NIKKI

I wake up a bit later than normal as Jax is off. He told me to sleep and he'd get the kids breakfast since the took his shower before bed. I stretch my arms and sigh as I hear the door open and Thomas on the other side. I motion for him to come in and sit up a bit, making sure the blanket is secure. He sits on the bed and asks me what we're doing today. I sigh and adjust the blanket more. "Well, cleaning up a bit this morning. I was thinking on lunch with your daddy today and then home for Kay's nap and your lessons."

He nods and I reach out to touch his hand. "If you need to talk, you can."

He throws his little body on mine and shakes. I hold him in my arms, and run my hands through his hair. Jax pokes his head in to let me know he's heading out and once he sees Thomas, tells me he'll take the new car and Mikayla. I just nod and watch as he leave, taking our daughter with him. Rose told us that when he breaks, to let him. She wasn't sure he'd do it for Jax because both boys have told her they are trying to be strong for him.

"Baby, it's alright. We're here, not going anywhere." I whisper and he pulls back a bit.

I adjust myself quickly he keeps my other hand in his. "I'm afraid that daddy will be mad if I'm not as brave as Abel, Nikki."

I lean over and grab the first shirt I can and pull it over me quickly. I leave the blanket around my middle and scoot closer to Thomas, turning his face to look at me. "Your daddy loves you very much. All he wants is for you to get better, Abel to. We go at your pace, Thomas. If that's slower than your brother, that's quite alright. Jax just wants you to be happy. Wanna know a secret?"

He nods, keeping his eyes on me and his voice silent.

I smile and kiss his nose before pulling back. "Your daddy isn't very strong either. I know that's why you and Abel are trying so hard, you're just like him. He tries take care of us and protects us while hiding what he's feeling. I do it too. You're just kids though. You don't have to be brave, you just have to be a kid. If that means you cry and fight and stuff it's alright."

He looks at me and sighs. "Dad seems so brave."

"He pretends like you do. He doesn't want you know he's hurting for you. You're his babies, he's going to hurt till he knows your better."

Thomas throws his arms around me before getting up to let me change. I pull on a pair of jeans and switch out the dirty shirt for a clean one. I pick up the dirty things in the floor and put them in the hamper, taking them to the washer. Thomas is watching TV in the living room when Jax comes back with Mikayla, who goes in with Thomas. I tell Jax about my conversation with the young boy and he nods. I know he doesn't like me spilling his secret so to speak, but to know that Jax isn't any better will help. I asked Rose about it yesterday. She told me that if they know that Jax is pretending like they are to make sure they are happy, they'll try harder because it'll help Jax. I start the washer and turn to kiss my husband as he takes his bike keys and heads out to work. I leave the kids to the television and go to clean up the boys' room.

With Thomas' having two broken limbs, I have been helping with their chores. I go to Mikayla's room next and pick up her toys and dirty clothes. I add hers to the boys and take them to the laundry to go next. After I pick up a bit, I clean the bathrooms and strip the beds to get them ready for new linens. Mikayla likes helping with the bed so I call her in. Thomas asks if he can help and so I let him and his sister tackle the boys room while I do my and Jax's room. We meet up in Mikayla's and they help me with her bed. After we finish, the kids help me take the dirty bed clothes to add to the pile. We hear a knock and I let Thomas answer, making sure he know to ask who it is. I hear my daughter call for her grandmother and sigh. I look up to see it's about 11 and so head back down after switching loads.

"Hey, we were going to surprise Jax for lunch."

Gemma smiles. "Well, I bought pizza to help out. We could just take it."

I smile and she get's Mikayla's hair brushed while I grab a band for mine. Thomas has taken to wearing flip flops since they are easier. We all head out and just get in Gemma's SUV to head to the shop. When we pull up, the kids jump out to go to Jax and I grab the pizza for Gemma. I take it to the table, where my husband and children are. "Your mother brought us pizza."

He smiles and leans in to give me a kiss. We all sit and Mikayla tells him about what they watched today while I cleaned up. Thomas sits next to Jax while Mikayla is next to me and we laugh and cut up. My dad and Gemma sit with us and take a slice, laughing with us. I wink at Thomas as he watches his dad and he smiles. It was a real smile, a Thomas smile. I smile back and take a drink of my soda. After we finish, I remind Jax about the group thing at three.

He nods and I give him a kiss as Gemma gives us a ride back to the house. She stays for a bit to talk to me while I do the laundry. She puts Mikayla to bed for me and Thomas goes to get his school things for the tutor. He gets everything sit out in the living room. Jax had gotten him a small table/ desk thing so that he could sit on the couch and be comfortable. I put my and Jax's clothes on the table and then put the kids' in the dryer, adding bed things to the washer.

