Chapter Thirty-Seven
Bobby took Lock with him to go shopping while Jack went to get his new ink. Bridget's sixth birthday was coming up, he wanted to get her something, but didn't know what.
"Hey, Stray," he mumbled as they walked the mall, "what would Bridget like for a birthday present?"
"Bobby!" her jaw dropped. "She's your niece! How do you not know what she likes?!"
"Haven't exactly been around all too much for them, ya know?" he grumbled, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I'm surprised when they remember my name. . ."
"They love their Uncle Bobby," she smiled.
"Mmmm," he growled. "Right. . ."
"Why else would they want you to buckle them in?" she nudged him.
"I don't know," he sighed, feeling sort of stupid.
"They do love you, Bobby," she said, looking him in the eyes. "They told me that you give the bestest piggy-back rides."
"Yeah?" he smirked.
"Yep," she grinned.
"I still don't know what to get for her. . ." he sighed.
"Well, you should really get both of them something. . ." she snickered. "To avoid jealousy. . .And you'll earn major brownie points."
"Uhhh. . .Ok," he gave her a look.
"They're at the whole princess age. . .pink and glittery things. . .C'mon," she grinned, tugging him towards the Target in the mall.
"I never pegged you as girly," he chuckled.
"I'm not really. . .But I make sacrifices," she giggled, heading for the toy aisle.
Bobby looked at all the stupid, pink, frilly toys and dress up stuff, feeling like the biggest bitch in the whole city of Detroit, and was still lost on what to buy.
"Ok. . .What do they have at the house?" Stray asked. "That way we won't buy anything they already have. . ."
"Jesus. . .They have all sorts of dress up shit. . ." he muttered. "I do know that Cass likes purple. . ."
"OH! I think I found it!" Stray giggled, darting off.
"What the hell?" he stared at her.
"Fairy princess outfits! One in pink and one in purple, so the girls know which one belongs to who. . ." she smiled. "Look, they have wings, a wand, and a cute little skirt thing. . .They'll love it."
"Stray, I'm short on cash. . .I could only get one," he felt really dumb.
"I'll but one. . .We can say that they're both from you. . ." she said quickly. "And me and Jack will buy them some little crowns. . .Well, I'll buy them but say it's from both of us."
"I'll pay you back," he promised.
"I'm not worried about it," she laughed.
She went to pay for everything, sparing him any further embarrassment, but made him lug the bags. They wandered the mall, waiting for Jack to call when his work was done, and Lock eventually bought them lunch. Halfway through his food, Jack called, needing his ride, and Bobby growled at his little brother's timing.
"Just take it with us," she laughed, wrapping her taco back up and grabbing the rest.
He ate a few more bites, then packed up, and they went to get Jackie. Bobby kept his eyes open for people with cameras that looked suspicious, figuring that the idiots wouldn't be on break any time soon, but saw nothing. Lock ran in to get Jack, Blaine had driven him to Joe's but had to work, and Bobby was quick to eat the rest of his food while waiting.
"Hey," Jack whined, smelling the food. "Did I get anything?"
"Shoulda gone with us," Bobby laughed, heading home.
"Here," Stray smirked, handing Jack some of her food. "I'll share. . ."
"Thanks, babe," his brother kissed her cheek.
"When's Bridget's party?" Lock asked, saving her food for home.
"Next week. . .We're going," he smiled.
"Fuck," Jack said around a mouthful of taco. "Do we have presents?"
"Got it covered, Jackie boy," Stray giggled.
"Mmmm," his brother went back to his food.
Bobby pulled in to the garage, Lock grabbed the bags, and Jack grabbed the food. He unlocked the door, happy to find no more surprises waiting for them, and went to get wrapping paper.
A week of silence from Kett and Zane went by, Lock was doing a lot better, and was currently getting dressed to go to the party--wearing older 'play clothes'. Bobby called Jerry from Jack's cell, telling him that they were out the door, and locked up the house tight. There were kids running all over his brother's back yard, Angel and Loca even showed up, and his nieces rushed over when they were spotted.
"Uncle Bobby! Uncle Jack! LOCK!" they screamed, hugging each of them.
"Hey, Birthday Girl," Bobby smiled, scooping Bridget up.
"Can I get a piggy-back ride?" she begged.
"Sure," he laughed, setting her down and kneeling down. "Cass, you're next."
"K!" she beamed, dragging Lock and Jack somewhere.
Bobby gave Bridget a piggy-back ride over to Jerry and Camille, spun around to make her squeal in delight, and then set her down. Camille looked him over, sniffed, and stalked off.
