June 27, 2013
"He's my baby." Javier looked up at Jax before wagging a tiny little finger in the man's direction. "I'm not giving him to you." He shook his head as he looked down at his two week old baby brother Creed. "Creed, tell your dad to come back later!"
Jax shook his head as he bit back a smile. "Oh, so you're banning me from my own son? I see how you wanna play things Javier."
The four year old shrugged. "Yes. He's my baby. Mom told me to hold him for her while she went to get a snack for us." He gave a succinct nod. "Until she says otherwise, he's staying with me. I'm sorry Jax."
The man nodded. "You're lucky I have to go to TM kid." He pressed a kiss to Javier's forehead before doing the same to Creed. "Keep being a good big brother and make sure your mom takes a nap when your brother does. Alright?"
Javier nodded. "I got this. I'm the man of the house when you go to work." He flashed a smile. "Creed, say by to your dad. He's off to work for the day! We'll see him at dinner time."
Bri caught Jax by his hand and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Have a good day at work." She smiled and nodded. "I love you."
"I love you too. I'll be back early though." Jax smiled at the brunette. "Remember, take a nap so you can function properly through the day."
"I will." She nodded. "I can't afford not to nap today." She smiled as she watched him leave the house before she took a seat next to her sons. "So, Creed giving you hell yet or has he just been staring at you?"
"Just been staring." Javi nodded. "He has pretty blue eyes. How come I don't have colored eyes like you guys? I have brown ones. I got to see my eyes close up at school the other day. It was so much fun. The teacher took a picture and let us see it."
"Because your dad has brown eyes, so you have his pretty brown eyes." Bri rubbed Creed's head and smiled. "He has his dad's eyes and well Monica just has green eyes to annoy her dad Happy."
"How come Monica looks like you but I look like my dad and Creed looks like Jax?" He furrowed his brow before looking up at his mom. "I don't get any of this."
She laughed and shook her head. "Girls tend to look like their moms. Boys take after their dads. It's weird like that. Also sometimes you get kids who look nothing like their parents and will instead favor a relative. Be happy you don't look like your uncle Frederik. He's got one ugly mug. I can't wait for you guys to meet my other siblings. I think your Aunt Raisa and her daughter come for a visit soon. Raisa is my older sister. People say we look alike but I don't see it at all."
"You have an older sister like I do?" He shook his head. "Is she mean like mine is?"
She shook her head. "I have an older sister and no she isn't mean. Monica isn't mean either, she's been very nice to you. She even apologized and stuff." Bri yawned as she stretched further onto the sofa. "You ready for your snack yet or do you wanna keep holding Creed?"
Javier looked between his mom and brother before shrugging. "I want to hold him a little longer then I'll eat my snack. Is that ok mom?"
"Yes. It's more than ok." Bri kissed his head and smiled. "It's perfect baby, continue to bond with your brother."
"Mama." Monica wrapped her arms around the brunette from behind before climbing over the back of the couch and sighing. "I'm out of ideas to take pictures of. I think I burned myself out already."
"Oh my poor little creative monster. That's why I signed you up for that photography day camp. It doesn't start until July first but that gives you time to pack your two favorite cameras. They have to be DSLR, no point and shoots. I left all the information on your desk, if you paid attention you would have noticed it my love." She smiled. "Now. I need you to just lay here and relax with us, Creed is finally giving up some you know what."
"Oh." The emerald eyed brunette nodded. "I didn't even look at my desk. Can't I just go get the package and come back down to relax?"
"Nope." Bri shook her head. "No. I already told your dad about this and he was fine about it because it is just a day camp and not a sleep away camp. Don't make us regret this though Monica, no getting into trouble and if someone messes with you, pull out your phone and call one of us, hell, you can call Anthony or Roman, you know those two will be there. I put them down on the emergency card."
Monica furrowed her brow and sighed. "Why can't I call Elijah? Does he not love me anymore or something? He never is over here at all anymore."
"Babe, Elijah is on a break. He just lazes around his house with Aurelia." Bri pulled her daughter to her and kissed her cheeks. "He still loves you. Stop thinking like that babe. Remember what the therapist said? You can't let negative thoughts invade and kick out the positive thoughts. Elijah still loves you but until he's off his break, the suits you call are Anthony and Roman. Yevgeny isn't exactly ready for that yet but he's on the card too. I know that you like Geny because he looks scary but is a real goofball."
