Chapter 10: Catch and Release

"Oww… Pain… must… annihilate… little people…" Molly muttered into the glass on the counter she was flopped over.

"Molly, stop smudging the glass and plotting the destruction of small children," Madison said, smacking her lightly on the behind as she passed by her with a tray of ice cream. "It couldn't have possibly been that bad."

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to take care of little kids?!" Molly asked, raising her head off the counter.

"No, Molly, I have no idea how hard it is taking care of kids, do tell me," Madison rolled her eyes.

"It's hell! They were everywhere!" Molly exclaimed. "When we went to the reptile house the little darlings decided to pull a Harry Potter and almost let a Brazilian python loose on some newlyweds!"

"A Brazilian python, huh? Well that's a new one," Madison chuckled as she set the tray down in front of the children. "Here you go, kids, three bowls of our best ice cream."

"Thank you!" they all chirped.

"Brian, what do you say to Molly for taking you and your friends out today?" Madison said brushing the little boy's hair back.

"Thank you, Molly," he said jumping out of the booth and hugging her tightly. "You're the best big sister ever."

"Why is it that whenever I want to kill you, you are suddenly so cute and loving?" Molly asked, hugging him back.

"It's a gift," he grinned and darted back to the table to dig into his ice cream.

The four of them had arrived at Madison's restaurant a little while ago and of course as it usually goes when babysitting, the demonic beings that had been her charge where now suddenly perfect angels.

"Try not to blow the restaurant up, I'll be right back," Molly said, pushing off the counter and walking into the back. It had turned out to be a slow day so Madison didn't need her as much as she originally thought. But since Nick was suppose to meet them here at four o'clock and it was already three thirty, Molly didn't see any reason to go anywhere else. Not that there was very many places they could go now anyway. They had been kicked out of four McDonald's, two Burger Kings and a Dairy Queen. "Who needs Health Ed videos about teen pregnancies? Give 'em an afternoon with three nine year olds and the next three generations will all die virgins," she muttered, pushing open the swinging door to the kitchen.

"Hola, Chica," Mikey smiled over his shoulder. "How goes it?"

"I need a cheeseburger and a chocolate shake, Mike," Molly said slumping in to a chair. "Make 'em both a double."

"Long day?" Mikey laughed, throwing two burger patties on the grill.

"You have no idea…" she muttered. "I don't think I ever want kids."

"Aw come on it couldn't have been that bad…" Molly gave him a very dangerous glare. "Or maybe it was?"

"Just make the burger, Ninja boy…" she ordered.

"Already on it, Babe," he said with a laugh. "You know… you were a bit of hand full yourself at that age so I wouldn't be too hard on them."

"I couldn't have ever been that bad…"

"Well you did get yourself kidnapped once…"

"Oh yeah because that was soooooo my fault," Molly rolled her eyes. She looked down at her feet for a moment. "Speaking of which, I haven't really decided what to do about that."

"Being kidnapped?" Mikey asked over his shoulder.

"No, ya smartalic, I mean Miller," she said. "Raph and Maddy told you about the letter right?"

"Not exactly, I kinda walked in on the conversation on accident."

"Oh please, you were eavesdropping," Molly smirked.

"You eaves drop all the time, babe, don't even start," he said. "So what are you gonna do about it? You gonna go see 'im?"

"I dunno…" Molly blew a strand of hair out of her face. "I mean, I know I don't owe him anything at all. Splinter is a million times the father he ever was that I remember and he can rot for all I care but still… a part of me wants to know what he has to say."

"It sounds like you've already made your decision, to me," Mikey said, pushing the burger patties on to the bun.

"I guess I have," she said.

"More power to ya, Mol," Mikey said, handing her the burger and shake. "It shows a great deal of maturity to go and confront something like that."

"Kaylin isn't going…" Molly said sucking the shake through its straw.

"Like I said," he winked at her. "It takes maturity. As dearly as we love her, we all know Kay is as mature as a seven year old who heard someone fart."

