Living

Chapter 13

February

"Shhh," Cameron soothed, setting the baby back in her carrier. "God, she's annoying."

I shrugged. "'least she doesn't talk. That makes them more annoying."

Alex looked at the baby. "Why does she have to stay in there?"

"So that she can sleep," I told her. "Where's Tyler?"

She pointed over to where the boys were playing basketball. Again. Tyler was watching with hope in his eyes. Luther told him that if any of them suddenly died or broke all their bones, Tyler could play. As if Tyler needed anymore reasons for them to be killed.

Tabitha rolled her eyes. "Tyler's stupid."

Alex frowned. "You're stupid."

She had suddenly become protective over Tyler. It started after he got into a fight at school, with, like, a fourth grader. What fucking fourth grader fights a defenseless first grader? Okay, so Tyler probably deserved it but still.

"No, you're-"

"Stop," I said, not wanting to hear them. Tabitha scowled at me before going back to color with chalk on the patio. Tommy was next to her, reading those comic thingy that Damien buys him.

Alex walked away, going back over to her not boyfriend. She pushed Tyler, trying to get him to pay attention to her. Tyler pushed her back. Alex them pushed him, harder this time. They started a shoving war. Then Alex fell and Tyler felt bad. He helped her up, even giving her a hug. Then he told her to go away, that he was waiting for one of them to die, and she could jinx her.

"I'm thinking about going back to work," Cameron said.

"To your old job?"

"I highly doubt that I could get my job back, or even another job."

"Where are you thinking about?"

"I don't know."

Samantha started make noises, causing us both to look at her. Fang was coming over. I don't know why, but she does not like Fang, at all. I guess maybe it can be the way he looks, or the way his voice sounds. I don't know.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he came to give me a kiss.

"Letting Tyler play."

"Luther's going to get mad at you."

Fang shrugged. "So what?"

Since that year that Luther left us for a few months, none of the guys were as devoted to him as before. Bone never really was, but Fang and Damien were obsessed with him. Now, Damien and him can't stand each other and Fang's kind of whatever about him. In a way, it's sad to see him left standing there, no long the leader of anything. It's also good though. Damien's finally making his own decisions, for the most part, and so is Fang. Not that Luther ever really decided anything for Fang. Only the not important stuff. I decided all the rest.

Tank walked over, causing Fang picked Samantha up, not wanting her on the ground with him around. The baby didn't like this. She started crying. Cody, who was sleeping on the ground, curled against Snickers, made a noise of displeasure.

"Shhh!" He yelled, only upsetting her further. Fang gave Cameron her daughter. Tank didn't like her noises either. He ran back to his doghouse and hid. Damien was over there in seconds.

"You can play, Fang," he said, taking the baby from Cameron. "I don't want to."

Fang shrugged before going back to play with them. That made Tyler happy. He has said since he could form sentences that he hates Fang but he really loves him more than anyone. Except me, of course. And maybe Alex. Depends on the day, really.

Damien sat down in the chair next to Cameron. "Did the puppy scare you, Sammy? Huh?"

"Shut up, Damien," Cameron told him. "It can't understand you."

"Yes she can," Damien defended. "Huh, Sam?"

The soon to be two month old calmed down. Gave her a kiss before getting up and putting her back down in her carrier.

Tommy looked at Tabitha. "What if I got another girlfriend?"

It was such a random thing that I don't think even Tabitha understood him for a second.

"What?"

He just blinked. "I'm getting another girlfriend."

Tabitha cocked her head to the side for a second before going back to drawing. "No, you're not."

"Yes, I am. My daddy said that I can have as many as I want."

"No," Tabitha said. "I meant you won't have another one. If you get another, you'll lose me and then it'll just be her."

Tommy shut up after that. Tabitha likes to think that she's not my daughter, but I would disagree if asked.

"I'm back!"

Great…

Lucas marched over to the couch and got onto it. He had spent the night with Mom last night.

"Thanks, Mom," I said, starting to close the door. I forgave her but I haven't let the fact she kept me hidden forever leave my mind either.

"Yeah, bye," she said quickly, before I closed the door in her face. Lucas cuddled against Fang.

"Miss me?"

"Of course," Fang said, pulling him into his lap. Luther had to get back to work and made Bone go with him, so the party kind of just stopped. Cameron and Damien left without being in a fight for once, so that was good. Tabitha didn't beg for Tommy to stay longer either, probably due to his previous comment.

