A/N: Thanks as always for all the reviews, fave and follows on this; as well as the author alerts that I am also receiving still. It's nice getting that little email notification to say that someone else has subscribed to something of mine, and is now following certain things.
So anyway, I didn't plan on this chapter to be as long as it has ended up; but alas like most it got away from me, and then I couldn't take anything out because it all made a lot of sense to be there.
Therefore it is what it is, and this chapter takes up quickly back to South Carolina; and seeing how the rest of Marley's family who aren't all aware of what is happening with her and Ryder, find out that they could possibly at this point be divorcing.
We also see the introduction of a new character, and as usual; since they are not one from the Glee world; but more so that of my own creation, they can not be used without my permission. As can none of the other characters that are not from the original premise of Glee.
All other characters from Glee, as usual belong to their original creators and I am just playing around with them for a bit!
So thanks for reading, and you all know what to do at the end.
Love always,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 10 –
Having organised to go their parents place for dinner, Saturday evening; that afternoon, Marley was sitting in the backseat of Sebastian's car with Amelia next to her in her car seat; as her brother in law who was driving, along with Mikki sitting up front also, pulled into the driveway of Eric and Midge's house; behind that of Roderick's car.
Unbuckling her seat belt, she saw Amelia next to her; pointing to that of her parent's house, and Marley gave a laugh.
"Do you know where you are now, my sweet girl?" she asked, as she unclipped her niece's harness as Mikki who had also gotten out of the car as well, came around to the door that Amelia was sitting at and opened it.
"Considering we come here about every two weeks" said Mikki, with a laugh as well as she got Amelia from her car seat. "I think we're beginning to recognize Nanna and Poppy's house"
"That's good, that she is beginning to recognize stuff like that" said Marley, as Mikki closed the back door up and she also got out of the car as well.
"It is, yeah" replied Mikki, with a nod. "But it also means that she is growing up as well, and I don't want her too"
"You can't keep her as a baby forever" said Sebastian, with a laugh; as he got his and Mikki's bag along with that of a bag for Amelia, and also Marley's from the back of his car; since they were going to be staying the night at their parents places, so that they weren't having to drive back late at night.
"Well you're just going to have to make sure we have more babies then" said Mikki, looking to Sebastian with a smile; as Marley went and got her bag from Sebastian, enabling him to then close up the back of his car.
"And don't you think maybe talk of having more babies" said Sebastian, looking to his wife quickly. "Is maybe a little insensitive given what Marley is going to be talking with your parents about tonight"
"Seb, it's fine" said Marley, as Mikki glared at her husband; and the three of them started up to the front door of the house. "Obviously you both want to have more children, and that's not something that needs to be kept quiet because of what I am going through; and besides Kitty is pregnant, so I don't expect it all to be quiet on front of discussion of children tonight, I'm not going to ask nothing be said about it because of me"
"See Leesy is perfectly fine with baby talk" said Mikki, as Marley turned the door knob of their parent's front door and pushed it open.
"Okay, I'm sorry I kind of snapped at you about it" replied Sebastian, looking to Mikki as they walked inside the house. "And we can discuss it maybe some other time, not tonight"
"Yeah" replied Mikki, giving him a quick smile; as Olivia came down from upstairs and noticed them all.
"Hi you guys" she said, giving them a smile. "We were all wondering when you'd get here"
"Had to wait for this one to wake up from her afternoon nap, before we headed off" replied Mikki, looking to her brother's girlfriend Olivia; or Liv as she preferred to be known, and who he'd been dating now for almost a year; and who had become very much part of their family as such. "Want to go say hi to Aunt Livvy?" asked Mikki, looking to Amelia, with a smile as Olivia nodded.
"Yeah, can I have a hug gorgeous girl" said Olivia, holding out her arms to the little girl; and Mikki passed her daughter over to the slightly shorter than her blonde; who then looked to Marley. "And it's really good to see you again Marley"
"You too" replied Marley, with a nod. "Christmas feels like it was forever ago"
"I know, right" said Olivia with a nod. "Although it does kind of feel like only yesterday, I was first meeting you at Kitty and Artie's wedding too"
"Yeah" replied Marley, with a laugh; as Midge came to the front entrance, looking to them with a laugh.