Molly snorted a laugh and started coughing on her shake. She nodded in thanks to her brother and pushed back through the swinging door to the front.

"Oo! Can I have a fry?" Brian leaped off the booth seat.

"Ak!" Molly held her plate high above her head while the young boy jumped up to try and reach her food. "Back small demon! Back to the Lord of the Flies day care center from whence ye came!"

"Are you always this loving with children?"

Molly looked over her shoulder and opened her mouth to snap at whoever it was. In her efforts to turn around, she tripped over a chair and fell backwards completely launching her burger into orbit. Molly squeezed her eyes shut and waited to collide with the floor. She felt an arm grab her and she slowly opened her eyes. Nick smiled at her in his arm in amusement.

"Graceful aren't you?" he said lifting her back up.

"Nice catch," she blushed.

"Nice fall," he smiled and handed Molly back her plate, burger fries and shake all sitting neatly on it.

"How did you…"

"So this is the infamous 'Nick'," Madison interrupted with a smile and extended her hand to him. "I'm Madison, Molly's sister."

"It's nice to meet you," Nick helped Molly up before shaking hands.

"I'm sorry about Raphael's behavior last night," she said. "Sometimes that idiot of a husband of mine doesn't know when to stop being protective and just shut up."

"Oh like you should talk!" Molly smirked.

"Er…husband?" Molly and Madison chuckled at the utter look of confusion on his face.

"Yep, going on nine years," she smiled. "Yes I know it's wired but that is just how our family works, get use to it."

"I'll try," he forced and awkward smile. "Hey, kiddo."

"Hi, Nick!" Sarah jumped out of the booth and into her brother's arms. "We had a really great time today!"

"Really?" Nick turned to Molly. "Usually that's Sarah-speak for 'I tormented the baby-sitter in to therapy'. Didn't give you too much of a hard time did she?"

"Let's just say you are going to owe me one hell of a date," she smirked.

"Oh boy," he chuckled. "How is next Friday?"

"Er… I'm kinda visiting someone at day," Molly glanced over at Madison for a moment. Her sister stared back at her, the tiniest flicker of hurt crossed her eyes but it vanished quickly with a look of understanding replacing it.

"No problem, we'll come up with something," Nick smiled. "Well, I hate to cut this short but I have to get the pipsqueak here home. I'll see you at school tomorrow."

"Bye."

Nick shifted the little girl to his back and they waved good bye as they left the shop.

"He's cute," Madison said, draping an arm over Molly's shoulder.

"Molly and Nick sittin' in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!!" Brian and Skyler sang out. Molly dove at the two but they escaped and soon were tearing through the restaurant with Madison shouting close behind them.

Down the street a ways Sarah snuggled her head against Nick shoulder.

"Nick, when are Mommy and Daddy coming home?"

"Dunno, Squirt, soon I hope."

"I miss them," she said.

"I miss them too."

"I don't like Uncle Ron, he's scary. I don't want him here anymore."

"I don't like him much either but don't worry, he won't hurt you," Nick said, entering the subway stairs. "I wouldn't let him."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Sarah yawned and laid her head down again, "I like Molly, and she's nice."

"Yeah," Nick looked at the ground. "She's really nice."

"Are you gonna marry her?"

"Sarah! We're seventeen!"

"So?"

"Go to sleep half pint, no one is getting married," he rolled his eyes.

"Ahh…" Sarah closed her eyes and began drifting to sleep as the subway pulled in. "But I like her…" Nick stepped in and clutched one of the bars. He gripped it tight and cursed softly to himself.

"I like her too…"

Author Note

Hey it's me… and I feel like the biggest jerk ever having not posted in ages. It's been a long stressful year that kinda took a toll on my creative writing flow but I am back in action now and tend to finish what I've started. This isn't much as of right now but I promise more is too come soon, my friends. Luv!Chupip