Cody, who was laying on the floor, sat up. "Jims?"

That was his name for James. I went over to him and picked him up. "You miss James? Huh?"

"Jims!"

I bounced him a little. I was happy he was just talking to me today. "Is he your best friend?"

"Yes," Cody told me, looking around. "Bir?"

"Amber? She's not here either, silly. You still remember her? Huh?"

"Yes," he said, laying his head on my shoulder. "Miss."

"I know," I said, walking into the kitchen. Tyler and Alex were playing with Snickers.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked, going to set Cody on the counter. He wouldn't let go of me though, so I had to shift him to one arm and start dinner. There are days that he wants nothing to do with anyone, only to sleep. Then he has days like today, where all he wants is me to hold and coddle him.

"Playing," Alex told me.

"What's for dinner?" Tyler asked.

"Macaroni and cheese and hotdogs."

He made a face. "Can't Dad make dinner?"

"Shut up, Tyler," I said as Cody started humming Mary had a Little Lamb in my ear. "Are you happy today, Cody?"

"No. Miss Jims. Miss Bir."

"I know," I said, bouncing him a little. "It's okay though. You'll see them again soon."

He just moaned.

"I love you, Cody," I told him. "Did you know that? Huh?"

He didn't say anything else to me. I guess he was done talking for the day. I kept talking to him though; even when Tyler told me it was stupid to do that. It's like when Damien was talking to Samantha. You don't do it because you want them to talk back. You don't even care if they understand or listen to you. You just talk to them so that they know you're there and that you care, even when they don't.

"Do you love Samantha?"

Cameron glanced at her nephew. "Do you love Tabitha?"

"Yes…kind of."

"Same."

He looked down at his Doraemon manga. "I think I should be able to have another girlfriend."

"You heard Tabitha. You do, and you'll lose her."

Tommy frowned. "Why does she care? She doesn't have to meet my new girlfriend."

"That's not the point, Tommy," Cameron said. "Besides, I thought that you didn't want her to cry."

"What?"

"Before, when you and your mother lived here, you said that your dad made your mom cry and you wouldn't do that to Tabitha."

She was making things all mixed up in his head. His aunt always did that to him. When he was talking to his dad, everything was so simple. Then he would relay the information to her and should would get it all jumbled in his mind. "Yeah but still."

"Still what? If you loved her, you wouldn't do it."

"Maybe I don't love her."

Cameron shrugged. "It's not like you bought her a ring or- Oh wait, you did."

"You're mean."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying, if you want another girlfriend, fine. It's not like we put a lot of stock in you two actually liking each other-"

"We do actually like each other!"

"Apparently not."

He made a face at his aunt. "You're a lot meaner to me than you were before."

"Before what?"

"You went away. I wish you'd go back."

She stared at him for a second before looking back at the TV.

"Aunt Cameron?"

"What?"

"You didn't say nothin' back."

"Why would I? That was rude and hurtful."

He got off the couch and went over to where she sat in the chair. Forcing his way into his lap like he was a two year old again, he said, "I'm sorry."

She kissed his head, going along with the tow year old persona. "I know."

"Do you forgive me?"

"Of course."

He laughed, leaning against her. "If I break up with Tabitha, will you be mad at me?"

"No."

"Can I still be friends with her?"

"That's not up for me to decide."

"Who gets to choose?"

"Tabitha."

"I like her," he said, frowning.

"Then why do you want to break up with her?"

"I like other girls too."

"Then, you should just break up with her."

"Really?"

"Yep. It's not fair to her. Besides, you're five-"

"Six!"

"Yeah, whatever. Anyways, you have a long time to be with her again."

"Will she get upset like last time?"

"Probably."

He cuddled against her more. "I don't want to make her upset."

"Then don't do it."

"But I want to."

"Tom, make up your mind."

He looked up at his aunt. "I'll do it tomorrow. After church."

She frowned. "You're going to church with Damien?"

'Yes. He said that I'd have fun."

She laid her head on top of his. "Yeah."

"Will you come?"

"I have to stay with Samantha."

"Oh," he said, not moving from his spot of her lap, though it was obvious the conversation was dead.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he told her before adding, "and I don't want you to ever go away again."

"Me neither."

"So I did good?"

I smiled. "Yeah, Tabby, you did."

This morning, I had taken her out to eat breakfast, then we were outside as the guys played basketball, and we just finished a movie. I think that Tabitha and I have had a good day today. At the moment, we were upstairs, in her bed. I was lying on my back and was next to me.

