Adjusting
Chapter 10
November
"God, I can't believe I haven't seen you in forever Lucas!"
Nudge's voice made Lucas whine a little. She didn't notice. Taking him from my arms, she said, "You were so small back then! Look at you."
"What about me Nudge?"
She looked down at Tabitha. "Hi sweetie. I've missed you."
She giggled. "I missed you too."
Fang crossed his arms. "Who are you?"
The guy smirked a little. "Name's Drake."
So this is the Drake. Hmmm… I smiled at him. "Hi."
Nudge kissed Lucas's head. "He's so cute Max."
"Yeah," I said. It was about five days before Thanksgiving and Nudge had the week off from college.
"Max, I want to go see Alex."
I sighed, looking down at Tyler. "Tyler, not right now, alright? Nudge just got here."
"But Victor and Juan are taking us to the park. Can I go now?"
"Alex?" Nudge questioned.
Tabitha giggled. "Alexandria is his girlfriend."
"No!"
Mom sighed, shaking her head. "Nudge, did your mom not come down?"
"Uh no…she didn't feel like it."
"Oh. Well I hope you tell her that we miss her."
"Ah!" Lucas reached for my mother. He had formed a sudden joy of being around her. He loves her now. Mom took him, giving him a kiss on the head.
"Hi baby," she said, bouncing him a little. I sighed, giving Nudge a hug.
"I missed you," I told her.
"I missed you too."
We still had to stay here for another two hours at least and wait for Ella to show up. After Nudge went to go put her stuff in a bedroom, Tabitha and Drake following, I laid down on the couch.
"What's wrong with you?" Fang asked.
"Nothing. I'm just…I don't know." I closed my eyes. "Can you take Tyler over to Alex's house?"
"What are you gonna do?"
"Just sleep a little."
"Max, are you okay?"
"Fine I just…I'm fine."
Fang kissed my head. "Alright. Come on Ty."
"Bye Max. I love you."
"I love you too baby," I mumbled, closing my eyes. I fell asleep.
"Max?"
I opened my eyes a little. How long had I been asleep? "Yeah Mom?"
"Are you okay?"
"Just tired."
She was standing above me, Lucas in her arms. She shifted him to her hip. "Have you done it yet? The test?"
"No."
"Max-"
"Mom I've been busy."
"You told me that you missed a week ago."
"I know. I'm just…I don't want to find out. Not yet. Fang was so mad last time."
"Max, at least go to the doctor."
"No. I want to talk to Fang before I find out."
"Really?"
"No…I just don't want another baby right now."
"Then why weren't you on the pill?"
"Fang doesn't want me to be on it."
Mom frowned. "When did you start letting him run your life?"
My stomach was upset. "Mom just leave me alone."
"Max you need to-"
"I will, alright?"
Lucas reached out for me. "Ma-ee!"
Mom handed him over. "Max, I'm just looking out for you."
"Yeah? Are you going to let me stay with you when Fang kicks me out because he's pissed that I'm pregnant?"
"I thought that you just said he wanted you off the pill?"
"He does. I don't know. He's just so…weird."
"You have to tell him."
I sighed. "I don't even know if I am."
Lucas drooled on my face. "Nah!"
I sat up, putting him on the floor. "Lucas!"
He giggled. "Ma-ee!"
Mom shook her head before walking away. Fang chose that moment to walk in so Lucas turned his attention to him.
"Da-da!" Lucas stood shakily, reaching out for Fang. He picked him up, giving him a kiss on the head.
"Hey bubba," Fang said before looking at me. "You okay?"
"Would you quit asking?"
Sighing, he sat down on the loveseat, Lucas in his lap. "Alex says hi."
I closed my eyes again, laughing a little. "Who's stay where tonight?"
"They're staying over there tonight. We stopped by the house so that he could get Bear and Wa-wa."
"Good," I muttered, closing my eyes again.
"You sure you're alright?"