"I thought I heard voices" she said, giving them all a smile; and headed over to Marley. "Hi my baby girl, I've missed you"
"Missed you as well" replied Marley, placing her bag down and then giving her mom a hug.
"It's just unfortunate that Ryder had to work" said Midge, looking to her daughter, with a smile. "It would have been nice to see him again; have all of you here"
"Yeah, I guess" said Marley, with a sigh as she picked her bag up once again. "I'm just going to go and put my stuff upstairs"
"Sure honey of course" replied Midge, with a nod; as Marley headed up the stairs to the bedrooms, and Midge looked to her oldest daughter and Sebastian.
"Care to fill me in on what that is all about?" asked Midge. "She seemed to bolt at the mention of Ryder"
"I think that is something Marley needs to be telling you" said Sebastian, looking to his mother in law. "It's not really mine or Mikki's place to be telling you"
"My little girl is okay, isn't she?" asked Midge. "You'd tell me if something was really wrong, right?"
"She's fine Mom" replied Mikki, with a nod. "Or at least she's going to be; but what this is, I think it's best if it comes from her"
"Okay" said Midge, with a nod also; and looked to Olivia who still had a hold of Amelia.
"Dont look at me Midge" replied Olivia, with a quick shrug of the shoulders. "I have no idea what is going on, I'm just holding Millie here"
"Yes, let me hold my little angel" said Midge, with a laugh; as Olivia passed Amelia over to her, with the little girl quickly taking to be held by her grandmother.
"I'll just take our bag and Millie's upstairs as well, babe" said Sebastian, looking to Mikki; who nodded.
"Sure" she replied, giving him a quick smile. "Can you check on Marls, make sure she is okay"
"Will do" said Sebastian, quickly pecking a kiss to Mikki's cheek before heading up the stairs to her old bedroom; as Midge and Olivia looked at her.
"I'm hungry, what's for dinner" said Mikki, and Midge just looked at her daughter; raising her eyebrows.
"Are you pregnant?" asked Midge, a small smile forming on her face; as Mikki burst out laughing shaking her head.
"No I'm not pregnant" she replied, with a laugh. "But lunch was like forever ago, and I wanted to use up the bread we had in the house as to not leave it go stale; so with four people eating; I had to share half a sandwich with Amelia.
"Okay" replied Midge, with a laugh. "Well you'll be glad to hear it's enchiladas then, along with corn and black bean salad and marinated grilled vegetables"
"Sounds good" said Mikki, with a nod. "Especially since I haven't had to cook any of it"
"Very true" said Midge, with a smile. "But I did have some wonderful help from Liv; and we even made as well a whole batch of breakfast muffins as well"
"With hash base, and cheesy egg filling?" asked Mikki, as the three of them started towards the kitchen.
"Yep" replied Olivia, with a nod. "As I wanted to know how Midge made them, because when I had them around Rod's one morning, they were just delicious, and I needed to know how to make them"
"So we spend the night often at my little brother's apartment now do we?" asked Mikki, with a laugh.
"Mikki" said Olivia, with a laugh and going slightly red in the face; as Mikki linked her arm with the younger girls and giving her a smile.
"You know I'm just teasing you" she replied with a smile; as Olivia gave a laugh with a nod; and the three adults along with that of Amelia who was still being held my Midge, went to the kitchen to further work on dinner before Kitty and Artie arrived around the house also.
Later the evening, after Kitty and Artie had arrived around at the Kapowski residence; they were all sitting around the dining kitchen table, with Mikki closest to that of Amelia; who sat in the high chair that was permanently at the house, helping her daughter eat; along with that of also eating dinner herself at the same time.
"You sure you don't want any more Leesy" said Roderick, with a laugh; who when his sisters and brother in law had arrived earlier that day, had been helping Eric in the study plan and design an extension for a house that they were both in the midst of working on, since they both resided out of the same architecture firm; Eric as a structural design analyst and Roderick as an architecture.