"She still doesn't like me, does she?" he growled.
"Not very much," Jerry laughed, hugging him. "I'm happy you came, man."
"Me too. . .Missed out on too much of this family stuff. . ." he grinned.
"Uncle Bobby?" Bridget tugged his pant leg. "Did you bring me a present?"
"Oh, oops. . .left them in the car," he chuckled. "I'll go get them. . ."
"Piggy-back!" Cass demanded, coming out of nowhere.
"All right, but you gotta help me with the presents," he smiled, kneeling down.
"Yay! Presents!" Cass squealed.
"Not for you!" Bridget scolded.
"Oh. . ." her little sister sniffed back tears.
"Actually, there is one for you, Cassy-doll," he soothed.
Stray's a fuckin' genius. . .he grinned.
He gave Cass a ride to the car, gave her a couple of the wrapped presents, and put her on his shoulders to ride back. Camille actually smiled at him after he set his niece down and put the presents on the table.
"That was thoughtful, Robert," she said. "I'm impressed. . ."
Lock nudged him and smirked, where she had come from he had no clue, but he grinned at her anyway. He took a minute to introduce Lock to Camille, watching how the woman acted, and figured Lock was on her shitlist too.
"I did it so there wouldn't be any fights," he smiled.
"Can I open Uncle Bobby's present now?" Bridget begged.
"If you open one, you'll just want to open the rest," Camille said firmly.
"Mama! No I won't!" she whined.
"Ask your father," she sighed.
"Daddy?!" she gave him an innocent smile.
"Only if you'll let Cass open hers too and don't ask to open anymore until it's cake time," Jerry said, grinning.
"Cass! Present!" she hollered, beaming.
"YAY!" her baby sister squealed, running back over.
Bobby handed them the presents, watching as they tore into the wrapping paper, and felt his heart race.
They're gonna hate it. . .and me. . .he thought grimly.
"FAIRY PRINCESS DRESS UP!!" both girls shrieked in delight. "Thanks, Uncle Bobby!!"
"You're welcome girls," he laughed, relieved.
"Lock, come help us get changed!" they demanded, giggling, and dragging her off yet again.
"Now, I'm really impressed," Camille said, eyeing him.
"Hey, I've gotta spoil my nieces," he smiled smugly, going to get a beer from the cooler.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack laughed as Lock was led inside to the girls' play room to play dress up, then jogged out to the car and grabbed the camera, and then visited a little with his family. Camille gave him a big hug and kiss, telling him how happy she was to see him, and then tried to make small talk about Lock.
"The girls have talked non-stop about her," she smiled. "They love her to death. . ."
"She has that affect on people," he grinned shamelessly.
"Are you two really dating?" she asked casually, but Jack knew her better than that.
"Yeah, we are," he said just as casually. "Why?"
"Just curious," she replies, then walked off.
She hardly knows her and already dislikes her. . .
He shook his head, ignoring his sister-in-law, and took some pictures of the party. The girls came rushing back out, all dolled up, and he took a few shots of them too. Both of them had their wings on, wands in hand, their skirts, and what looked like their bathing suits on, they even had glitter on their eyelids.
"Uncle Jack, come play dress up!" Cass begged, tugging on him.
"Wait, who are you?" he teased. "You sound like my little Cassy-doll, but you don't look like her."
"Uncle Jack!" she giggled. "Quit bein' silly! I'm Cassy!"
"No, you're too pretty to be my Cassy-doll," he grinned.
"Uncle Cracker Jack!" she giggled, tugging harder on his hand.
"Cassy-doll!? Is that you?!" he knelt down, pretending to look her over.
"Yes, silly!" she smiled cutely.
"Well, why didn't you say so?" he smirked.
"I did!" she laughed, slapping her forehead.
"Hmmm. . .I guess you did," he chuckled, scooping her up.
"Will you play dress up?" she pleaded, batting her eyes at him.
"Ugh, do I have to?" he whined, even though he would--he always did.
"YES!" Cass said firmly.
"All right," he sighed, walking to the house.
He handed Bobby the camera, got a look, and rolled his eyes. Bridget tore off in front of him, yelling to Lock that Uncle Jack was playing too, and he heard a short burst of Lock's familiar giggles. Cass squirmed, wanting down, and darted after her sister.
He walked into the play room, heart melting at what he saw. Lock was sitting cross-legged on the floor, a plastic tiara on her head, her hair down from it's holder, the girls were currently working on finding the right neck piece, and she was looking through some accessories. Cass saw him, left her task, and pulled him to sit beside Lock.