"Fang I swear to-"
"Alright, alright."
"Can you bring me a blanket? I'm cold."
Fang sat Lucas on the ground before going down the hall, returning with a blanket and a pillow. He covered me over before feeling my head.
"You don't have a fever."
"Thanks, Sherlock."
Fang just kissed me. "Sleep."
"I'm trying," I said, closing my eyes again. I was sleeping for awhile when Ella finally showed up.
"I'm here!" She called out, walking into the living room. I groaned, sitting up.
"Do you have to be so loud?"
She frowned, looking at me. "I haven't seen you in forever and that's the first thing out of your mouth?"
"Ella!" Mom walked into the room, hugging her daughter. "How are you?"
"Fine, Mom."
Fang, who was in the chair watching TV, turned it up. Lucas was in his lap and started bouncing up and down, excited that someone else was here.
"Lucas!" Ella turned her attention to him and went to pick him up. "I haven't seen you since you were a baby. You're not a baby anymore, are you? Huh?"
He wiggled in her arms as she kissed his head. "No!"
"Aw, you can talk, huh?" She bounced him a little.
"Hey Ella," Nudge greeted, walking into the room, Tabitha following behind.
"Oh hey. Where's Drake," Ella sang his name.
"Napping," Nudge said, pushing my feet back so that she could sit down on the couch. Tabitha climbed into her lap. "Where's Toney?"
Ella glared at her but changed the subject. Wonder who Toney is…
"Where' Ty, Max?"
"At his friend's house."
"Friend?" Ella questioned. Why does everyone think that he would never make friends?
"His girlfriend," Tabby clarified. Lucas whined a little until Ella gave him back to Fang. Happy, he curled against Fang, closing his eyes. He probably wants a nap.
"Girlfriend?" Ella asked, walking down the hallway. Tabitha got up, following, just to carry on the conversation. I sighed, getting up.
"When do we eat?" I asked.
"Soon Max," Mom said, walking out of the room. I went in there after her. "What, Max?"
"Nothing. What's with the attitude? I can't talk to you?"
Mom just sighed. "No, I'm just…why won't you at least tell Fang that you think-"
"Mom, be quiet," I hissed. "We already went over this like a thousand times. I will when I'm sure."
"He deserves to know, Max."
"Know what? It might not even be true."
"What might be true?" Fang asked, walking into the room. Shit.
"That Nudge is pregnant."
Is it weird if that's the first thing that came to my mind?
"What?" Fang stared at me for a second. "Nudge!"
"What?" She asked, walking into the room with Luke in her arms.
"Did that fuck ass get you pregnant?"
Nudge's jaw dropped a little. "How did you know?"
Oh my God. "Nudge, are you serious?"
She frowned. "It's not Drake's so shut up."
"What?" Fang had bucked up a little, ready to beat the shit out of Drake apparently. Hmmm…
"Nudge, who's is it then?" I asked. I was slightly upset for Nudge but also somewhat happy for myself. Even Mom seemed to forget about my problem for the time being.
"Just some guy's. We're not together, we never were."
Ha. That's all I have to say. Fang had a one-night stand, Nudge did. I'm the only one that actually loves the guy I have kids with. And who's the slut? Uh…never mind.
"Have you told him?"
"Yes. He doesn't want anything to do with it."
"No," Lucas said randomly, trying to get out of her arms. "Ma-ee!"
"Here baby," I muttered, taking him from her.
"What are you going to tell Drake?" Mom asked.
"Nothing."
I suddenly got a funny cartoon depiction in my head of Nudge suddenly having a baby eight months from now, shocking Drake by popping out a baby. He he he he…not funny? Oh.
"What do you mean nothing?"
"Just drop it, Dr. Martinez. I got this under control." With that, Nudge walked out of the room. Fang sighed, running his fingers through his hair.
"What are we going to do?" He asked.
"We?" I looked down at Lucas. "We have three kids of our own to work about. We aren't going to do anything."
