"Can you get the lighter fluid too babe?" I turned and saw Beth nod and walk back in the house closing the screen door behind her. I couldn't help but stare as her ass swayed all the way into the house until I couldn't see it anymore, and when I turned back to the bar-b-q, I blushed seeing I was being watched. Carlos chuckled and took his Dodgers baseball cap off and ran a hand over his bald head. He was growing some hair back and seeing it made me laugh. It was grey. He sighed and turned his cap around, backwards on his head and walked to me.

"You should see yourself sometimes Kendall. The way you look at her…it's actually really precious." I looked down at the grill and shoved a hand in my left pocket and felt the key I needed to wrap still. It was already my baby girls 16 birthday and the grey hair on Carlos's head was proof enough that I was old. I was getting old and just around the corner I wasn't going to be able to protect her anymore. My body was going to stop working and it would be harder to move about. But I wasn't going to think about it, especially today. Today was a celebration in more ways than the birth of my perfect girl. It was two days straight, that she wasn't doing any more coke. "Shit…what could you be thinking about so hard?" I watched Carlos bend over fast and pick up a football. He tossed it around in his hands a bit before he stopped and sighed hard at me. "Dude seriously…what's on your mind?"

"I…today, 16 years ago Hannah was born. It was a struggle to get to this point and throughout the years I have been stressed and worried I would fail as a father, and I guess the past couple of days that was proven…" He sighed and I shook my head walking to one of the table we had set up for her party. I sat down and Carlos sat right next to me setting the football in his lap. "My point…through that entire thing one thing has been on my mind. The same thing, the same noise in the back of my head and I hear it every time I see Elizabeth." I turned to him and he raised his eyebrows. "I want another kid, and don't get me wrong, I have been trying. I have had so much sex with that women without a condom for so many years and…nothing." I sat back yard and clutched onto the beer bottle in my hand turning to the door to make sure Beth wasn't there. "I don't know if I'm shooting blanks or I'm missing or…"

"She can't have any more kids dude." I looked over at him and he let the ball fall off his lap crashing to the floor. He grabbed his own beer from the table and took a swig before looking at the ground and closing his eyes. "She told me a few days ago. It's been killing her Ken. She doesn't know how to tell you because she's afraid you won't love her anymore, and I can guarantee what Abbey told her the other day about how you wouldn't be with her, if it wasn't for Hannah, it's messing with her head even worse. I'm sorry, I should have told you but…" He shrugged and turned to me. "I'm sorry. For keeping it form you, and about…ya know." He gestured into the air and I breathed in hard. A million thoughts were running through my head and I felt like throwing up. The beer wasn't helping but I was suddenly parched and it was the only thing in sight. "Maybe you guys could adopt…or something…" But he was cut off by the screen opening and Hannah walking out. She walked over to the table fast and sat down pulling her long skinny legs up to her chest and gave a big fake smile and she smiled back. "How does it feel to be a 16 year old?" She giggled and shook her head.

"I feel the same. Except now I can date…without being in trouble." She extended her leg fast, and poked my knee. I gave her a stern look and she giggled laying her leg on my leg. I gently set my hand on her leg and even thought she was smiling and seemed a little brighter I could tell, she was having a hard time dealing with the withdraw. "When I came down, mom was talking to herself. She was trying to find the lighter fluid but was having a hard time dad." I sighed and stood up still holding onto the beer. I looked down at Carlos who gave em a sad look before I turned and walked behind Hannah. I bent over and kissed her cheek before putting my face by her ear.

"Happy birthday baby girl." I kissed the top of her head and straightened out, turning to the screen. I stepped in, shutting the door behind me and walked quickly through the empty and quite house to the garage. The door was open and she was leaning against her car looking up at the shelves. I stepped in, but leaned against the door frame. She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Need some help sexy lady?" She didn't turn to me but laughed and nodded. I walked over to her slowly looking at my work bench. When I didn't see it, I walked into her crashing into her side and kissing the side of her head. She sighed and wrapped an arm around my body while the other took the beer from my hand.

"It's barely even 4 in the afternoon and I'm already exhausted." I closed my eyes and aid my cheek on top of her head. "James and Melissa called and their on the way. They stopped to pick up a card because they forgot one so they should be here any minute. I…" She paused and I opened my eyes looking down at her. She had the bottle to her lips and was titling it back letting the liquid fall down her throat. When she put it back down she looked up at me giving me a weak smile. "I don't think Abbey and Logan are coming." I frowned and pulled her into me gently letting her lay her head on my chest.

"Well Abbey might not, but I think Logan's bringing the kids. They've been fighting non-stop. I think Logan's getting sick of her and her lies and the fact that she did fuck a guy behind his back and I think he's going to file for divorce." She squeezed around me and sucked in a harsh breath. I understood it was her sister, but he was my best friend before she became my sister in law so I had to side with him. "Besides, we have our own things to worry about." She snorted and I reached down, gently slapping her ass. She chuckled and snuggled into my body.