"No. I like him because I think he's super cute." Monica shrugged. "He's my crush right now mom. I wanna marry him when I'm old enough."
"Shhh." Bri covered Monica's mouth and looked around. "I don't need your dad walking in here and hearing you say that shit. He'll have Geny banned from being around us. I actually like Geny, he stays out of trouble, he listens, he doesn't gossip. It'll be good to keep him around. So let's not rush him off because your dad came through the back door and heard something…"
"What would I hear?" Happy snuck up behind the brunettes and smirked when they jumped. "What did you two do now? Huh?"
"Jesus Christ." Bri shook her head. "How'd you get into my house? Javi did you not lock the back door after you came in from playing with Monster?"
Happy shrugged. "Yes, the door was unlocked. It's not a big deal. So, how are you two in trouble?"
"I have a crush on a boy!" Monica covered her face and shook her head. "She told me not to make a big deal about it or you'll scare the boy off."
He nodded as he lifted her off the couch. "Oh yeah? You have a crush? That's interesting, I still want to meet this kid one day Monica. I have to make sure that he's going to treat you well."
She nodded as she wrapped her arms around Happy's waist. "Yeah but it doesn't matter because he lives in Oakland and I live in Charming!" She sighed as she looked up at her dad and poked her bottom lip out. "It's a terrible fate."
He shook his head. "You're as dramatic as your mom." He smirked. "If it's meant to be, you will see him again even if it's eight years from now." He lifted her up and placed her back on the sofa next to Bri. "I came over to bug you guys."
Bri nodded as she pushed off the sofa and moved towards Happy. "Let's get you something to drink or do you want me to make you something to eat?"
He waved her off. "Stop it Brianna. I don't need anything right now and if I did, I could make it myself. I'm a big boy. Stop worrying about me. I'm good, alright?"
"I'm sorry." She sighed. "It's a bad habit. I worry and offer drinks and food." She looked up at him as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I'm just trying to make sure my best friend is good…"
Happy nodded. "I'm fine Brianna. Why are you even worried about me?"
"Um, because you just seem off." She shook her head. "Something seems wrong, like you're just going through the motions and you've been here so many times."
"I miss my kid. You took her from me." He shrugged as he guided the brunette into the kitchen. "Is it against the law to want to see my daughter when I'm on my way back to Oakland from the clubhouse?"
Bri shook her head. "No. I just want to check in… You still unsure about the whole wedding thing?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah but you can't tell Jacey shit Brianna. I think it's me overthinking everything because I never saw myself getting married or having kids and here I am, two kids and just a few months away from walking down the aisle. These feelings will pass. So don't worry about it, ok?"
"I'm not worried about it." She shook her head. "I'm not worried about it. I'm going to just let it ago. I promise." She nodded as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "I just wish you'd talk to her about it. That's all."
Happy huffed. "I'm done with this conversation. I'm going to go hang out with Monica a bit before I head back home to be attacked by my kids. You should relax and take a nap, you look like you haven't slept in a while."
"It's been two weeks since I've gotten a decent amount of sleep." Bri frowned. "Creed thinks it's funny to stay up all night whining."
"Go take a nap. I'll watch your brood for an hour." He pushed her towards the stairs. "I have experience, you don't have to worry about."
"Fine, fine." Bri nodded. "Wake me up if anything. There's one bottle already made in the fridge. He switches between the source and a bottle."
"Go." Happy shook his head. "I got this. Don't worry."
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"Creed." Bri yawned as she changed her son's diaper. "You're a stinky little thing. You're lucky you're so damn handsome."
"He's so handsome." Nik leaned over her sister's shoulder to smile down at her nephew. "Look at you Creed. You're my handsome little nephew." She squeezed his cheeks and smirked. "He didn't like that at all."
"What kid likes their cheeks squeezed?" Bri shook her head. "Where's my little Kajsa? You leave her with Javi?"
The blonde nodded. "Yeah, I did. I left them together. She saw that he had chips and wanted to be his best friend." She chuckled. "My daughter is a little fatty. She also keeps asking for Kol. Calls him Ko! Little thing is struggling with her Ls."
"Javi was the same way." She nodded as she passed Creed to Nik. "She'll get to it. Just keep saying Love you or Hello."