"Max-" he started but I just cut him off.
"Nudge said that she has it under control." I walked out of the kitchen.
It was the next day and Nudge was over at the house. Fang had work and Tyler was still with Alex. So it was just me, Tabby, Nudge, and Lucas. We were all on the bed, Lucas happily chewing on Sasuke, Tabby drawing, and me and Nudge talking in hushed whispers.
"So are you just going to…you know abort it?"
"No," Nudge hissed. "I'm keeping her."
"Her?"
"Or him. I think her."
I rolled my eyes. "Nudge, babies are a lot of work."
"So you want me to kill it?"
"No! I'm just saying…I don't know. At least tell Drake."
"No. Then he'll know that I cheated on him."
I frowned. "You mean you two aren't-"
"He's very religious."
Ugh. "Nudge, if he loves you, he'll forgive you."
"Would you forgive Fang?"
"Fang would never-"
"Would you?"
"Nudge this isn't about me and Fang. This is about-"
"Max, I'm keeping her, okay?"
"Fine. Just tell Drake. He has to know."
She sighed. "I don't know…"
"Baby, it'll only be better to get it over with."
She sighed. "I guess. Hey, how did you know that I was pregnant?"
Fuck… "Nudge, I'm gonna tell you this but you cannot tell a soul."
"What?"
"Promise?"
"Promise."
It was night now and Fang had work till ten, Tyler, who had gotten home finally, and Tabitha were in bed while Lucas was supposed to be sleeping too but was really in his crib, watching us.
"Ten more seconds," Ella whispered, as if I would check at the exact moment.
I rolled my eyes. "You are way more excited as me."
Nudge just smiled. "Our babies will be the same age!"
"Yeah, yeah," I dismissed her comment. I went back into the bathroom, grabbing the test. I stared at the results for a second.
"Well?" Ella called from the other room. I slowly walked back out there.
"What is it Max?" Nudge asked.
I nodded a little and the two of them pulled me into a right hug. I wasn't nearly as happy.
"How am I gonna tell Fang?"
Smiling still, Nudge said, "I'll tell Drake if you tell Fang by tomorrow."
"What?"
"By tomorrow night, he has to know or else I can handle my baby situation the way I want."
"That's not fair."
Ella rolled her eyes. "He has to find out some time."
"Yeah but…just forget it."
Nudge hugged me again. "It'll be fine, Max. Fang loves you."
He also loved Lucas but that didn't stop him from being mad about his birth…
"Ma-ee!" Lucas sounded off.
Sighing, I went over to him and kissed his head. Ella and Nudge hugged me one more time before leaving. Now, we wait.
I was waiting up for him. Fang walked in a little after ten. He thought that I was sleeping so he just went into the bathroom to change and brush his teeth.
"Fang?" I called.
"Shhh, baby. Sorry I woke you up."
"You didn't. I was waiting." I got up, going to stand in the bathroom doorway. "So what do you think about Nudge?"
He sighed. "I just want her to stay in college."
"Isn't it weird that she's pregnant?"
"Why's it weird?"
"It's just she was the last person I thought would be pregnant before she was married."
Frowning, Fang said, "Nudge?"
"Yeah."
He started brushing his teeth. I watched him, leaning against the doorframe for support.
"Hey baby?" I asked after a second.
He spit in the sink. "Yeah?"
"…I love you."
Fang put the cap on the toothpaste. "I love you too."
"Really? I mean, really?"
He turned to face me. "Yeah, Max. With all my heart."
With all my heart… "That's good."
Fang kissed my head. "What's up, Maxie?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
Yeah, nothing except for the fact that I'm pregnant… "Yes, really."
Fang just kissed my head again before gently pushing past me. He went over to Lucas's crib, smiling down at the sleeping baby. Baby…Lucas is still a baby and I'm pregnant? God. Sex isn't even good after having a baby! It hurts and is weird. I mean, I like it and all but still. How can I be pregnant?