"I love these enchiladas" replied Marley, with a small laugh as she took two more from the middle of the table along with some more salad. "You know I always have"
"Well I'm sure it's not the only time you have them, when you come here" said Midge, looking to her daughter with a small laugh also. "I know you know how to make them"
"I do know how" replied Marley, with a small nod and sigh. "But Ryder isn't exactly fond of them, so I don't really ever make them"
"Well color me surprised there" said Kitty, shaking her head; having heard a little more the day when she had gone around to Mikki and Sebastian's, some of the problems the youngest girl in their family was having in her marriage.
"That's okay though" said Eric, with a laugh and looking to Kitty and then Marley. "There are still some foods that Midge will cook, that I don't like"
"Name one, Dad" said Mikki, with a laugh. "That you don't like"
"Tofu" replied Eric, looking to his oldest daughter. The soft mushy one, tastes awful"
"As opposed to what the others?" asked Kitty with a laugh.
"Yeah, there are some that are okay" replied Eric, with a nod. "But that soft one, whatever that is; tastes like slime"
"I think that's what Ryder thinks most of my cooking tastes like then" replied Marley, as she stabbed at a piece of her enchilada before putting it to her mouth to eat.
"Honey, is everything okay with you and Ryder?" asked Midge, looking to her youngest daughter. "Because I get the feeling there is something that you're not telling us, and that something some at this table may already also be aware of as well; as to what is bothering you"
"If you don't feel as if you can tell them Marls" said Artie, looking to his sister in law; who had heard from Kitty what was happening with Marley and Ryder, since she hadn't want to keep secrets from her husband. "Then you know any one of us can talk for you"
"It's fine Artie" replied Marley, looking to him with a nod. "But thank you"; and then looked to her mom and dad, and younger brother and his girlfriend, who were yet to know what was going on in regards to her and Ryder. "Ryder and I, it's quite possible that we're going to be getting a divorce"
"Divorce" said Midge, looking to her youngest daughter; her eyes widening in shock at the statement from her. "Why in the world would you possibly be thinking that?"
"I said to Ryder recently that I would like to have children, soon" replied Marley, placing her fork down to her plate along with her knife. "And he told me that he didn't want that"
"I'm sure it's just at the moment though" said Eric, looking to his daughter also. "And that maybe in a few years, you will have children"
"No, we won't" replied Marley, shaking her head. "Ryder, never wants to have children; ever"
"Never, ever" said Olivia, looking to her; as Marley turned to her with a nod of her head.
"Yes, that's right" she replied. "He never ever wants to have children"
"I'm sure he won't feel that way though forever" said Eric. "One he holds that little baby, that is his own in his arms; he won't be thinking that anymore and will wonder why he ever even thought he didn't want to have them"
"I don't think so Dad" said Mikki, looking to her father and shaking his head. "From what Marley has been saying, Ryder seems very set and determined that he never wants to have children"
"So is that why he didn't come with you to South Carolina then?" asked Midge. "And that's because the two of you are getting divorced"
"Well at the moment, we haven't really discussed it" replied Marley, looking to her mom. "But I think it's inevitable that we will; because I don't think it's fair for either of us to be together, if one wants something that the other doesn't; and vice versa"
"And Marls has already spoken with me as well" said Sebastian, looking to his parent in laws. "And I have if she does want to use them written up divorce papers that she is able to use if she wants"
"Honey, is this is really want you want though?" asked Midge, looking to her younger daughter. "Don't you think you're being a little extreme maybe in thinking this"
"Oh come on Mom" said Roderick, looking to her. "You even said yourself, not that long ago that you were wondering why Leesy and Ryder hadn't had a baby yet; and it's clearly because Ryder has no interest in ever doing that, so I say good riddance to him; because he's clearly not good enough for my sister"
"Roderick, enough please" said Midge, looking to her only son. "I don't think Marley would appreciate you saying stuff like that"
"It's fine Mom" said Marley, looking to her. "And I have been wanting kids for a long time now. Only reason I never did after I married, was because I wanted Mikki to have the first grandchild for you and dad; and now that she has, and also with Kitty being pregnant also now, I thought it was maybe time for me and Ryder as well"
"And clearly that's not the case with Ryder" said Roderick, stabbing angrily at a mushroom on his plate. "Why would he even ask you to marry him, if we wasn't interested in starting a family with you?"
