Broken

Chapter 10

September

I was napping with the boys when Fang came into the room.

"Hey, get up."

"No."

He kissed my head. "But we need to talk. And now's the only time. The three kids are asleep and the others are at school. Come on."

I let Fang pull me up and I followed him to the living room. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Nothing, really," he told me. "I just knew that saying that was the only way to get you out of the room."

"Then what-"

Fang started kissing me. I pushed him back. "What are you doing?"

He just stared at me. "Let's have sex."

"In the freaking living room?"

"Yeah. The twins are asleep on our bed. Come on, Max. We haven't since before Lawson was born."

"I'm not going to have sex with you on the couch, Fang."

"Then where?"

"Go move the boys into their room."

"If I move them, then they might wake up."

"Well, that's your only option, because I'm not going to have sex with you in here."

He frowned. "What about the garage?"

"On the ground?"

"I'll get a blanket, if you want. Plus…you can be on top."

"…Fine."

"I can't believe that Jenna said that," Tabitha said, hanging up the phone. After sex, Jenna had called. Adeem wasn't that concerned though.

"Why do you care so much?" He asked, never moving from the spot he was always in.

"Because, Adeem, she freaking called you a racist."

"I am a racist."

"What?"

He closed his eyes, now tired. This all started about two days ago when Adeem got into a fight at school. Some dude was making jokes about Muslims and he took the bait. Of course, the stupid kid he beat the crap out of wasn't the racist, oh no. He was the racist because, why would Adeem care about the jokes? They weren't about Muslims, but terrorists. He must have taken offense because he hates America. Whatever.

"Yeah," he said, rolling onto his back. "I didn't beat up that kid because I hate America, though. I just hate white people, who freaking run America."

"What do you call our president?"

"Part white, last time I checked." He sighed, opening his eyes again. "Besides, he's cool and everything, but the president never really runs the country. He just thinks he does."

She didn't really care about his idea on politics at the moment. "What about me?"

"What about you?"

"If you hate…white people, then what about me?"

"You don't count."

"Why?"

"Because, I love you, Tabitha."

"Are you in love with me?"

"You are love to me."

"You're so stupid."

He shrugged, turning onto his side so that he could kiss her. "Screw Jenna. She's a slut anyways."

"Coming from the manwhore."

"I am offended," he said, frowning at her. "Anyways, let's talk about something else."

"No," she said, pushing him back a little. "What did white people ever do to you?"

"What did I ever do to white people?"

"See? You're, like, always going on about how racist white people are, but by you saying that, you're just as racist."

"And? Racism is the whole foundation of this fucked up country."

"You're so…screwed in the head."

"At least I don't hate my life like you."

"I don't hate all of my life," she said, running a hand down his stomach. He closed his eyes again.

"When are you leaving?" He asked. "Because, I'm seriously tired."

She rolled her eyes before getting up to get dressed. "Now, apparently."

"Let Shark Bait in on your way out."

"Bye," she told him.

"No kiss?"

"Can't kiss a racist."

"But you can have sex with him?"

"Everyone has flaws."

"You're late."

Tabitha frowned at me. "I went to Adeem's. Sue me."

"Wish I could."

Making a face at me before starting up the stairs, she said, "Choke and die."

"And that's the whole reason that I starve myself."

"Hell will catch up with you eventually."

"Hell will catch up with you all," Tyler mumbled, going into the kitchen.

I wanted to keep fighting with Tabitha, but she had already made it to her room. Darn.

"Baby."

Lawson was laying on a blanket on the floor. Nicky was seated next to him, half playing with toy cars, half watching his brother. Well, twenty five percent playing, seventy five watching his brother.

"Are you taking good care of Lawson?" I asked him as Drew walked over me.

"Yes," Nicky said. Drew patted my arm.

"What?" I was laying down on the couch, trying to ignore them. I wanted them to learn to play by themselves because, let's be honest. Once they turn about six, I never play with them. It's best if they get a head start and aren't like Chris and think that I'll do crap with them.

"I know what you're thinking."

I frowned, sitting up. He could talk, but not that well! "What?"

He didn't move his mouth.

"I know what you're thinking."

I realized that he wasn't talking. "…Is that you, Drew?"

He smiled, clapping his hand, clearly excited that he was able to talk to me through his mind. When I thought about it, his speech would be better in his thoughts. They just came out like a kid when he was talking because he didn't understand how to say them yet. I guess.

"Why are you doing?" I asked him.

"I know what Nicky thinks too."