"Night-night Lucas. I love you," Fang whispered to the baby.
I sighed, going to stand next to him. "Fang?"
"Hmmm?"
"…I'm pregnant."
Fang paused. "What?"
"Yeah."
He slowly smiled. "Really?"
Okay… "Yeah."
Fang turned to face me, picking me up and holding me above him. "Max that's great!"
Frowning, I asked, "It is?"
"Yes, silly." He was definitely joyful. He stared into my eyes for awhile. "Another baby? God Max, I love you. I mean I wasn't planning on having another one so soon but this is great!"
I smiled. He was happy. He was actually happy! Fang kissed me, putting me back down onto the ground.
"Fang?" I asked once we parted.
"Shhh, not now." He kissed my head.
Leaning against him, I sighed. "I thought that you'd be mad."
"No, baby. Nowhere near mad." He ran a hand down my arm. "Though, all these babies are starting to take up space on my body."
I pushed him a little, smiling. "You're so stupid."
"And you're so beautiful," Fang mumble, pulling me back into a kiss.
Tyler was acting weird today. At first, I was afraid that he knew I was pregnant and was mad but that didn't seem to be it. How would he have found out? Plus, he was happy last time. So I don't know what the issue is.
"And I want another Barbie, a new coloring book, a new-"
"Okay, okay, Tabby. I don't think Drake really cares that much."
She frowned at me but did shut up. We were over at Mom's in the living room. She was in the kitchen with Tyler, making cake. Why cake? Don't ask me but Tyler like making cake…or liked licking the bowl at least. Whatever. Fang, who was next to me on the couch, pulled out his cell phone. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, reading the text.
"Who's it from?" I asked as Lucas crawled over to Nudge. She immediately picked him up. I wonder what her baby will look like… I bet she wants a girl. Do I want a girl? I'm not sure.
"Luther." Fang kissed my head. "I've got work tomorrow and so do you."
"Great…"
Fang was all smiles today though. He was in the best mood since I don't even know when.
"Hi Max," Tyler said, walking into the room. He crawled into my lap.
"Hi baby," I said, kissing him.
"Hey bubba." Fang tried to kiss him but Tyler just moved away, cuddling against me.
Frowning, I looked down at the four year old. "What's wrong, Tyler?"
Like I said before, he had been like this all day. He wasn't happy with Fang today apparently. I have no idea why. I was going to say something but Mom calling my name stopped me. I sat Tyler on the floor before going to go see what she wanted.
"What?" I asked, grabbing a soda.
She looked into my eyes. "Did you tell Fang last night?"
I smiled. "Yes! He-"
"Is he hurting you?"
I stared at her for a second. "What?"
Her tone never changed. "Is Fang hurting you, Max?"
"Fang!" I yelled.
"Max-" She tried.
"Fang, come here!"
He walked into the room. "What's wrong?"
I couldn't find the right words. "She…Mom said…"
"What?" Fang frowned, looking at Dr. Martinez. "What did you say?"
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "Tyler told me that last night he…heard some things."
"Like what?" I asked, crossing my arms while moving closer to Fang. He was still confused.
"Like screaming and…banging and crying."
I frowned. I can account for the first two but the last one… "Mom-"
"He said that you were yelling Fang and then he heard Max crying."
Crying? God. Fang still wasn't catching on. "So? What does that mean?"
Again, Mom took a deep breath. "Fang, sometimes you get so angry I just though…I mean Tyler was so adamant that Max crying and hurt, I just thought-"
"Wait, you thought that I hit Max or something?"
There you go, Fang!
Mom kept her eyes on me. "Max, if-"
"Is that was you thought?" Fang was getting angry. "That I was hurt her? That I would-"
"Fang, you're only proving her point," I hissed, turning to look at him. "Calm down."
He wasn't though. "Come on Max."
"Fang-"
"No. She fucking thinks that I would hit you? That I could hurt you?" Fang was yelling now. "Fuck this. Come on."
Fang grabbed my arm, pulling me from the kitchen. "Fang, stop-"
"Shut up Max." He let go of me, going to pick up Tabitha. "Come on Tyler!"
He frowned, getting up. "Daddy, why are you yelling?"
Ignoring him, Fang picked up Lucas from Nudge's lap before storming out of the house with two of the kids.
"Max!" Nudge called but I just grabbed Tyler and left. Lucas started crying as soon as we pulled away from the house. Fang didn't seem to notice. When we got to the house, he just stormed out of the car, not even helping to get the babies out. I sighed, getting Tyler and Tabitha out before Lucas. Then I realized why he was crying.
"We left Sasuke," I announced to Fang as we came into the living room.
"What?"
"Lucas's doll." I closed the door behind Tyler and Tabitha. "That's why he's upset."
"Well he can get the hell over it. We are never going over there again."
"Fang-" I started.
"No. How dare she-"
"Daddy no!" Tabitha wailed. "I like Dr. Martinez!"
"Shush, Tabitha," he said, still looking at me. "I'll get Lucas another one from the store but we are never going over there again."
"Fang he doesn't want another one." I sighed, giving the baby to his father. "He wants his Sasuke. He's had it since he was six months old!"
"That's not that long!"
"Yes it is!"
"Max, he's not even a year yet."
"So?" I glared at him before kissing Lucas's head. He just kept crying. I felt horrible for him. I took the keys from Fang.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To get my baby his toy," I said, walking out of the house. The whole drive to Mom's I couldn't help but worry about what I was going to say. Then I realized that it didn't matter. Fang and her are way too over dramatic. I pulled up to her house and went in. Drake was gone, Ella now in his place, sitting in the living room with Nudge.
"Max!" She hugged me. "I heard that Mom made Fang go ballistic."
Understatement of the year… "Yeah."
"So, I'm guessing that Fang took it bad?"
"Mom saying that he hits me?" Is there any other way to take that?
"No! The pregnant thing."
That made me smiled. "No. He's happy."
"Then why-"
"I don't know, Ella." I sighed. "Something Tyler said apparently."
Nudge got up, going over to me. "Why are you back?"
"Lucas left Sasuke."
Nudge frowned. "That little toy?"
"Yeah."
She went over to the couch, picking the plushie up. "Here."
"Thanks," I said, looking down at it. "I don't know why he likes it so much."
Nudge just smiled a little. "I can't wait till I have a kid."
That reminded me of something. "I told Fang."
"And?"
"You have to tell Drake."
Nudge looked at me. "Max-"
"You have to. A deal is a deal."
"Fine. Now you better go before Dr. Martinez finds out you're here."
I frowned. "Why?"
"She's upset that she made Fang mad. She'll want to talk your head off."
I made a face at her before walking towards the door. "See you later, girls."
"Bye!" They called, letting me leave. When I got back home, Tyler and Tabitha were watching TV in the living room but Fang and Lucas were gone.
"Where's Daddy?" I asked them, locking the front door. I don't like leaving the door unlocked. Too many bad things can happen.
"In the attic," Tabitha told me. I went up there and saw Fang on the couch, Lucas sleeping on his chest.
"Hey," I said, walking over to them.
"Hey," Fang said, kissing me when I leaned over him. "You get it?"
I nodded, laying the toy next to the sleeping baby. "Of course I did."
"Good." Fang closed his eyes. "Don't we need to make a doctor's appointment? Just to-"
"I know Fang. God. It's one Friday."
Fang ran a hand down Lucas's head. "I'm going."
"Okay." I looked at the TV and saw that some show was on. "How did you get Luke to go to sleep?"
"I blew air on his feet."
I frowned, crinkling my nose. "What?"
"Yeah."
I laughed a little before asking, "Fang? You know how Mom said she heard me crying too?"
He frowned. "Yeah. What about it?"
Here goes nothing. "Do I sound that way during sex?"
"Max-"
"Do I?"
"Well…there is this one noise that you make…"
I glared at him. "Well you sound mad apparently."
Fang rolled his eyes. "I just don't get why Tyler's never heard us before."
"I don't know."
"I guess we were kind of loud last night?"
"Kind of?"
Lucas woke up after a second. He took a breath in before starting to cry. Then he turned his head and saw his most prized possession next to him. He stopped whining, instead grabbing the Naruto toy.
"Nah!" He yelled, beginning to chew on it. I sighed, looking at him. So easily amused.
"What are we gonna do about Tyler?" Fang asked after a second.
"I don't know. I guess we should talk to him."
"Guess so…"
I sat down on Tyler's bed before pulling him into my lap. "Tyler, me and Daddy want to talk to you about something."
He cuddled against me. "What?"
Fang got down on his knees in front of us. "Buddy, why do you think that I would hurt Max? Huh?"
Tyler frowned. "I didn't say that!"
"You're not in trouble, Tyler." I ran a hand down his stomach. "Baby, we just want you to know that Daddy would never hurt me. Ever."
"Yeah, Ty. I love Max. You know that."
He looked up at my face. "Then what were you doing?"
Great… "We were playing."
"Playing what?"
Fang ran a hand down Tyler's face. "A married person game."
He seemed to consider this. "Do Tabby and Tommy play?"
Frowning, Fang said, "No. You can only play after you turn eighteen."
"Oh…then why was Max crying?"
I wasn't crying! Fang took this one too. "Because she was telling me how much she likes it."
"By crying?"
"I was so good at it that she couldn't hold back the tears from the beauty of my skill in the game."
I almost hit him. Tyler looked up at me for conformation and I had to nod my head in agreement. "Yeah, Ty."
"Oh," He said, happy again.
"Yeah." I kissed his head. "Daddy loves me, you know that right?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"Then you know that he would never hurt me."
Tyler giggled. "I'm sorry I told Dr. Martinez that you hit Max."
Fang just kissed Tyler's head. "I know, it's not your fault."
I stood up, laying Tyler down on his bed. "Now go to sleep baby."
"Good night Max."
I kissed him, putting Wa-wa and Bear on the bed with him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Fang kissed him. "Night buddy."
We went into our bedroom. I sighed, laying down on the bed. "What are you going to do about Mom?"
Fang shrugged before taking off his shirt. "I don't want to deal with her at all, honestly."
I sighed, getting into bed. Once he came back from brushing his teeth, Fang kiss Lucas's head before getting into bed with me.
"I love you," Fang told me, getting under the covers.
"Love you too."
He kissed my head. "We have work in the morning."
"Where are the babies going?"
"Nudge said that she's going to take Tabitha and Lucas shopping."
I frowned. "Lucas might not like that. He doesn't like being without one of us."
Fang shrugged. "He's a big boy Max. He'll be a big brother soon."
I rolled my eyes when Fang nuzzled my neck. I pushed his head slightly. "What about Tyler?"
"One of Alex's brother is going to take them to the zoo."
I frowned. "Which one?"
"Her oldest one. He's in town for Thanksgiving. Home on leave. He wants to spend time with her and she won't do anything with out Tyler."
"Oh." I laid my head on his pillow. "I love you."
"I love you too." He kissed my head. "Now go to sleep."
"Night."
Fang laid on his stomach, putting an arm around my waist. "Wake me up in the morning."
"When?"
"Before you get in the shower."
"You mean after so that you can take one," I clarified.
"No. I mean before so we can shower together."
I frowned. When did Fang become the horney one?
"Hey Luther," I greeted, walking into the store. He looked up from the counter.
"Hey. Where is-"
"Ty's with Alex and Nudge took the other two," Fang said, letting me sit down on the stool. He stood behind me and kissed the back of my head.
"Good mood much?" Luther asked, looking at us.
"Very," Fang agreed, wrapping his arms around me, holding me to him.
Confused, Luther asked, "Why?"
"I'm-"
"We're pregnant." Fang cut me off. We're? More happy than I thought.
Shocked, Luther shook his head. "Is that a good thing?"
"Yes. Of course," Fang kissed my head again, running a hand down my flat stomach. Shit. I finally starve myself just enough to lose all that pregnancy weight just to have another baby. Ugh.
Fang kissed me one more time before walking off to the back to do inventory. Luther sighed.
"Is he honestly happy? He's not being an ass to you again is he?"
"No. He's been in the best mood of his life."
Luther seemed skeptical. "Really?"
"Yes, God."
"Well I for one am shocked."
"That's nice." I laid my head down. He didn't yell at me for the first time in awhile. Instead, he just put his jacket around my shoulders, as if he were Bone. "Luther-"
"Just sleep."
"You must be in a good mood too," I mused.
"Must be."
Alex's oldest brother was built. And when I say that, I don't mean six pack built, I mean every part of his body had muscle, even his muscles, built. He smiled at me when I opened the door.
"Max!" Tyler smiled too. "Look what Manuel bought me!"
He held up a cheetah. I sighed. "Tyler-"
"Max, I got a penguin," Alex told me, show it to me. "His name is Hielo."
"Ice, Alex. It's ice," her brother corrected. "You're in America, you speak English. You're just as hard headed as Mom."
Alex stuck her tongue out at the soldier. I shook my head. "You really didn't need to buy him that."
"Of course I did," the man turned his gaze on me. "Only the best for Tyler. He is top priority in Alex's book." He laughed a little. "I'm Manuel. You are?"
"Max," I told him, smiling a little. "Thank you very much for taking Tyler."
"It was my pleasure." Manuel pushed Tyler's head slightly. "It gave me a chance to meet my future brother-in-law, right Alex?"
"No!" She pushed Manuel's leg. "You're malo."
He groaned. "English, baby."
"No." She frowned at him.
Manuel rolled his eyes before looking at Tyler. "Good-bye, Tyler. I hope to see you again soon."
"Bye!" He called as he walked into the house.
"Bye-bye!" Alex called as her brother led her away. I closed the door, looking down at Tyler. He was on the couch now, his cheetah next to him.
"Ty, what have I told you about letting people buy things for you?" I don't know why I felt so weird about the Mendoza's buying things for Tyler. I felt weird when Cameron takes him somewhere and buys him stuff. It's not like I don't buy things for Tommy and Alex too it's just…I don't know.
"Manuel said that he had to," Tyler told me, cuddling his stuffed animal to him. "That we're brothers."
I smiled a little. "You know why he said that right?"
"No."
"He meant that you and Alex were going to get married."
Scowling at me, Tyler responded, "No!"
"Yes."
"No!"
"Yes."
He crossed his arms. "I don't like Alex."
"Uh-huh." I went into the kitchen. I had to wash dishes. It was around seven and I had gotten off at six. Fang worked until one tonight so I was on my own as far as feeding the kids and putting them to bed went.
"Tyler when did you eat?" I called.
"Before I came home."
Alright. Tabby and Lucas, who had come home about twenty minutes before their brother, had been fed by Nudge. Well, sort of. Lucas ate a little of Nudge's food but feeding him is easy. Bed time is still an issue. Ugh. I washed dishes before going back into the living room.
"Bath time, Tyler."
He looked at me. "Do I have to?"
"Yep." I headed to the bathroom. "Come on."
I turned on the water before leaving him and going to check on his sister. Tabitha was drawing on her bed. Shocking! I sat down next to her.
"Hey baby."
She smiled at me. "Nudge is gonna have a baby."
"I know."
"She said that when she does, that I get to help her. That it's gonna be a girl. Like a sister!"
I frowned. "I thought that you didn't want a sister?"
"I do!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Maybe you'll get a real one."
Tabitha was intrigued. "Really? How?"
"Because I'm having another baby."
Tabitha smiled. "Really? Really, really, really? A baby?"
"Yeah, Tabby."
She got up. "Tyler!"
"He's in the bathroom," I said, getting up, laughing a little. "Tabby, be quiet. Lucas is sleeping."
She frowned, coming back to her bedroom. "No one else is happy."
I picked her up when she reached out for me. "Yes they are. Everyone is."
"Is Ella?"
"Yes."
"Daddy?"
"Uh-huh."
"Drake?"
"Yep."
"Luther?"
"Yeah."
"Nudge?"
"Of course."
Nudge's happiness was proven false when there was a knock on the door. I sat Tabitha on the floor before going to answer it. Nudge was bawling her eyes out, standing on my porch.
"Max," she cried, "it's over."
"Nudge, baby, what is? Huh?" I pulled her into the house, closing the door.
"Me and Drake," she sniffled. "He said that…oh God."
I sighed, not needing an explanation. "Come on Nudge. Let's go to my bedroom."
I led her to the bedroom, where we laid down on the bed. I ran a hand down her hair, sighing.
"What did he say?"
"That he hates me. That I should go find that guy and marry him because no way is he ever coming near me again. Max I love him!"
"Sweetie, why did you do it?"
"What? Tell him? Because you made me!"
"No, I meant what you did with that guy. Why would you ruin your relationship?"
Nudge's eyes turned dark. "I don't know Max! Like you've never cheated on Fang."
"Never."
"You have to have at least thought about it," she tried.
"No. Not once." I sighed, realizing I was mad at her for accusing me. I shook my head. "Baby, you love him right?"
"It just happened Max!"
I sighed, running a hand down her face. "Nudge, why though?"
"I don't know."
"Baby what are you going to do?"
She shrugged through her tears. "I don't know, Max. What should I do?"
I let out a breath slowly. How am I supposed to know? "Nudge-"
"If Fang died today and you had three kids to raise, another on the way, hwaht would you do?"
"Nudge, I don't even want to think like that."
"But what Max?"
Move in with Mom or Bone, I admitted to myself. But I didn't say that. "Persevere, Nudge, because that's all I would be able do."
"Really?"
No, I would fall down and die right along with Fang. "Yes."
Nudge sniffled again. "Then I guess that's what I have to do."
"I guess so." I said, more convection in my voice than hers. "You're going to keep going, Nudge. What other choice is there? Lay down in die?"
She shook her head. "You make it sound so easy."
I know, huh? "Because it is, Nudge. You just keep going. Don't stop to think about the what if's. You're having this baby and that's that."
"But what if I don't want it?"
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Nudge, you've already told Tabitha that you are having a baby so a baby you are going to have."
She nodded a little. "Yeah…yeah. A baby."
"A baby."
"I'm gonna have a baby."
I smiled a little. "Yes."
For a minute, the heaviness in the room left and all that was left was the feeling of finally figuring out something out…and the smell of Lucas's dirty diaper. I groaned, getting up as he started crying.
"Let me do it," Nudge said, also getting up. She had stopped crying, though her make-up was ruined and her eyes were red. "I have to learn some time."
Leaving her to do that, I went to check on the others. Tyler was out of his bath and was already in bed, apparently tired from his day at the zoo. I kissed his head, covering him over.
"Why is Nudge here?" Tabitha asked as I walked into her room to put her to bed. "Why is she crying?"
"No reason." I kissed Tabitha. "Go to bed, beautiful."
"Max-"
"Now Tabs." I covered her over. "I love you."
She smiled and kissed my cheek. "I love you too."
Had this chapter half written the day after I posted the last chapter. Then I broke my laptop charger and laptop died. Finally got to finish this one. God, this chapter has been stuck in my head for almost two weeks. So happy to finally get it out.