This one is a bit on the short side . . .


Seats

August 2004

"I don't want that one! I want the princesses!"

Memphis closed his eyes, trying not to growl as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. This shouldn't be so damned hard! But-as he was steadily discovering- nothing about Penn Raines was ever easy. Especially when it involved something she had to see every day. He took in a calming breath, intently ignoring the snickers from his brother as Kip coughed and tried to hide his laughter. Oh sure it was funny! He wasn't the one arguing with a toddler over her fucking car seat. Christ why hadn't he let Junie come with them today?

Oh yeah, he wanted to prove he was capable of being a parent without the rest of the crew acting as a safety net.

"But Penn honey they don't have a princess one big enough for you. You need one like the gray one here-And look they have pink!"

Penn looked up at him like he was crazy, crossing her arms as her brows drew down in the most sinister scowl he'd ever seen. Her bottom lip puckered out as her eyes started to water, her cheeks darkening to a terrifying red as she glared up at him; the pitch of her voice making his ears want to bleed as she screeched.

"I don't want the pink! I want the princesses! Momma woulda got me the princesses! And you're 'posed to love me as much she did!"

Memphis felt his left eye tick as Kip sputtered and dropped against the metal shelving, clutching the gondola as he covered his face with his hands; making these strangled wheezing noises as his shoulders shook. The elder Raines turned, glaring at his little brother as Penn huffed and stomped her foot; turning away from both of them as she all but growled. Memphis grit his teeth, muttering to Kip as he continued to lean against the shelves; the whole display shaking from the force of his barely contained glee while Penn looked at the Princess carseat in determination.

"You'd better be cryin' back there, little brother. Or I swear to God Sphinx is going to find out who back into his Malibu at the last meet."

Kip paled, wiping a hand down his face as he pushed away from the display; pouting as he nudged Memphis in the side with his elbow.

"Jeez, lighten up Randal. I only told you so you could make sure he didn't yell at Ripley! Besides you have to admit this is funny. I mean don't normal parents just buy the damned car seats and let that be that?"

Memphis opened his mouth to rebuke that statement, to plainly tell his brother that he wasn't like normal parents and he had to do everything in his power to keep his daughter as happy as he could-at least until she was used to them and the idea that her mother wasn't ever coming back- when Penn screamed. She threw her hands out, stomping her foot again as she shrieked; her voice raising with every new word.

"I hate it here! I hate you! Everything's different! I wanna go home!"

Memphis flinched, his chest going hollow and empty as Penn continued to rant; the toddler oblivious to the fact that she'd literally just ripped his heart out of his chest. He knew she wasn't happy with them-hell the only time she laughed or smiled was when she was around Junie and Ripley or being carted around on Hex's shoulders. He knew she hated her almost complete room-despite the fact that it was turning out to be a proverbial girly girl paradise with the doll houses and stuffed ponies and all of the damned clothes Junie had forced down their throats- just like he knew that she wished she were still with Sway. But Sway was gone . . . and he was the only one left to take her.

Other than the State.

Memphis collected himself, watching as Kip knelt; borrowing a line from their mother as he carefully caught Penn by the shoulders. The girl stopped mid-tantrum, so shocked that he'd touched her that her mouth was still open as Kip gave her a stern look. The same look that Memphis knew they had hated to see cross Helen Raines face. Mainly because it meant a guilt trip of massive proportions was brewing behind kind words and warm tear filled eyes . . . and Penn seemed to cue in on that just like they had.

"Pennelope, stop it. You know you don't mean that and it isn't nice to say it. Now if they had the princess seat we would get it but they don't so let's pick out another one and we'll go get some lunch okay?"

The girl stilled, looking at Kip before she sighed; flouting as she nodded.

"Fine, Uncle Kip. I guess I'll get the pink one . . . but only if we can get lunch with Aunt Ripley and Uncle Hex."

Kip nodded, extending his hand to her; causing Penn to look at him like he was crazy. Memphis watched Kip laugh, getting one of Penn's hands and shaking it lightly once; the same way their father had anytime he made a deal with them. Memphis cleared his suddenly tight throat, feeling a little better about the situation as Kip prodded his daughter to apologize.

"Deal, Princess. But only if you apologize to your dad. You can't say stuff like that-it isn't nice."

Penn looked to their hands, brow raised.

"Why? It's true. I don't like it here and everything is different-"

Kip rolled his eyes, poking her under her ribs; his voice staying mellow and even as he explained. Understanding slowly blossomed across Penn's features, replaced by guilt and repentance as she peaked up at him through her lashes; chewing on her bottom lip as she started to sniffle.

"We know it is-but it's all different for us too, kiddo. We aren't used to this . . . and your Dad loves you. He's changing everything to make our home your home. Would you like it if we told you how much we didn't like that?"

She shook her head, new tears pooling beneath her lashes.

"No . . . You do don't you? Like that I'm here?"

Kip laughed, nodding to her as he dipped; tugging her into him with her hand still in his.

"We don't like it, kid. We love it. Just like we love you . . . but we're guys. You've gotta be easy on us. Now let's go pay for this and we'll go grab your aunt and uncle okay? Your aunt's probably about to kill a few of your uncles anyway so this is probably for the best."

Penn nodded, seeming to debate something for a moment before she wiggled loose; running straight to Memphis and throwing her arms around his knees as she sniffled.

"I'm sorry Daddy. I didn't mean it. I don't hate you-"

Memphis knelt, gathering her up in a tight hug as she started to cry; suddenly thankful that Kip had insisted on tagging along. He wouldn't have been able to handle hearing those words without another person there . . . just like he doubted he could've done as well as Kip did calming her down to see reason. Then again the longer Penn was with them the easier it was to see that she definitely took after her uncle in more than a few ways. The same infuriating ways that had left his mother grayheaded and a handful of now patched wholes in his old bedroom wall.

"I know honey, I know. Let's just not say that again okay? You only tell people you hate them if you mean it. Got it?"

She nodded, tears and snot leaching into his tee shirt as she wiped her nose on his shoulder but he didn't care. Another thing he was learning to overcome-his dislike of snot. Because Penn seemed to think everyone around her was a damned hanky.

God how were they going to survive the next sixteen years?