Landon pointed to his Batman lunchbox which Ana opened and found empty. "It was delicious. Can I take more carrots and another cookie tomorrow? I promise I'll eat all of it again."
"Sure. What kind of sandwich do you want to take?"
"Can I take half of a peanut butter and jelly and half of a turkey sandwich?" Gail, who had barely stepped into the kitchen with Layken shared Ana's inquisitiveness.
"Of course, but why do you want two different kinds?", Ana asked. Landon seemed to mull over his answer.
"Um...I like both.", he shrugged. "Layken, I don't have any homework. Do you want to go and play?"
"O-tay.", she answered. Landon hopped down from his stool and took his sister's hand. "Mom, we're going to play."
"Your brother's sleeping so don't be too loud." Ana's eyes went to both Landon and Layken but stayed on Layken longer. The two kids grinned and left the room to go upstairs. "Landon's usually pretty good about not making too much noise, but Layken's another story.", Ana told Gail. "Landon's school is having a canned food drive next week. We've got tons of cans that we can send. When I read Landon the note about it, he started asking a lot of questions. He wanted to make sure the cans ended up where they were supposed to go. I assured him they would. I can't exactly put a finger on it, but his reaction was odd."
"Hmm. Landon's always had a kind heart so maybe he's just wanting to make sure all that can be done for the needy is being done."
"You're probably right. I'm going to check on the kids." Ana's feet had just touched the floor when she heard Liam's cries through the baby monitor. "Right on cue."
The moment Ana got to the top stair she saw Landon and Layken standing outside of her and Christian's bedroom. Both kids had their hands to their sides and their best innocent looks on their faces.
"We didn't wake him.", Landon immediately told her.
"No.", Layken added.
"We heard him crying and were going to go and check on him." Ana smiled as she rubbed the tops of the heads on her way into the bedroom. She found Liam wailing loudly from his bassinet. Soon after picking him up, his cries subsided.
"What's the matter little guy?", she asked. Landon and Layken stood in the doorway, watching as Ana walked the room with the baby. "There's your brother and sister."
"Hey Liam.", Landon grinned at the baby. "Did you sleep good?"
"Say yes. I had a good nap, and now I need to be changed." Ana moved to the changing table and began to unsnap Liam onesie.
"I think I heard Daddy. I'm going to go and see him. Layken, do you want to go?" Layken's eyes darted back and forth between Landon and Ana.
"Stay.", Layken answered.
"Hey.", Christian said when he saw Landon running down the stairs. "Be careful."
"I'm just excited to see you." Christian took off his jacket and hugged Landon. "Mom's upstairs changing Liam."
"Could that be another reason why you were in such a hurry?"
"No. Daddy, do you need any help at work?", Landon asked while Christian loosened his tie.
"Landon, if you want to work at my company you can when you get older, but for now you should enjoy being a kid."
"I am. I was just wondering."
"Well, I'm not sure about every department, but if someone wanted a job they could send in a résumé or stop by for an application. Even if there aren't any openings now, we could still hire the person in the future.", Christian replied. He noticed that Landon was hanging on to his every word. "Is there more going on?"
"Nope." Before Christian could further question Landon, Ana and Layken came into the room. Christian picked up Layken, kissing her cheek and then doing the same with Liam who was in Ana's arms.
"The best part of my day is seeing the four of you. I think someone slowed all of the clocks at work because it seemed like the day was never going to end. I stayed busy throughout the day. Once I finally got a break and checked the time I was shocked it wasn't later than it was."
"You're home now and can relax.", Ana told him.
"You're so right. I plan to do nothing this evening but relax and spend time with my family."
Following dinner and laying Liam down, Christian stayed downstairs with Landon and Layken while Ana showered. She threw on a pair of black yoga pants and a gray tee and started downstairs to enjoy the rest of the evening with her family.
"What's going on in here?" Ana crossed her arms and took in the sight of Christian with his hands entwined with Layken's while Layken's black dress shoes rested on the top of Christian's feet.
"We're dancing.", Christian answered in a grin that widened as the soft melody from the stereo continued. Landon sat on the sofa, watching the dancing pair until Ana held her hand out to him.
"How about we show them some real dance moves?", Ana asked her son.