"Like what Kendall? Our daughter is safe and getting healthy. We're doing fine…" I felt a pang hit my heart, hard and I pushed away from her quickly. The smile she had on her face fell and she turned her head, to the side slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Babe…" I reached out and cupped her cheek. She closed mouth and swallowed hard. "Why…why didn't you tell me about…not having any more kids?" She backed away quick and ran into the car door. I walked into her and put both hands on her hips. "I love you because you're you. Not because you give me babies." She closed her eyes and turned her head but one of my hands raised it faster and I turned it back to face me. I dug my fingertips into her hip and her arms raised pushing onto my chest but I barely moved. "Elizabeth…baby open your eyes and stop keeping shit inside please. Please baby…" She tried pushing on me again but I let go of her all together and raised both hands, putting them behind her head. I pulled her into my chest, fast and held her gently against me. I closed my own eyes and heard a tiny gasp leave her mouth. I opened my mouth to try to say something reassuring and comforting, but while my mouth hung open I felt a kiss to my collar bone. One of her hands raised and pushed my black v neck shirt and her mouth trailed hot sweet kisses along my neck and collarbones. I closed my eyes again as her other hand pushed down under my jeans and my boxers. Her soft little fingertips brushed against my limp cock.

"I'm sorry…" Her voice was small and full of pain. One of my hands moved to her cheek, pushing her face up to mine. Our lips touched softly but like it was a spark sent between us, she depend the kiss, wrapping a skilled hand around my dick. I moaned into her mouth and pushed her hard into the car. Every worry and thought left my mind as my other hand moved over to her front and roughly squeezed onto her left breast. Now she moaned and quickly pulled away. We opened our eyes and locked eyes staring deep into them. Her quick little hand was picking up pace but couldn't go anywhere except the tip. My jeans and boxers were making it difficult to move her hand. I didn't care. "I'm sorry Kendall." I shook my head and bent down kissing onto her neck where I greedily sucked. She bent her head back, to the side. The hand still holding her head tangled in her hair and pushed it right into my face. If we weren't interrupted but the noise outside, I probably would have taken her right then and there. But I heard the car doors shut out front and we both pushed away from each other, quietly panting. She straightened her hair in the back and smiled weakly at me. I smiled back and let her take my hand.

"Dad? Mom? Uncle James and Aunt Melissa are here!" I heard soft running as we stepping in the house and when she closed the door behind us I turned to see Hannah run to James, getting a big bear hug. He lifted her off the ground greeting her with a quiet happy birthday while his two boys ran in, each holding colorful bags with tissue paper sticking out on the top. They ran out to the back where I heard Carlos ask them if they wanted to play some football. We walked in further and Melissa turned to us two grocery bags in hand. Beth sighed beside me, but waked to her linking arms and walking her into the kitchen, both already talking. I walked to James and Hannah who were just letting go of each other and before any of us said anything James pulled out a small box from his front pocket. She looked down and quickly tucked hair behind both ears.

"I wanted to give you this in private but your dad can stay." He glanced at me and winked. I smiled as she took it and knew exactly what it was. "When your mom sees this, she'll probably cry so be prepared." Hannah looked up, confused, but looked back down, untying the red ribbon around the plain black box. When the ribbon fell to the floor and she took off the lid a small barely audible gasp left her mouth. She reached in fast and pulled out a silver chain with a charm on it. The charm was an angle, praying. I smiled seeing her lift it, to reveal it as a necklace and she looked up, big full eyes at her uncle. "It was your grandma's. And before her, it was her mom's and then her mom's…it's been in our family since the early 1900's. Through all the dark and scary times, it's helped this family stay strong and stay safe. Your mom…well she had it but when things went sour between us and your grandparents…" he stopped and glanced to me. I shook my head hoping he didn't go into details and he sighed. "It's yours now. And I want you to wear it all the time. When you're scared or feel sad or unhappy, I want you to put that little thing in your hand and squeeze it. Think of me, and your mom and dad. Think of Carlos and Logan, and remember you are not alone Hannah and even thought you feel like your nothing, just remember to your family, especially your parents you are their everything." Hannah was sobbing holding the necklace in her hands and quickly pushed into James. He wrapped tight around her and held the back of her neck, gently. I smiled happy to see the scene before me. I was going to turn, to go into the kitchen and let them be when I heard the floor creak by the front door. I turned fast and saw Logan holding his youngest daughters hand giving the three of us a weird look. I smiled and motioned them to come in. Sam and JJ, both holding a few presents walked in smiled at me but walked into the kitchen greeting the girls in the kitchen. Hannah was calming down and when she pulled away she walked to me, giving me a quick kiss to my cheek before walking out to her mom. I turned to Logan who bent down, kissing his little sons head who then ran out, following the previous three. Logan shut the door fast and stood between James and I.

"She left me." The room dropped a few degrees giving a chill to the air. He shook his head, shrugging his shoulders. "She fell in love with Jack. He is more of a man then me, and could protect her better than I could. She doesn't care about her god damn kids and does not care about my feelings. SO now the guy that we've been trying to get, the one who gave Hannah the coke…has my wife and she wants him and not me. If I didn't have an excuse to kill him before I do now and I want to do it tonight." He stared me deep in the eyes and I heard his knuckles crack.

"I'm in." We both turned to James who looked really pissed, probably mad at his sister and then they both turned to me.

"I'm in but it might just be us and Carlos. I don't want Hannah to be by herself." They both nodded, understanding and I sighed out. "I'm sorry Logan. I'm here for you." He nodded and sighed out hard. "I'm glad you came still. I know Hannah is happy you and the kids are here, too." He chuckled quietly and we started walking to the kitchen.

"Well it's not every day my only niece turns 16." I felt a soft slap to my back and they both got on either side of me. "And I love seeing your old ass cry especially when it's because you're happy."