"I'm trying but my daughter is in love with Kol. It's so cute. She even gets jealous when he talks to Lumi." Nik chuckled as she rocked Creed. "You're the one who's going to be with Lumi huh? She's going to be your little wifey from the moment you're old enough to see her. I know it already, you want a cute little brunette on your arm."
"We really need to stop playing matchmaker with the kids in our family. I'm banking on Lumi wanting Kol because Kajsa wants Kol but that's all I'm saying." Bri chuckled and shrugged. "I need to tell you something… Raisa is coming stateside for a while. She's bringing her daughter with her."
Nik nodded slowly. "Damn, I haven't seen Raisa in years. Not since her daughter was three." She shook her head as she looked down at Creed who was now fast asleep. "She say why she's coming out here? She usually avoids the states."
"No. She just said she would be coming out and expect her to be here around Christmas, so at least she's giving us a heads up." Bri rolled her eyes. "I seen her two years ago. She popped in town on a layover and reached out, wanted to have coffee. I told her Monica and Antonina need to spend time together. Bond and stuff. They're the same age… Same pretty green eyes. You see where I'm going with this shit."
"You two talk about the Max shit or no?" Nik sighed as she lowered her nephew into his crib. "Creed has no eyebrows."
Bri shook her head. "No we haven't. It's just something I rather not talk about. You know my time with him was short and filled with nothing but misery and uncertainty." She shrugged. "Plus, how do we tell Moni and Nina that they're half sisters? It makes no sense to bring that up… It's been over ten years. They can just be cousins."
"How fucked up is our family?" Nik shook her head as she watched her daughter toddle towards her. "Kajsa baby, your family is nothing but insanity. I hope we get better as you grow up."
"I have no clue. Fucked up more than most." The brunette dropped to the carpeted floor and shook her head. "It's ridiculous. Sometimes it's like we're trapped in an episode of Jerry Springer mixed with a hint of Dr. Phil because the Lord knows we all need some help."
"I'm sure we all need to go to a group therapy session." Nik smiled as she looked at her sister. "Dad would get a kick out of that huh? Hearing all our issues, even though I'm sure he already knows them already."
"I think this is the first time in a long time that I've heard you call Aleksandr dad." Bri smiled. "Yeah, he pretty much knows everything unless he's out of the states. Right now, he is getting fed gossip from the Gossip Suits. Patent pending."
She laughed and nodded. "I know but sometimes he doesn't even feel like my dad. He feels more like a step dad. Like he's more of a dad to you and Jacey. Like I'm just the extra sister who got him by default. We don't have a close relationship Brianna, so sometimes he's Aleksandr, sometimes he's dad."
Bri nodded. "He's always been your dad, you just haven't needed him as much. I also took him from Russia when I was fourteen and was shipped off to New York to get an American education for a measly five years. I'm sorry."
Nik shrugged. "It's alright. I mean, our dad treated me pretty well. I also had Aleksandr when he was around for that small amount of time. I honestly didn't even remember him all that much until I came back to the states. I mean, I was like nine when he left. He was always yours. It just kinda stung when I saw how much more of a dad he is to Jacey than he is to me. It was kind of a jealous thing for a minute. Can we please change the subject?"
"Yeah." Bri scooted towards the pair of blondes and smiled. "How about we plan some kind of play date for all of us? I'm talking the entire family, around the time Raisa comes to town with Nina. We can make it just a Hohrykova thing. Shit, we can also start planning your wedding bitch." She grabbed Nik's hand and tapped on the huge diamond that sat on her ring finger. "I know you haven't wanted to make a deal about Anthony proposing but I think we should start planning a wedding, get into the spirit of marrying you off to the love of your life. Me getting in shape to be your maid of honor. See, this is a fun conversation. I already see Kajsa in the most perfect flower girl dress, being pulled in a wagon by Javi. Ugh, yes, this needs to happen."
"You're insane but yes, we can start planning my wedding Brianna. I was going to ask you if you'd come dress shopping with me next weekend. You can still try on dresses and they'll do the tailoring when you're back to your pre baby body." Nik smiled at her sister. "Go crazy with all of this but let's try to be on the same page. Also, no red. I don't want my wedding looking like a fucking candy cane."
"Whatever. I wasn't going to suggest red." Bri smirked as she pulled her sister down into a laying position and kissed her face. "I promise you now that I won't go crazy with the plans. I'm just going to live vicariously through you and you're going to have to deal with that." She nodded. "I love you Nikola. I'm going to make sure you have the most perfect wedding day ever."