"Good," she said. We were talking about what Tommy said about wanting another girlfriend. "He's a butthead."

I would normally correct her on name calling but I just laughed, looking over at her. "All guys are."

"Even Daddy?"

"Especially Daddy."

"Luther?"

"You already know the answer to that."

She giggled. "Bone? Tyler? Lucas?"

"Yes, yep, and almost, but not all the way there yet."

"What about Damien?"

"One exception."

"Then why didn't you marry him?" She asked.

"You know why."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do, Tabby," I told her. "Because I love Fang. You know that."

"You don't always marry the person you love."

'What?"

She nodded. "Don't sometimes you end up alone?"

'Who's alone?"

"Dr. Martinez."

"She is not. She was married."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but don't go around talking about it, okay?" Mostly, because even I didn't know a lot about it. Then again, I didn't even know that her family didn't even know me a few months ago, so whatever.

"Okay."

I smiled at her again. "I love you, Tabitha."

"I love you too," she said. "But someone is going to end up alone."

"Who?" I asked, frowning.

"Tyler."

I rolled my eyes before getting up. "Be nice to your brother."

"I am."

"I'll see you in the morning, okay?" I went to the door. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

I went into Tyler's room. "What are you two doing?"

Tyler looked up at me. "Building a fort."

I frowned. "Why?"

"So that we can sleep in it," he said, as if I was the dense one. Yeah, alright.

"Just hurry up," I told them before leaving. When I got downstairs, Cody and Lucas were both asleep. Fang wasn't home tonight though, because he had the night shift at work. Since Cameron got taken, the boys rarely let me take that shift anymore. I would fight for it but that would mean I had to be up at that nasty store instead of at home asleep.

I got into bed and was surprised to find both the cats sleeping in bed. As soon as I laid down, Snickers jumped up and walked into my bathroom. Whatever. I don't like that cat anyways. Fox cuddled against me, meowing. I always knew I liked him.

Alex and Tyler were playing with his action figures when Tommy came over.

"He's here a lot," Alex said.

"So are you."

She just giggled.

"Don't leave, Damien," Tommy said. He nodded at his nephew, going into the house behind him.

"I have to go talk to Fang, anyways," Damien said. "Where is he, Max?"

"Up in the attic," she said before going back to the kitchen.

"Why didn't you want Damien to leave?" Tabitha asked her soon to be ex-boyfriend. "Aren't you staying?"

He shook his head.

"Why not?" She asked.

"'Cause you're gonna get mad at me."

"Did you steal something of mine again?"

"Nope."

"Did you…pull Tanks tail?"

"No."

"Did you-"

"You'll never guess it."

She didn't like to be told she'd never do something. "Yes, I will."

"Tabitha."

"Since you're gonna be annoying about it, fine, just tell me."

He looked at her for a second, not wanting to be close enough for her to hit him if she didn't like what he had to say. "Are you sure you want me to just say it? I could write it for you."

"Say it, Tommy."

"I don't want to be your boyfriend anymore."

She looked at him for a second. "So you want to be my husband?"

"No, not exactly."

"Then what?"

"I just don't want to be anything to you anymore."

Then, he realized he was too close. Just close enough for her to knee him in the crotch.

"Wow!" Tyler perked up, seeing this. Watching Tabitha getting broken up with was fun, but Tommy in pain brought the fun-o-meter up by a thousand.

While Tommy was on the ground, Tabitha added insult to injury by ripping her ring necklace from her neck and throwing it at him. "I hope you die!"

"Tabitha!" Max came back into the room. "What did you do?"

"She hurt me!"

Cameron sighed. "I know."

"No, you don't. She hurt me!"

"Tommy-"

"No, you're not getting-"

"Yes, I did. You hurt her, she hurt you."

"Yeah but I hurt a lot worse!"

"That's a matter of opinion."

"Did you hear where she hurt me?"

Cameron rolled her eyes. "It's your own fault."

"You told me to do it."

"Yeah, well."

"Well? That's all you can say?" He looked at his aunt in disbelief. "I should have just listened to Dad and not broken up with her, just got another girlfriend. But no, I listen to you and get hurt. Horribly hurt."

"Shush," Cameron said as there was a knock on the door. "Your mom's here. Go get the door."

He walked a little funny from his injury but got to the door quickly. "Mom, Aunt Cameron let Tabitha hit me the bad place."