"Uncle Jack likes to play dress up?" Lock smirked at him.
"He always plays!" Bridget smiled, finding a blue feather boa and putting it on Lock's neck. "Cassy, how's this?"
"She needs glitter," she said, brushing Jack's hair. "And lipstick. . .eye stuff too. . ."
"Ok!" the elder niece went to their make up case and brought it over.
"Lock, what colors?"
"You pick," she smiled cutely, stopping Jack's heart.
"Purple!" Cass shouted immediately.
"But I like pink! And it's my birthday!" her sister argued.
"How about pink lipstick and purple eye stuff?" Jack suggested, wincing a little when Cass accidentally pulled his hair.
"That will work for me," Lock grinned.
"Sissy, where are the hair ties?" Cass asked, looking around.
"Ummm. .. In the basket," she pointed. "Hold real still, Lock. . .I don't wanna mess up."
"K," she sat still, eyes closed.
Jack watched as his eldest niece put bright purple eye shadow on his girlfriend's eyes, she went really slow so she wouldn't mess up, and did the same thing with the hot pink lipstick. It should have looked ridiculous, but he thought it made Lock look unbelievably adorable, and he swore this was the little girl she should have been.
"K, done. . .Oops! Glitter," Bridget giggled, fishing some out. "Where should I put it?"
"Right here," Lock smiled, touching her cheek bones.
Cass had managed to find the hair things, but was running the brush in his thick hair again, and was humming a kid's rhyme.
"I love Uncle Jack's hair," she sighed, running her small hands in it.
"Ouch!" he hissed when she hit a tangle. "Careful, Cassy-doll."
"I'm sorry," she said, kissing his head. "Is it better?"
"Mmm hmm," he nodded, smirking.
"I wanna do hair too!" Bridget said, looking at him.
"We can all do his hair," Lock's eyes shone brightly at him.
He groaned inwardly, but sat still. Lock took over brushing his hair, getting all the tangles out, and the girls were looking for stuff to put on him. While they were busy in the closet, he leaned back, and kissed Lock's neck rather messily.
"Quit!" she hissed, smiling, and slapped him lightly with the brush.
"Uncle Cracker Jack?" Cass murmured, finding a pink and purple boa.
"Yes, Cassy?"
"Do you love Lock?" she asked shyly.
"Very much," he grinned. "Why?"
"Are you gonna marry her?" her sister asked, finding some blue, star-shaped sun glasses.
"I dunno," he glanced to Lock. "Maybe some day. . .If things go right."
Lock blushed a little, giving him an embarrassed look, and he winked at her. He couldn't say that the thought hadn't crossed his mind on more than one occasion.
"Lock, do you love our Uncle Jack?" they both interrogated her now.
"Of course I do," she smiled.
"Are you gonna marry him if he asks?"
"Maybe," she blushed. "If he asks. . .C'mon, let's get his hair done."
Twenty minutes later, he had some small pig tails all over in his hair, Lock put the boa around his neck, and the sun glasses on his face. His nieces clapped happily once they deemed him doe, then begged to see his tattoos, and didn't quit until he caved.
"Fine, fine," he sighed playfully, unbuttoning his shirt.
"Ooooooh! Uncle Jack got more of them!" they said in awe.
His nieces gently touched and traced each visible tattoo, but they seemed to have really taken to his newest one. Cassy was a little scared at first, saying he had a monster on his side, but he explained that it was a tribal dragon and not a monster. The tattoo decorated his left side, starting just above his pant line, and its face was on his chest, just under the Evelyn tatt. Lock had loved it, like he knew she would, and he was happy that he went and got it done.
"Does it hurt?" Cass asked shyly.
"Not anymore. . .But still be real gentle," he whispered.
The girls finished up their examination of his ink and darted back out back to play with the kids. He got off the floor, fastening his shirt back up, and stopped Lock when she went to take the dress up stuff off.
"Don't. . .If you take it off, they'll be crushed," he snickered. "We'll give it back before we leave."
"So, we have to stay like this the whole night?" she giggled. "Oh boy, are you ever in for it from Bobby!"
"Used to it by now," he smiled.
"I don't think Camille likes me very much," she sighed, picking up the mess in the room.
"Camille doesn't like anyone," he said, wrapping himself to her. "But she just doesn't know what's good."
"Jack! Quit it!" she squeaked, pushing him off when he kissed her neck over the boa. "We're in your brother's house! At your niece's birthday party!"
He whined loudly, pouting and whimpering, but she didn't give in this time. He growled lowly, sticking his tongue out at her, and got a light slap to the face. They went back out to the party, where he was immediately taunted by Bobby.