"Because he wanted a woman to look after him" said Sebastian, looking to his brother in law; and Mikki tapped her husband on the arm who she was sitting next to at the table.
"Sebastian" she reprimanded, shaking her head at him. "I don't think that's entirely true"
"You're right" replied Sebastian, with a nod. "As clearly Marley isn't good enough for him even in that regard, and he criticises almost everything about her"
"Honey, is this true?" asked Midge, looking to her daughter. "Does Ryder criticise stuff about you?"
"Umm a little, yeah" said Marley, looking to her with a nod. "He's often said my cooking isn't the same as his Mom's, and whilst I've tried to make recipes that she has given me, and followed them exactly; they don't turn out the same, and he lets me know that"
"That a horrible thing for him to say" said Olivia, looking at Marley. "And I really hope Rod doesn't say that about my cooking ever"
"I tried those muffins you cooked with Mom, earlier today" said Roderick, looking to his girlfriend and also taking her hand and giving in a slight squeeze. "And they were awesome, so you don't have any worries there"
"Good" replied Olivia, looking to him with a nod and smile.
"Just don't ever try and give this lot gingerbread that isn't made by Lizzie Hummel though" said Artie, with a laugh and looking to Olivia. "Because they will not eat anything other beside hers"
"Because it's the best gingerbread ever" said Sebastian. "And that's me saying it, who didn't grow up eating it, like Mikki and that all did"
"You're a convert" replied Mikki, with a laugh; looking to her husband, who nodded his head.
"I got the feeling at Christmas, when Ryder was here as well" said Artie. "That in regards to what Marley was saying about him not liking her cooking; that he wasn't all that fond of yours either Midge"
"Really?" asked Midge, looking over to her son in law; who in turn nodded.
"Yeah, he seemed to spend a lot of time texting on his phone; on Christmas Eve when we were all here, since Olivia was spending the next day at her parents place; and also Christmas Day as well, I noticed that before Kits and I went around to my parents place, that he also spent a lot of time on his phone, and didn't seem to eat nearly as much as the rest of us" replied Artie.
"He was texting his family back in San Francisco, though" replied Marley, looking to Artie also. "There isn't anything wrong with that"
"Of course there isn't" said Kitty, shaking her head. "But to spend almost the entire time doing it, like Ryder did do; when we're also meant to be his family as well, it's a little rude; and almost like he doesn't see us as being that his family at all, and more so merely that of people who he was forced to be around"
"I guess it was kind of rude of him to spend a lot of his time texting his family and friends back in California" replied Marley, with a nod. "I just never really looked it at the way you all would have saw it, and didn't think of it that way"
"It's not that we're saying Ryder is a bad person Marls" said Mikki, looking to her younger sister. "More so that you maybe did go in with rose coloured glasses in this relationship; and in a way create somehow what you wanted, but in the end have it be not to work out that way"
"Maybe yeah" replied Marley, looking to her oldest sister. "I will admit, I saw how easy you and Seb just fell in with one another; and I wanted that for myself. Kind of stupid of me, huh"
"None of us saying you're stupid Marls" said Roderick, looking to his sister and shaking his head. "You've just always been a person, who tries to see the best in people; even when they may not be that way"
"I just feel really stupid now" she replied, looking around the table at her family. "And whilst I do get why you didn't tell me all this, I kind of wish you maybe had"
"And would you have listened if we had?" asked Mikki. "If I had said in California when I was living there, that I thought Ryder was no good for you. Would you have taken that as me being a concerned big sister or more bitter because of the fact you at that point were in a relationship, and mine with Seb had for the time, ended?"
"Probably the last one" replied Marley, looking to her sister and giving her a small smile. "I would have thought you were jealous at that point, probably; because you and Seb had broken up and you were maybe trying to reflect your feelings on to me"
"Yeah" said Mikki, with a nod.