"Drew, you stay out of other people's heads."

He just grinned at me before walking back over to his toys and sitting down. I really hope that he stops that. Tyler is enough freak for me, thank you.

"Tyler?"

"What?" He was half asleep.

"I'm afraid."

"Lucas."

"That kid is demented."

"Who?" He sat up and saw that Lucas was standing on his bed, cowering against the wall. "Drew?"

"Hi," the toddler said, waving at Tyler.

"Hi." Tyler looked at Lucas. "Well?"

"He's a demon! He keeps talking to me."

"So?"

"In my head," Lucas whispered, making Drew giggle.

"Are you on something? I mean, smoking was bad, but Lucas, you're not even in high school yet!"

"I'm about to be! Next year. Besides, I'm not on anything," he said, frowning. "That kid is crazy!"

"He's still a baby."

"A psycho one!"

Drew cocked his head to the side. "Lu'as play?"

"You stay away from me!"

Tyler reached over and pulled Drew up on the bed with him. "Can you talk to people in their heads, Drew?"

He patted Tyler's cheek. "Ty'er."

"See, Lucas? He's harmless. Now get off your bed and stop acting like a girl."

"I'm not!" He jumped down, still keeping his distance from the toddler. "When he murders you in your sleep, don't come crying to me."

"Trust me, I won't."

Luther was watching TV, only it wasn't porn for once. Tabitha was over and that could get awkward.

"-yeah, and I just can't believe that she was all mad about it," Tabitha went on. She was on the phone. "Yes! See? I know, right? It's not his fault he's racist. Personally, I blame Jenna. No reason, I'm just mad at her. Alright, bye."

"Who's racist?"

Tabitha frowned at Luther. "It's wrong to eavesdrop."

"It's my house. Who's racist?"

"Adeem," she said, now texting.

"What?"

She sighed. "He just doesn't like white people."

"…Tabitha…um…have you ever noticed that you're…I mean…Samantha's confusion is bad, but you…Come on…"

"I'm not stupid, Luther. I know that I'm white."

"Then…?"

"Then what?"

"What about you?"

"I don't count. He loves me."

"Oh, right."

"He does!" She sighed, standing up and going into the kitchen. "Can I have a beer?"

"Um…yeah."

"Really?"

"One won't kill you," he said, shrugging a little. "Tabitha…do you watch porn?"

"What? I can't hear you," she said, sticking her head out of the kitchen.

"Nothing, never mind."

"Fang, I want cake."

He kept making dinner. "Well, we don't have one, Max."

"Oh…do we have ice cream?"

"After dinner, Max."

Huffing, I laid my head down on the table. "My shoulder hurts from where you bit it."

"Max."

"What? You're the one that did it."

"You weren't complaining then."

"It was during sex, Fang. I liked it then. Now it sucks."

"Where are the babies again?"

"Tyler has Drew and I put Lawson down for the night, so Nicky is in there watching him."

"Well, who's watching Nicholas, Max?"

"Lance."

"Alright then," he said, not turning around to look at me. I giggled a little.

"What?"

"Nothing," I said. "It's just that leaving Lance to watch Nicky was one of the reasons you threw that lamp into my TV."

"That was when Nicky was still little."

"It was only a few months ago."

"Still."

"Fang?"

"What, Max?" He was starting to get bored with me.

"Can I have my ice cream now?"

"No."

I sighed as James came into the room. "What's up, James?"

He sat down in a chair next to me. "Max?"

"What?"

"…If someone was gay, what would happen?"

I took a second to answer, so Fang did for me.

"They go to Hell and get kicked out of this house."

"Fang-"

"Max, he's eleven. He can't be gay."

"Fang-"

"Who are you asking for, James?"

"My dad," he said.

"Luther isn't gay," I told him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Fang said, turning to look at him. "Why?"

"Well…I was at the store with Cody today, remember? After Tabitha came home, she took us up to the store to be with Dad?"

"Yeah and she went to the comic store for me," Fang said, clearly pleased by that.

"Anyways, she left her truck outside and…Luther was…putting…gay videos in it."

I frowned. "Gay videos?"

"Yeah."

"Like…porn?" Fang asked.

"Fang!"

"He's eleven."

"A second ago, that meant he was too young to be gay."

"It does. But all eleven year olds know porn."

"How?"

"The cover of the DVDs are kind of obvious," Fang said, still looking at James. "Then what?"

"He said that he was gonna get Adeem in trouble with them." James looked at me. "It's kind of nasty though, my dad wanting Tabitha's boyfriend."