"Dance.", Layken instructed them.
"We're dancing. Whose idea was it for her to wear her dress shoes?"
"Daddy's.", Ladon answered. "He said she needed her best dancing shoes on so he went upstairs and got them while you were in the shower." Christian and Ana continued dancing with their children until sleepiness made an appearance in all of them. They then told the kids it was time to call it a night.
"Christian, the cost margins between the two suppliers isn't much at all." Ros handed Christian a piece of paper showing the difference in pricing between the lumber companies they were considering for the new collaboration with Murphy Corporation, a local textile company.
"You're right. Both places are promising. Let's think about it some more before making a final decision."
"Ok. I'll see you later then.", Ros said. She gathered her papers and left the office while Christian's phone began ringing.
"Hello.", he answered.
"Christian, I'm on my way to Landon's school.", Ana sighed from the other end. "Principal West said Landon was involved in some sort of an altercation but didn't give any more details. Gail's watching Layken and Liam."
"I'm on my way."
"You don't have to come. I was just calling to let you know what was going on. I can call when I have more details."
"Ana, I'm going to be there. I'll see you in a few minutes."
Ana was waiting on Christian in the parking lot of the school when he arrived. A few snow flurries started to fall as he walked up to her. She stood on her toes and greeted him with a quick kiss. The pair began walking into the building and towards the office.
"Landon.", Ana said once she saw him sitting in a chair outside the office. Another boy who Ana had seen a few times during school events was sitting in the chair next to Landon.
"I'm sorry.", Landon told his parents. "I didn't mean to get into trouble."
"What happened?", Christian asked in a soft voice.
"Perhaps we should step into my office and discuss it.", George West, the school's principal said. Beside him stood Tammy Fenmore, Landon's teacher. The group stepped into the office and took their seats while Landon stared towards the door.
"You said Landon was in an altercation."
"Yes. Since the weather is dreary we decided to have recess in the gymnasium. I was sitting on one of the benches when I heard yelling from both Landon and another boy, Mason Yates.", Ms. Fenmore said
"Is that him in the chair outside?", Ana asked.
"No. Drew Wilson. He's my best friend.", Landon answered through tears. Christian scooted his chair closer to Landon's.
"Mason's already been dealt with.", Principal West added.
"What cause the altercation?", Christian asked, his eyes searching for answers.
"Mason was making fun of Drew, and I told him to stop. He didn't listen so I told him again.", Landon replied. "He shoved me and then pushed me on to the floor." Landon raised up his arm and showed a bandage on his elbow. "This happened, but it doesn't hurt."
"Why was Mason making fun of Drew?"
"He always does. I used to not say anything, but today I decided to say something."
"Is bullying allowed in this school?" Christian's tone had changed into his assertive CEO voice. "Is that something you allow to happen?"
"Mr. Grey, as much as we'd like to know every single thing that was going on in this school, we can't. There are too many kids and not enough adults. Besides, the kids often keep to themselves, not letting anyone know what's going on.", Principal West said.
"That may be true, but I believe more can be done.", Ana countered. "You should keep your eyes and ears a little more open."
"Since the school day is almost over, Landon can go ahead and go home.", Ms. Fenmore smiled. Christian, Ana, and Landon stood and left the office without saying another word. Landon stopped his parents and motioned towards Drew.
"I want to say goodbye to Drew."
"Ok." Christian and Ana stood against the wall and watched as Landon said something that made Drew smile. Several minutes later, Landon rejoined his parents. "Landon, do you want to talk more about what happened?"
"Drew's dad lost his job, and now Drew doesn't have a lot."
"Where's Drew's mom?", Ana asked.
"He doesn't know. She left when he was a baby. His dad is his mom too." Ana recalled Landon wanting to take two different sandwiches and an extra cookie for lunch.
"Landon, was one of your sandwiches for Drew?" He wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded.
"Drew likes turkey sandwiches."
"And the question about hiring?", Christian asked. "It was for Drew's dad?"
"Yeah. His dad's doing the best he can, but it's hard. I don't like seeing Drew so sad. I told him before we left that I would never stop being his friend. I want to help him." The one thing Christian hated was seeing people struggle in life.
"Don't worry son. We're going to help."