"How're they doing?"

I sigh and take a pair of jeans. "Alright I guess. Thomas had a mini breakdown this morning. They are trying to be strong for Jax. I let him know his dad wasn't as tough as they thought and they were just like him. That cheered him up I think."

I hear the door open and see Miss Stevens walk in. I go back to folding clothes and she goes to Thomas. With Mikayla taking a nap, I told her to just come in and make sure I see her before walking any further into my house as we have guns.

"How's that going?"

I shrug, "Better than earlier this week. Thomas is having trouble with his math a bit and she got frustrated. I told her to ease up on my stepson or I was calling her boss."

Gemma nods, "Good. He's only 7. He'll get there."

I nod and we keep quiet the rest of the time I'm folding clothes. She helps me take the clothes and put them up so I can switch out the loads again. Mikayla wakes up as the tutor is leaving and Gemma offers to take her since we have group. I nod and get her a bag. Once they are gone, I sit with Thomas. He's still doing some of the work and he has to read for twenty minutes. We go ahead and get that out of the way so that we don't have to worry about that all weekend. He closes the book as Jax and Abel come through with Rose.

"Hello, Thomas."

He smiles. "Hey Rose."

Jax sits with Abel on a different couch and Rose takes the recliner. We wait for her and she takes out her pad. "Alright. Nichole, with you being with Thomas all day, how do you think he's doing?"

I pull the boy to me and smile. "I think he's doing alright. We had a tiny break this morning, but he laughed and joked with Jax when we ate lunch with him."

"That's good. I'm just trying to see where you both are at, real quick. Get your observation and go from there. ( I nod) What about Abel?"

I look at the blonde with his dad and smile at him. "He alright too. He helps Thomas out a lot and even taught Mikayla how to play Wii this week. Thomas helped with that. Also, they both smile more than they did before coming here."

She nods and turns to Jax. "Same for you Jackson."

He shifts and I know it's because he's not used to his full name.

"They both seem to eat more than then on their visits and life has come back to them. I remember everything about my boys and when they started getting hurt, I could feel it. They weren't Abel and Thomas, they seemed different. Since coming to stay here, they are Abel and Thomas again. Not having to watch for the next hit or touch helps I'm sure. I don't notice Thomas flinch as much as he did before."

We continue that way, getting our thoughts out. I let Thomas talk about what we talked about that morning and how it made him feel. He told us that knowing that his daddy was just as lost as he and Abel were helped him. It let him know that even though Jax cuts up and jokes with them, that he really just wants them to be kids. Abel talks about how Jax and he talked that morning on the way to school. Jax told him pretty much the same as I did Thomas. We just wanted them better and smiling, we didn't care how long it took them.

"Boys, you can go play. I wanna talk to your dad and stepmom before I go."

They nod and go into their room. Jax moves over to me and I take his hand, holding it in my lap as we talk to Rose.

She lets out a breath. "Today was good for a first session. You two being open with them helped them. Nichole, what you told Thomas was really good. Every little boy thinks daddy's not afraid of anything, girls too. You letting him know Jax is human like us, it helped him see that Jax cares. Jackson, you doing the same for Abel was great. They have both told me about Nikki and that they think she's a good mom to their sister. What worries me is Tara. Thomas misses her, Abel too."

Jax nods. "We can see that. Abel's birth mother was a junkie when he was born and I talked with her Monday. She's been sober for about 5 years now and we think if Abel and Thomas see that she got better, it gives them hope for Tara."

Rose nods, "That's a start. If she doesn't get the help, you may have to explain why she isn't around. I can help with that as it's difficult to explain. The stable home they are in now will help. Abel convides a lot in his friend, Kim, but I don't think Thomas has a friend. Someone outside of his family. He's going to take longer."

I nod and answer her. "Kim is my goddaughter and just got out of a bad home herself. Abel can relate to her. I know Thomas talks a lot to me and I try to help."

She smiles, "They will progress nicely I think. Well, I have to get."

We get up and Jax opens the door for her. I wrap my arms around him as he shuts the door and sigh. We decide to take the boys to the diner to eat and then come back for another movie night, but in the living room. The boys get it set up while I make popcorn. We settle, each boy with an adult and start the movies. We get through three movies before we all start drifting, Jax and I holding the boys all night.

Last one for tonight as I have to go back to class in the morning. Please continue your comments and question. Also, thank you, thank you, for all you have done already. You are why I tried to put out as much as I could before class. It's almost over too, so bare with me as the updates may not be as quick.-Brianna :)