"Jacquelyn!" he laughed loudly, seeing Jack's hair. "My, don't you just look pretty?"
"Fuck off, Bobby," he growled, smiling.
"Uncle Jack said the eff word!" Cass yelled, pointing at him.
"Jack!" Lock play slapped him in the mouth. "You know better!"
"Oh, like you're any better," he growled, yanking her to him.
"Gotta watch your mouth 'round the girls, Cracker Jack," Jerry laughed. "And you do look so pretty. . ."
He suffered his brother's torture, even had two of his photos taken, and finally whined that they weren't picking on Lock.
"Oh, that's Lock!?" Bobby joked. "I though Jer hired a clown!"
"Funny, Bobby," she smiled sweetly, sitting on his lap.
Jack and Jerry lost it when she kissed his forehead, leaving a nice hot pink lip print, and Bobby growled, scrubbing furiously at it. She laughed and messed up his long brown hair, making him growl louder in mock anger.
"You actually look kinda adorable, baby girl," he muttered, trying to call a truce.
"Thank you," she said proudly, putting the tiara on his head. "Now you do too!"
"Great. . ." his oldest brother groaned.
The party went well past nine, Lock was exhausted, laying on Jack's lap as he sat on the couch inside, and he felt bad that they weren't leaving yet. She'd played peacekeeper among the kids, mainly playing with Cassondra when Bridget refused to, and was really worn out. Lock had even tried to get Camille to warm up to her, but it was no use, the woman had decided to hate her.
"Lock, would you come tuck us in?" the girls asked, yawning.
"Girls, I can do it," Camille said, standing up.
"No, we want Lock to do it," they pouted.
"I can do it," she got up and went with them to their room.
Jack followed, mainly to avoid the constant scowl from his brother's wife, and secretly watched as his girlfriend got both girls into bed. Lock tucked them in, gently kissing their foreheads (they had been permitted to take the dress up stuff off an hour ago), turned their nightlight on, and checked the whole room for monsters. She declared it monster free and quietly left the room. Jack grabbed her in a hug, making her jump, and whispered in her ear.
"You'll make a great Mommy some day," he purred, rubbing her side gently.
"Mmm," she seemed embarrassed, hugging him back. "Not for a long ass time, Jack. . ."
He snickered, kissing her neck gently, getting a warning growl, and they walked to the living room. He sat where he had been on the couch, Lock snuggled up to him, and Camille snorted, then stormed off. Jerry watched his wife stalk off, Bobby flipped up his middle finger to her back, but Lock just ignored her, yawning loudly.
"She's just not sure of you yet, Lock," Jer told her. "She's heard the stories of what you used to do. . ."
"Seems like she'd prefer me with a guy," Jack snorted. "She got all sorts of pissy when she found out we are really dating."
"She's entitled to her feelings," Lock murmured, defending the woman.
"We'll get going home soon, Stray. . ." Bobby promised. "I just wanna visit without a kid jumping up on me every ten seconds, ya know?"
"Mmmm," she nodded, moving to use Jack's lap as a pillow. "Take your time. . .I'm good."
After about five minutes, Jerry looked over and covered a loud laugh. Bobby looked and snickered, and when Jack looked down, he saw that she was sound asleep on him. Bobby carried her to the car when they left, then inside and up to Jack's room once they were home, and told Jack to just let her sleep. Jack slipped her combat boots off her feet, setting them off somewhere, kissed her forehead, and went to get a shower. When he came back, she was under the covers, curled up with Crazy Monkey, but hadn't woken up--the jeans and T-shirt proved it. He grinned, just watching her a minute, and went over what the girls had asked.
Could I marry her? he thought. I guess the question is: Would she marry me if I ever asked?
The thought made him feel odd, all tingly and full of butterflies; he knew they were still too young, but he honestly thought he could spend the rest of his life with the girl snuggled under his covers.
I guess only time will tell. . .he yawned, changing.
Lock immediately curled to him when he settled in the bed, her feet finding their way between his, and he smiled to himself in the darkness.
Could there be wedding bells in their future? Who knows? I just put that in there cuz it's something little kids always ask, ya know? I might do something with it in like another story, but I don't know….I already have plans for another installment of this story….but I should most likely get around to ending this one first, which I don't see happening any time soon, so never fear! I know this chapter is mainly cute stuff, but I like the little girls--they bring out different sides to all my characters!! I'll get back to plot in the next chapter, I hope...Check the profile for the pic of Jack's newest ink!…Review?