"What?"

Tommy nodded, looking up at his mother. "I got a bruise, I think. I need 'mergency attention!"

"No, you don't," Cameron said, rolling her eyes. "I thought that you wanted to play football?"

"I'll have a cup then."

"Do you even know what that is?"

"Nope but it'll help, unlike you."

"Why did she hurt you?" Mary asked.

"Because I broke up with her."

"What? I thought you were married?"

He gaped at his mother. "We were not! Not for a long time. We broke up and got back together but she wouldn't marry me again."

Mary shook her head. "Just go get your stuff so that we can go. You have school tomorrow."

"I have to go to school?"

"Yes."

"Mom, I am injured."

"Thomas, not now, alright?"

He ran upstairs to get his bag.

"Was he good?" Mary asked.

"Besides breaking up with Tabitha, yes."

Mary rolled her eyes. "How's the baby?"

Cameron shrugged. "Fine, I guess. You didn't want to see her, did you?"

"No."

"Good."

"So? He hurt me too!"

I looked at Fang before back at Tabitha. "I know, but, if Fang broke up with me, I couldn't just stab him."

"You should," she said and then frowned. "Are you getting a-"

"No."

Fang rolled his eyes. "That hurts, for a guy. What if I…cut off your right hand?"

"Fang!"

"What?"

"It is not that bad."

"How would you know?"

"I just do."

"Max, it hurts."

'Yeah but losing your right hand-"

"Is an understatement."

"I doubt it."

"I don't."

Tabitha got bored with the discussion. "Am I grounded?"

"No, not this time. Next time, yes," I told her, standing. "Now, I have to go make dinner-"

"No, Dad. I'll never ever do it again," Tabitha promised. "Don't make us eat that again. Please? Can't you make something?"

I frowned as Fang led me out of the room, calling over his shoulder that he would just order pizza.

"I have gotten better at cooking," I complained.

"Yep. The hotdogs are only charred a little."

"Shut up," I said, hitting his arm.

"See? That's where she gets it from," Fang said.

"Oh, whatever," I said, starting down the stairs. "Tommy so deserved that."

"He did not. Now we don't have to worry about him spending the night."

"Yeah, but she's hurt."

"She's not crying like last time."

"She's getting more mature," I said. "That doesn't mean that she's not hurt."

"Yeah, but he's hurting more."

"He is not."

"Max, you wouldn't know."

"Fang, I gave birth. Twenty times worse."

"It is not."

"Yes it is," I told him. "You wouldn't know, remember?"

"Max, at least with that, you get something good out of it. There is nothing good about getting hit down there."

"It's like a dog."

"Huh?"

'Yeah. When they do something bad, you spray them with a water bottle. In fact, that's what I'm going to do to you from now on."

"Oh, no you are not."

"Yes, I am," I told him, headed to our bedroom. "Here, do something bad."

"Why would I do something so stu- Max!"

"What?" I asked. "I didn't hit you in the jewels, just in your arm."

"But why?"

"For talking back."

"Max, I am not- Hey!"

That time I got him in the stomach. "Each time you mess up, I'll get closer and closer."

"I hate- Damn it!"

Well, I warned him.

"Fang-"

"No."

"I didn't-"

"No."

"It wasn't that hard-"

"No."

"Come on-"

"No."

I huffed, crossing my arms. "My mouth'll make it feel better."

"I'm afraid that if I moan, you'll think that I was talking back and you'll bite it off."

"That was low."

"Not as low as you hit."

"Fang, come on. When am I the one begging for sex?"

"All the time."

"Yeah, when we first got together. Now, it's always you."

"Max, you hit me-"

"I didn't hit you that hard."

"Says you!"

Sighing, I closed my eyes. "Well, I'm not losing any sleep over it."

"What else is new?"

"She really got him."

Cameron laid Samantha back down in her crib. "I kind of feel bad."

"You should. You told him to do it."

"Thanks, Damien, you make me feel so much better about myself."

"I try."

She rolled her eyes, walking out of the room. Damien went over to the crib and said his prayers, making sure to include Tommy and his pain in them. Then he told the sleeping baby that he loved her before going out of the room. Cameron was in bed, Peter next to her.

"Don't turn on the TV," she said as Damien went to pick up the remote.

"Alright then," he said, going to change into his Superman pajamas.