I sighed. I'm sure that Luther has some ulterior motive in this that doesn't involve him being gay, but I'll just have to wait it out and see.

Tabitha had been acting weird all day. Adeem tried to ignore it, but when they got to his house after school, he decided to find out why.

"What's up with you, Tabby?" He asked.

She looked away from him for a second. "Uh…Adeem…I mean…"

"What?"

"You probably should have told me that you were gay."

"I probably should have…what?"

"I found them. You're not very good at hiding stuff."

"Hiding what?"

"Your…porn stash."

"My porn stash," he repeated. "Well, I don't have any porn that's isn't on my computer, so-"

"Adeem, stop, alright?"

"Where did you find whatever you found?"

"In the glove box."

"Right," he said, shaking his head. "Look, Tabitha, go look on my computer. If you find any gay porn on it, I'll cut my dick off."

"Then who put it there? Adeem, just admit it. I mean…maybe you're just bi or-"

"I'm not!"

"Okay, then who put it there?"

"I don't know," he said, sitting down on his bed. "What about your creepy brother that's never even kissed a girl?"

"Tyler hates gay people."

"Well, it isn't like your dad is never around the truck."

"Okay, ew."

"Tabitha, I'm not gay," he said, laying down. "Besides, how stupid would it be to hide it there? Even Tyler would pick somewhere better."

"What are you saying?"

"I just want it to be clear that I'm not a fag."

"Don't say that word."

"Clear?"

"Fag."

"What?" He closed his eyes. "If I have to be nice to gay people, I'm at least gonna call them what I want."

"Whatever."

So mark Adeem off the gay list. Who else could it be?

"-and if I had someone else to go to that wouldn't tell the whole school-"

"Tabitha, stop," I said, sighing a little. "You were right, Adeem's not gay."

"…Then who is?"

"No one…for now."

"What's the supposed to mean?"

"I just always thought that James would be gay," I confided. "Then he asked what would happen if you were gay and-"

"Wait, why did he ask that?" Tabitha perked up. "Was it his? Is James gay? Really?"

"Don't get so excited," I said, frowning at her. "And no."

"Then…why did he ask?"

"It's Luther's."

She paused. "Um…"

I sighed. "I called Luther after James told me. Apparently, you told him that Adeem was racist, so, you know Luther. He decided that Adeem was plotting another 9/11 and didn't want Adeem to drag you down too. So, he was going to get you to break up with him."

"…Where did he get the-"

"From Bone," I said, frowning a little. "That, though, is a conversation I never want to have with him, so shut your mouth about it."

She got up. "I'm so done with Luther."

I shrugged, laying down on the couch now that she had moved. "Whatever."

"Who was on the phone?"

"My brother," Cameron said, sitting down on the bed. Damien frowned a little. It was rare for Cameron to talk to her brother.

"What'd he want?"

"We haven't talked in almost a year. He just wanted to talk."

"Oh. Are he and Lacey back together?"

"Yep," she said, laying down. "Damien?"

"What?"

She glanced at his face. "I…can't find my ring."

He picked up her hand. "Found it."

"Not my wedding ring, stupid."

He frowned. "Then what ring?"

"The Green Lantern one that you-"

"What?" He sat up. "Well, what did you do with it?"

"I don't-"

"Cameron, seriously, where is it?"

"If I knew, I wouldn't-"

"What is wrong with you?" He got out of bed. "I have to find it. You have to help. Samantha! Come here!"

"What?" She walked into the room.

"Have you seen Mom's ring? The Green Lantern one?"

"No," she said before walking away. "Ask Vanessa."

Damien ran out of the room and into the little girl's. She was playing with her toys.

"Nessa, do you know what a ring is?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Have you seen one?"

She pointed to his. "There."

"No, baby. I mean the Green Lantern one. It's really important to me and-"

"Damien, it's just a ring," Cameron said, coming into the room.

"It's not just a ring, Cameron."

"I know, baby. Your grandpa gave it to you and-"

"Not even that," he said, turning to look at her. "Don't you remember?"

"No."

He frowned at her as Samantha came into the room too. The older girl took all the toys Vanessa was playing with. Cameron stopped her from leaving with them though.

"It was the first gift that I gave you after…you came back."

"Damien."

"Remember? You…got it taken from you and I found it again. I gave it to you. Remember?"

"When you gave me my second engagement ring," she mumbled, still staring at him. "Yeah, I remember, Omen."

Samantha frowned. "Why'd you need two engagement rings?"

"We…broke up for a little while," Damien said.

"Tyler told me that one time."

"What?" Cameron glanced at her.

"He said that he helped you move back in after you guys broke up," she said, looking at her supposed father.

"Anyways," Damien said, wanting to change the subject. "I want to find that ring."

"We will, Damien," Cameron said, now walking away. "And, Samantha, give Vanessa those stupid toys back."

Nicky yawned, walking into my bedroom. I frowned at him.

"What are you doing, Nick? It's late. You're supposed to be in bed."

"Sleep with Mommy," he told me, getting up into bed.

"Don't you have to watch Lawson?"

He shook his head. "D'ew mean. D'ew scary."

"Drew is just different," I said, frowning when I realized that's what we used to say about Tyler. "What did he do, anyways?"

"He no let me sleep," Nicky told me.

"How?"

He frowned before tapping his head. "In 'ere."

"He's in your head?"

Nicky nodded. "Bad. Bad D'ew!"

"Well, get under the covers," I said, pulling them up around the toddler.

"Daddy?"

"Daddy's at work," I said. He had the late shift tonight and wouldn't be home until eight in the morning.

"Nigh-nigh, Mommy."

"It's night, baby."

"Nigh."

"No, silly," I said, kissing his head. "There's a 'ta' at the end."

"Nigh..ta!"

I sighed. "Goodnight."

After I got him to fall asleep, I went to check on Drew and Lawson. Lawson was asleep, but Drew was faking. After this many kids, you can tell.

"What are you doing, Andrew?"

He giggled. "Sleeping."

"No," I said, going to sit down on his bed next to him. "Are you being mean to your brother?"

"No."

"Yes," I said as he giggled. "Drew, you don't be mean to others, okay?"

"No mean."

"Yes, you are," I said. "You don't need to be, alright?"

"Mommy," he complained, not liking to be punished.

"I'm serious, Drew." I wasn't sure how to deal with this. I can't force him not to torment Nicky through his mind. How could I?

"Night-night."

"Yeah, go to bed," I said, covering him over. "You little demon."

He just giggled.

"So…Max says that you have gay porn."

Bone glanced at him. "Yeah."

Fang frowned. "I'm not friends with fags."

"No fag," Bone said. "I don't get off on it."

"Then why do you have it?"

"I watch porn with the women that I have sex with. Men fucking other men turn some woman on. Supply and demand, Fang."

"That is not what supply and demand means."

"I think it is."

Fang sighed. "Does…it turn you on?"

"Why? You offering something?"

"No!"

"I never expected you to be gay," Bone said, shaking his head. Luther, who was drinking while lying on the floor behind the counter, laughed.

"He's on the down low, Bone," he said.

"Nasty," Bone commented.

"No!" Fang was starting to get angry.

"Yep," Luther said after taking another chug of his beer. "It's always the ones that hate gays the most."

"You say that you hate gays, Luther," Fang commented.

"I'm a drunk though,' he said, starting to get a little sleepy. "Kids might say the darndest things, but drunks say the craziest."

October

"Shocked you don't have a key," Rashad commented as he let Tabitha in. "He's in his room."

Though Adeem had called her twenty minutes ago with something important, he was asleep when she got to his bedroom.

"Adeem?"

He groaned, not moving. "I'm sick."

"Well, don't get me sick!"

"Not that kind," he said, opening his eyes a little.

"Then what kind?"

"The kind that makes middle-aged men cry."

She sighed. "Who cried?"

"Luther."

"When?"

Adeem tossed Tabitha her cell phone. "You left this in my jacket pocket before you gave it back to me. He called you and I answered. He flipped out at me, so I yelled back at him. Then he started crying."

"Why do you care? You're racist, right?"

Groaning, he draped an arm over his eyes. "Still. That guy's crazy. I don't wanna be the one to push him over the edge."

"You called me over here to tell me you fought with Luther?"

"No! To give you your phone." He smiled a little. "If you stay to make me feel better, that's okay too."

She sighed, sitting down next to him. "Why's Rashad here?"

"Hmmm?"

"Your brother answered the door."

"Oh, right. One of my uncles died."

"That's…bad."

He nodded a little. "Yeah. Cool man."

"How'd he die?"

"Prison fight."

She frowned. "You have an uncle that was in prison?"

"Everyone has an uncle that's been to prison."

"I don't."

"But you have parents that have wings, so you make up for it there."

She sighed, laying down. "Are you sad?"

"Eh. Not really."

"Adeem."

"I cried a little, yeah," he said, glancing at her. "If you killing me turns you on, I don't even want to know what me crying makes you do."

She crinkled her nose, much like Max, though she'd never admit it. "I said that?"

"You threatened to kill me in my sleep."

"I am a bitch."

"You're telling me."

Nicky put his shoe next to Fang's. "Big."

"No," Fang said, frowning at him. "I don't have big feet. You just have small ones."

"Big," he repeated, knocking Fang's shoe over.

"You know what they say about guys that have big feet."

Fang rolled his eyes. "M-"

"They're overcompensating."

"That is not what they say."

"It's what I know," I said as Drew climbed into my lap. In the past week, he had cut down on his creepiness and hadn't gone into anyone's mind.

"Hi," he said, picking up my hand.

"What are you doing?"

He was trying to pull off my wedding ring. "Mine!"

"No."

"Yes."

"No," I said, slipping my hand from his. "Hey, Drew? Wanna go play with Nick?"

"No!" He tried to grab my hand again, but I wouldn't let him.

"Max?"

"What, Lance?"

"I just want you to be the first to know that I now have a girlfriend."

Great… "Who?"

"We met at school today. She's new."

"Is she hot?"

"Fang."

"What?"

"Yep," Lance said, nodding his head. "Now she's my girlfriend, so…can you make cookies so that I can bring her some?"

"If you want her to die, let Max make them," Fang mumbled, standing up. "Come on, I'll make cookies."

Chris, who had followed his friend down the stairs, turned back around. "Fang's making cookies!"

"No!" Lance yelled as Jay and Neo came down the stairs. "They're mine."

I just rolled my eyes.

Damien was over at his parents house when Dan decided to make an announcement. He had picked up Tyler on his way over, as the boy had no other form of transportation. That is, until now.

"And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image."

"Stop, Tyler," Dan said, standing up. "That's good for today."

"But I'm not finished with-"

"I have something for you."

Damien, who was on the floor, playing with Vanessa, looked up. "What?"

Dan ignored his son. "Come on, boy."

Tyler looked at Damien before shrugging and standing up. Following behind Dan, Tyler was led out of the house and to the driveway.

"This," he said, nodding to his wife's car, 'is yours."

"What?"

"Mom," Damien called. "Dan's giving Tyler your car."

"I know," she said, walking out of the house with them. "Dan bought me a new car."

Damien frowned. "You never bought me a car."

"Shush," Dan said as Damien came out there too. Vanessa, who was in his arms, giggled. Daddy was angry. "I didn't buy him a car. I bought your mother a car and am giving him the old one."

"You're just giving it to me?" Tyler asked.

"No," Dan said, frowning at him. "You're going to cut my lawn for the rest of the year."

"I already cut your-"

"Now, let's go finish," he said, walking back inside to read the bible. Damien sat Vanessa down when she started wiggling and she ran inside to go climb into her grandpa's lap. She loved her grandpa.

We're running out of room in the driveway. Now, it's kind of a good thing that I totaled my car. Those stupid kids though keep parking next to my, technically Luther's, Explorer and I'm afraid that they're going to scratch it.

That was a few week ago. Today, though, I was stuck with a much more difficult task than keeping my beloved car safe. Today was the day I was stuck talking to Tabitha.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"You're really not as sneaky as you think."

She frowned. "What?"

"I came home early yesterday."

"…Okay."

"I had left my phone and came back to get it."

"Alright."

"You said that you were sick."

"I was."

"Was Adeem sick too?"

"Max-"

"I'm not going to tell you what do," I told her, not believing that I was having to do this. "But-"

"You cannot tell-"

"Your dad doesn't have to know anything." I said, staring at her. "But, if you're not using protection, I can make it to where he does."

"I am."

"I'm not talking about condoms."

She frowned. "I don't need birth control."

"Yeah, and I don't need to have another kid running around," I said. "Either you get on it or else you can be having this conversation with Fang."

"How can you keep him from knowing that I'm on birth control?"

"Easy. I pick up your father's pain pills, your birth control, and my antidepressants-"

"What?"

I rolled my eyes. "Like you didn't know."

"I really didn't."

"Whatever," I said, standing up. "So, do we have a deal?"

"Yeah, but…" She seemed confused. "How do you take them when you're pregnant?"

"I don't," I said, going over to the fridge.

"Why do you take them?"

"What are you writing a paper or something? Why do you care?"

"I don't…I just…How long have you taken them?"

"Awhile."

"When did you start?"

"I don't know, Tabitha," I said, rolling my eyes. "Just forget I mentioned it, okay? It's not the big of deal."

"Why didn't you ever-"

"Look," I said, now turning to face her. "Just shut your mouth about it, alright?"

"Does Dad-"

"Obviously," I said, sighing a little.

'When-"

"Right after Chris was born. I stopped when I got pregnant with the twins, but after the car crash…I don't know. I just started again."

"But why?"

I looked up at the ceiling. "Tabitha, just leave me alone, okay?"

"Alright," she said, walking out of the kitchen.

"Lawson," Nicky said, giggling as the baby patted his leg. Fang, who was on the computer, smiled a little. They were in his bedroom, sitting on the bed.

"You having fun, Nick? You love Lawson?"

"Yes," Nicky said, clapping as his brother started babbling.

"Do you love me?" Fang asked.

"Yes," Nick said, letting Lawson drool on his favorite stuffed animal. Today, Drew had gone over to Grandma's house. When she tried to take Nicky too, he started crying, wanting to stay with Daddy.

"What do you want to do for dinner tonight?" Fang asked him. "You want pizza?"

"No!"

"Nachos?"

"No!"

"Uh…chicken?"

"No!"

"Spaghetti?"

"Yes," he said, nodding his head. Fang smiled, still looking at the laptop. He was on Nudge's facebook. She was pregnant. It took him a moment to remember when she got married, but then he did. She had done it in California a few years ago. They didn't go, but had sent her some money.

"Mommy?"

Fang finally looked up to see Max walk into the room. She said nothing to them, just pulled off her shirt, which left her in an undershirt, and got into bed.

"Hi," Nicky said, patting her.

She kissed his head before closing her eyes. Fang shook his head, going back to his computer.

There Tammie was, trying to have a good time, when Luther just had to call. He was crying and, after about an hour, guilt got to her so she went to check on him.

"What are you doing?"

He had left the door unlocked, so she just walked in…to find him naked.

"What does it look like?"

"Uh-"

"I was drinking and then was like, oh, look, a pool! I never swim in that anymore. So, while I was on my way out there, I tripped and spilled my beer all over me. Well, I can't stay in wet clothes, can I? No! So, I took them off. I was going to go get new, clean, fresh clothes, but then I realized it didn't matter. I'm alone. Alone, Tammie. A-L…alone!"

"Luther-"

"No!" He turned his head. "Leave me here to die."

"What happened?"

"Tabitha won't talk to me anymore."

"Yeah, I heard about that. You tried to make her think her boyfriend was gay."

"For a good reason!" He looked at her. "He hates white people."

"Sure he doesn't just hate you?"

Luther sighed, closing his eyes. "Anyways, my life is over. I have nothing left to live for."

Groaning, she went over to him and started to help him up, but he fought her.

"No!" He pushed her off. "Tammie, just let me lay here and starve to death."

"Luther, you have a maid that comes every other day. She would find you before you could starve."

"Fine then! Take a knife from the kitchen and stab me through the heart. I am no more."

"Luther, I was about to go home with this really hot chick-"

"See, Tammie? That's the problem. I don't just want a nameless one nighter anymore. I was love. I want a real relationship."

"You had one a couple of years ago, remember? Natasha?"

"Naomi. She was cheating on me."

"You were sleeping with me!"

"Enough! I am dead weight on this world. Just let me start over again. Let me kill myself and come back as a cockroach!"

She sighed, staring at him. "Luther, come on. Don't make me deal with this tonight."

"Deal with what? I am no more-"

"Now you're just repeating yourself."

He opened his eyes. "I'll feel better with sex."

She groaned. "Fine."

"What's this?"

Fang glanced up from changing Lawson's diaper. I was dressing the twins in their nightclothes.

"Mine!" Drew said, trying to grab the ring back.

"That's the Green Lantern," Fang said, frowning.

"Is it yours?"

"Max, we are Marvel only. After this many years of marriage, you should know that."

I sighed, giving it back to Drew. "Where'd you get it, Drew?"

"Nessa," he said, smiling.

"Vanessa gave it to you?"

"Yep."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

"No!" He laid down on his bed. "Nessa nasty."

"Is she?"

"Yes."

"When did she give it to you?"

"Long tim."

"Long time, you mean?"

"No!"

Nicky giggled, cuddling his stuffed pig to him. "Nighta, Mommy."

Shaking my head, Fang and I finished putting them to bed.