"What was it that you noticed?" asked Marley. "May I ask that, since you did live with us for a little while"
"I guess at the time, I never really thought about it too much; but definitely what you did cook when I was living with you, it was always stuff Ryder liked more; and not something that you would necessarily cook if you didn't have too, such as deep frying chicken, when I know you prefer it grilled" replied Mikki, looking to her sister.
"Hey don't knock deep fried chicken" said Kitty, looking to her older sister. "It's awesome, and now you really have me wanting deep fried chicken"
"Got to love cravings" said Mikki, looking to her sister with a laugh. "Although that's not as bad as one of mine"
"Tuna and chocolate" said Sebastian, with a laugh. "That was just disgusting"
"Mikki" said Olivia, looking to her with a laugh and also that of a somewhat disgusted look on her face. "That's revolting"
"When I think of it now, definitely; and the thought of it just makes me want to vomit" replied Mikki, with a nod and laugh. "But at the time, it was really good"
"Hopefully that's not a Kapowski woman thing" said Artie, looking to Kitty; who laughed. "Because that's just gross"
"Definitely gross" she replied, and looked to Mikki. "Weird sister"
Mikki laughed as she looked back to Marley; who was looking at the exchange between her older sisters with a smile. "But that is what I did notice, that you seemed to do a lot for Ryder; in terms of what he wanted and not so much what you might have wanted. And also that when I was there, and you were watching Outlander; Ryder did say he didn't like it much and again spent majority of time on his phone, whilst you watched it"
"That's a really good show though" said Sebastian, looking to Marley and then to Mikki. "Remember we binge watched it one weekend, and then you gave me the books to read"
"Yeah, remember" replied Mikki, looking to her husband with a nod.
"Leesy, sweetheart" said Eric, and Marley looked to her father. "If you feel as this is what you need to be doing to be happy, and that's divorcing Ryder; then I'm sure I'm confident in saying we're all behind you one hundred percent, and that anything you need; just ask"
"Thanks Dad" replied Marley, giving her father a smile. "I don't want to be a divorcee, but also as well I don't think I can stay married; when it's only going to make me miserable"
"There is one thing you haven't been clear on Marls" said Kitty, looking to her younger sister. "And that is, you haven't said where you're going to live after all this"
"I have actually been thinking about that" replied Marley, looking to Kitty. "And truthfully, I think I want to come home and live back here; be closer to all of you. It's lonely over in California, with none of you nearby; and whilst I do have friends there, and at the moment Ryder's family; it's not the same"
"If you need to move back in here for a bit, if this all happens" said Midge, looking to her daughter. "Then you know you are more than welcome here, this is always going to be your home"
"Thanks Mom" replied Marley, with a nod and smile to her; and they continued to talk about possibly Marley moving back home to South Carolina, after what was clearly now very much going to be the resulting divorce of her and Ryder.
The next morning, after having slept until about seven o'clock; Marley got up from what was her childhood bed through to that of her teenage years, and headed downstairs, quietly in order to not wake any of the others who may still be asleep.
Heading into the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee, and just spend some time on her own; before heading back later that day to Columbia with Mikki and Sebastian, where she would spend one more night with them before getting on a plane back to California the next day; she rubbed her eyes as she walked into the kitchen of her parents' home.
"Morning sweetie" said Midge, who along with Eric was seated at the kitchen table; the two of them with cups of coffee and Eric reading the mornings paper.
"Oh umm morning" replied Marley, looking to them both with a smile. "I was thinking no one else would be awake yet"
"Hmm, we always get up about this time" replied Eric, with a laugh. "Even on the weekends"
"Well you did go to bed earlier than the rest of us last night" replied Marley, with a laugh as well; as she headed over to the pot of coffee, and grabbing that of a mug for herself from the cupboard, poured herself a cup.
"What time did you and the others get up to bed?" asked Midge, as Marley walked over to the table and took at seat with her mom and dad.