When he laid down, Peter got up and moved even closer to Cameron, if that was even possible. Sometimes, they made him feel so unloved. Then he remembers he has Samantha and he feels better.

"Why no TV?"

"Because it keeps me up."

He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Night, Cammie."

She smiled at him. "Goodnight, omen."

They laid there for a minute before she spoke again. 'What are we doing for Valentines Day?"

"Sleeping."

"Damien."

He sighed. "I think that I work but we can go out to eat after, if you want."

"No, that's okay."

"No, really, we can."

"I don't want to."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Just checking."

He shook his head. "Whatever, Cameron."

She ran a hand down Peter's back. "Was church good?"

"Yes. You should come."

"Don't start with me."

"What? I was just-"

"Don't."

"Fine, then." He looked at his cat. "It's too bad you can't come to church, Peter."

"Damien-"

"What? I'm taking to the cat."

"Shut up and go to bed."

He leaned over and gave her a kiss again. "I love you."

"Shut up and leave me alone."

"He did what?" Luther was angry. "I'll do worse than that to him."

"Luther, they're six."

"So? He shouldn't have played with her like that," Luther said. "In the least, I'll beat the shit out of his father for raising him to-"

"-do what you do?"

"Exactly."

I rolled my eyes. "Go ahead. I won't stop you. I'm not that fond of Trent anyways."

Bone put his jacket around my shoulders before going off to do inventory. I laid my head on the counter and Luther left me alone about it.

"Did you notice that Bone didn't say anything?" I asked Luther.

He shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't care about baby love like we do."

"Guess so," I said, yawning. Lucas pulled on my pants leg. "What?"

"Can I go play wid Boon?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Ya!" He ran off. I had come to accept his missing teeth. They just make him look even cuter.

"Where's James?" I asked Luther. Cody was at home with Fang, still sleeping, probably.

"Home with his mom."

"You guys still good?"

"No, but when are we?"

We left it at that. I was asleep for a little while, but then Bone came back into the room, Lucas following right behind him.

"Mommy, get up! It's morning."

"Thank you, Lucas," I said sarcastically. As if I say anything in another way. "What would I do without you? You know, you should be a meteorologist. Not everyone can tell day from night like you."

My humor was lost on the toddler. "No, I'mma be a cat. Like Fox."

Great, we're raising another Tyler. As long as he doesn't start to think he can clone things, I think we're okay.

"That's great, baby."

"Rats," Bone said.

"Not in here, there better not be," I said while lifting my head up.

He shook his head. "I've got them again."

He had gotten rid of them for awhile, apparently.

"Tell your supervisor," I said.

"No. I kind of like them."

"My son is not going over there again until they're gone."

He frowned. "You're my younger sister, not older. You should do what I say, not the other way around."

"Yeah, I'll tell you when a man tells me what to do."

Luther snickered. "Fang texted me that you hit in him the balls."

"I did."

Bone shook his head. "What balls?"

"Trust me, he has some," I said. Lucas frowned.

"Basketballs?"

"Yep," I said as he came around the counter. I picked him up and sat him in my lap. "Big basketballs."

Bone said nothing and Luther snorted. So what if I lie about Fang's size sometimes? Making fun of him to his face and taking up for him behind his back is kind of my thing.

"Why does it hurt boys?" Alex asked Tyler.

They were supposed to be reading their library books but Alex didn't like hers. It was about some girl that solved mysteries and was way too hard. She got it to impress her teacher and it was working. In truth though, she couldn't stop laughing over her name. Nancy. That was a funny name all by itself but put with the last name Drew, it was even more funny. And then there was a girl named George. Books are funny without even reading them.

"I don't know," Tyler said. "It just does."

He was reading about a dog that could talk. That was so stupid. Everyone knew that dogs couldn't talk. Duh. Only if they were bit by a radioactive spider or something. And yes, he did connect everything back to Spiderman. So what?

"I wish I was a boy."

Tyler looked at his friend. "No. You would make an ugly boy."

"…Well, you'd make an ugly girl."

"Good. I don't want to be a girl."

Alex took offence. "Why not?"

"Because, Alex, then I wouldn't be me."

"Really?"

"Yeah," he said. "If you change, you're not you no more."

"I guess so."

'And," he continued. "Me being a girl would mean I would have to have a new name. I like my name. And girls pee a different way."

"Really?"

"Yep," he said before changing the subject. "Think that Tommy's still hurting?"

Alex giggled. "Probably."

'Good."