"Rod and Liv, left just before eleven o' clock" replied Marley, looking to them both with a small smile. "So I guess a little after that, but it was just nice being able to talk with them all and hang out again, I miss them"
"As they miss you as well; I'm sure too" said Midge, giving her a daughter a smile. "And if you do decide when whatever happens with Ryder to come back home, you know you have everyone's utmost support and love here"
"I know, Mom" replied Marley, with a nod; as Sebastian entered the kitchen, holding Amelia in his arms, talking in a low voice to his daughter. "Thanks"
"Please tell me Millie didn't wake any of you up" said Sebastian, looking to them sitting around the table. "Because it is a little later then what Mik or I would normally be up, so she's being fussing for last fifteen or so minutes"
"Midge and I were already awake" replied Eric, looking to his son in law. "And Marley has just gotten down stairs"
"Don't worry though, she didn't wake me either" replied Marley, looking to Sebastian, with a smile. "I'd be more worried if she possibly woke the two who are in the room next to where you and Mikki are; I'm sure you remember Kitty's aversion to be woken up in the morning"
"Well that she is going to have to get use to, and very soon" said Midge, with a laugh. "Considering her and Artie, will have their own baby in a few months time"
"Yeah" replied Sebastian, with a laugh as he walked over to the kitchen benches and still holding Amelia, went to grab one of the empty bottles that they would keep there for when they were around at Midge and Eric's, and then the tin of formula as well that Midge would also keep there; so he was able to make up a bottle for Amelia.
"Seb, let me do that for you" said Midge, standing up from hear seat. "And you head on back up to bed for a bit"
"It's fine Midge, I got it" replied Sebastian, as Amelia held her arms out to her grandmother.
"Whilst I'm sure you are quite capable of looking after your daughter" said Midge, with a laugh as Sebastian handed Amelia over to her. "I also know that for the past week at least, that both you and Mikki have been up extremely early; so go and sleep in a bit, and I'm sure I, along with Eric and Marley can keep an eye on Millie for a while"
"Some more sleep will be good, yeah" replied Sebastian, with a nod. "Had a horrible dream about flying monkeys last night"
"Flying monkeys?" asked Eric, looking to his son in law; as Marley laughed. "Why on earth would you have a dream about flying monkeys"
"Ask your evil laughing daughter there" replied Sebastian, looking to Marley with a small laugh also. "I'm going back upstairs to hug my wife"
"Remember whose room, is next door Seb" said Marley, with a laugh; as Sebastian gave a laugh as well as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Flying monkeys, Marley?" asked Eric, as Marley stood and went over to where Midge was to help her make up the bottle for Amelia, since the little girl was more interested now in being fussed over by her grandmother.
"Umm yeah" replied Marley, with a nod as she took to putting water in the bottle from the jug that Midge had gotten from the fridge, before adding the formula and relidding it, to shake. "Seb absolutely hates the Wizard of Oz, and we were channel surfing last night when you had both gone to bed, and it was on one of the channels; so we watched some of it, much to Seb's dislike for it"
"I think I do remember Mikki mentioning once that he didn't like that movie" said Midge, as Marley looked to her with a nod and went over to the microwave to warm Amelia's bottle.
"Dylan and Jeremy scared him when he was younger" said Marley, with a small laugh. "Told him that the flying monkeys would come and take him away, and he's hated the movie ever since"
"Makes me glad I only had a sister growing up" said Eric, with a laugh; as the microwave beeped signalling end of heating, and Marley got the bottle out for Amelia.
"Can I feed her Mom?" asked Marley, looking to her and Midge nodded her head, passing Amelia over to her youngest daughter.
"I'm sure one day, somehow and someway" said Midge, as Marley walked back over to the table and took a seat again, and gave Amelia the bottle of formula which the young girl readily drank from. "That you will be a mom, honey"
"I hope so" replied Marley, looking to her mother as she sat at the table again; and she continued to talk with her parents, until the others arose from their sleep ins, before heading back to Mikki and Sebastian's house for one last evening in South Carolina.
End Note: Thoughts on this chapter; before I get back to what is going to be more or less dealing with the fall out of Marley and Ryder's divorce; among that of some people in the expanded world of this, shall we say saga of stories?
And what is the consensus on Olivia? Like a character, yes or no.
Until next time, thanks for reading again; and I will catch you all soon on the flip side!
Love,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo