"Am I doing it right?" Nathan asked looking up at Wash as he surveyed the boys paint job.
"Well, I'm not really an expert, but it looks ok, so sure," Wash smiled at him.
"You're silly mister," Nathan giggled.
"So I'm told," Wash chuckled before giving a sigh.
"Can I go get a drink?"
"Yea, sure. Mila and South are both down in the kitchen. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to assist."
"Kay."
Wash watched him skip out of the room before turning to Locus, "Cute kid." Locus made a face at him before going back to what he was doing. "Things not going well?"
"No, they're fine," Locus answered. "Thank you for the use of the air mattress."
"Don't mention it," Wash shrugged. He watched Locus work for a moment before taking a hesitant breath, walking over to close the door. "Are they really going fine?"
"I don't really have much choice in the matter so I'm not sure the point of your question."
"What do you mean you don't have a choice?" Wash raised an eyebrow at him. "You have a choice."
"I don't," Locus huffed putting the roller down in the pan. He pushed his hair back. "There was a data chip on the dog's collar."
"Oh. Did…did you look at it?"
"Last night. His mother left me a message. I don't know how she knew it was going to get to me, but she did apparently."
"Apparently," Wash agreed. "What'd she say?"
"She wants Nathan to stay with me where he'll be safe, which is unfortunate because I don't see it being all that safe staying with us. Nor do I think it's for the best, but apparently my opinion on the subject does not matter."
"Did she say anything else?" Wash asked.
"I didn't think you one for idle gossip," Locus smirked at him.
"So you're ok just having South to talk to on the subject?"
Locus made a face before letting out another big breath, "She claims Felix found out that she was pregnant and threatened her. That's why she left without a word."
"Were you two that serious?" Wash asked curiously.
"No."
"I see," Wash said scratching the back of his head. "Does South know about this message?"
"Not yet."
"But the boy is going to stay?"
"It would be wrong to send him away when he's gotten attached to South…she'd never forgive me." Wash gave a quiet chuckle. Locus gave him a suspicious look, "What?"
"Nothing,," Wash smirked. Locus rolled his eyes. "Again, it's that whole over a year ago thing where we were trying to kill each other and now we're here, prepping a nursery for a daughter I never thought I'd have and talking about a son you never thought you would have like we've been friends for years."
"In a different life, we could have been," Locus shrugged.
"Excellent point," Wash gave a short laugh.
"Careful, it's hot," Ross said putting a mug of cocoa on the table in front of Nathan.
"Thanks, but I know," Nathan said grabbing the handle and carefully pulling it closer to himself. He looked up at Ross, "Mommy used to make it with milk."
"My dad used to too," Ross smiled at him as she sat down across from him. South was sitting on the same side as him. "I would have, but the only milk we currently have is milk that I have caught Wash drinking directly out of. I figured I'm the only one that doesn't mind sharing his germs."
"Ew, gross," Nathan giggled.
"Wash is just full of grossness," South informed him making him giggle again.
"Miss South says you and Mister Wash are having a baby," Nathan said.
"We are," Ross nodded. "She's coming in a couple of weeks."
"I never been around babies before. It was just me and mommy."
"Have you met Ally's little brother yet?" Nathan shook his head.
"You'll meet him tomorrow," South said. "We're going over to Emma and North's for dinner. You'll get to meet Oliver too." She looked at Ross, "Are you guys coming over?"
"I believe so," Ross nodded. "I'm surprised Carolina didn't ask Wash to go out with her this weekend."
"She's taking Tucker and Sarge with her," South shrugged. "It's not the whole group anyway. She took the ones out that didn't go with Locs and I. She figured Wash might have been too scrambled yet to go. Next time, it's him and all the recruits."
"Sounds like she's got a plan," Ross chuckled.
"Carolina always has a plan. Sometimes it's a bad one, but she's got one," South chuckled as Ross laughed. "Said she wants to get as many overnights in with Wash before he can't go out for a little while."
"Oh trust me, I can already see myself begging her to send him out," Ross replied dryly.
"Aw come on, you're not going to want him bothering you constantly with his incessant whining if he's doing it right?"
"He'll be fine, but yea, basically." Wash's data-pad started going off. Ross pushed up from the chair and walked over to answer when she saw it was either York or Carolina calling. "Good evening."
"Hi Mila! Is Uncle Wash available? I wanted to skate tomorrow, but momma said I should call and ask Uncle Wash since he got cracked in the head," Ally said really quick.
Ross chuckled and started heading towards the stairs, "Well, if you let me head upstairs, I can get him and you can ask him yourself."
"That sounds wonderful."
"I bet," Ross chuckled as she walked up the stairs. She rounded the banister and headed in to the nursery, slightly surprised to find the door closed. Cracking it open she poked her end in, "Phone call."
"You could have just yelled for me or sent South up instead of poking your head in where there's paint fumes," Wash grumbled at her as he put down the paint brush and walked over to take it from her, heading in to their bedroom.
Ross rolled her eyes and leaned against the doorway. She heard Locus give a quiet chuckle before turning her head to give him an inquisitive look.
"You're going to stay there on purpose now, aren't you?" Locus asked.
"Course," Ross gave him a grin. "He's over-reacting. He got the paint that isn't supposed to have so many harmful fumes."
"I'm sure he's just being cautious."
"Overly, but it's appreciated," Ross shrugged a hand going to her stomach. "Nathan's a cutey by the way." Locus gave her a nod. "South's really good with him."
Locus sighed, "I wish she wouldn't have gotten herself attached, but yes, I agree."
"You'll be fine, stop worrying," Ross gave him a smirk.
"I'm not worried," he said giving her a confused look.
"As much as you want to be in denial here," Ross took another step into the room, "You can't really pull one over on me. I've been living with Mr. Insecure. And while he's better than I thought he would be, I know he's still worried about being a good dad. He's going to be amazing and so are you."
She heard the bedroom door open and footsteps coming closer, followed by a huff, "I told you to stay out until I know it's dry."
"I don't smell anything," Ross shook her head giving him a cocky smile.
"Smart ass. I love you. Get out," Wash motioned for the door.
"Are you going skating tomorrow?" Ross asked not moving.
"I told her I would call in the morning when I wake up and see how my head is. Now please, leave the room before I have to remove you myself."
"Daddy is super bossy, but don't worry," Ross patted her stomach as she walked by him, pausing in the doorway, "Mommy will teach you all the ways to get him to melt."
"Just what I need…" Wash sighed giving her a smirk. She gave him a wink. "Out."
"Behave boys."
"It's not going to be as awful as you think it's going to be," North smirked as he stirred the onions and pancetta around in the pan he was using.
"I don't see you making an appointment to go," York grumbled from where he was sitting at the table as North cooked.
"My wife is content with our current situation, so I don't think I need to make an appointment," North replied. "Besides, we may want more kids. Emma just wants to wait until Oliver's a bit older."
York sighed, "Lucky…"
"Are you not content with the children you have?"
"It's the possibility of options," York argued.
"York, buddy...it's not me you have to convince. If it's more kids you may possibly want, you're gonna have to discuss it with Carolina," North shook his head as he tossed in the noodles he had made previously. Emma walked out and over to the fridge to grab a bottle, pausing to kiss North on the cheek. "Tell your brother to suck it up and just go get his thing taken care of."
"Are you still on about that?" Emma rolled her eyes.
"If a certain asshole AI didn't keep playing that stupid old Family Guy clip about vasectomies then maybe I wouldn't be so concerned about it," York grumbled crossing his arms.
"Stop being a baby. It's not that big a deal."
"Says you…"
"You are such a baby. No wonder Carolina doesn't want any more kids. She's already got a handful," Emma shook her head at him.
"Oh you're so funny…" York rolled his eye. "My youngest fairing alright?"
"Still asleep on Ross," Emma answered. "Hear from Ally or Wash yet?"
"Nope. I'm sure the kid is putting him through his paces," York sighed rubbing the side of his face.
"I'm sure," Emma nodded. "Well, mine is hungry so let me know when dinner's done."
"Is South here yet?"
"Does it sound like she's here?" Emma asked. "North told them five. It's ten of. I'm sure they're on their way."
York watched her leave the room before looking back at North, "She's a smartass."
"Takes one to know one," North smirked back at him.
"So how are they doing with the extra body anyway?" York asked.
North shrugged as he pulled down plates from the cabinet, "Alright I suppose. Haven't heard too much complaint."
"Hear their plans?"
"Locus claims he doesn't have a choice. The mother left him a message saying she wanted him to take him in, that he would be safe. Safe from what, none of us could probably guess, but she seemed to think it best."
"What, was she living under a rock that she doesn't know what he almost did to this planet?" York asked.
"One can only guess."
York sat in thought for a moment as North pulled down plates. "Maybe whatever shit she was involved in was worse than his."
"You really think she was involved in something with a kid to take care of?" North asked skeptically.
"Hey, it's a thought," York shrugged.
South rapped lightly on the door frame before stepping into the spare room upstairs that they had put Nathan in. He was sitting on the air mattress they borrowed from Wash while Button laid on the floor next to it.
"Ready to go kid?" South asked. Nathan shrugged before pulling his knees up. South walked over and knelt down, petting Button who's tail had started thumping on the ground. "What's up?"
Nathan gave a sniff, "I miss my room…"
"Well, I have to talk to Locs yet, but there's a chance that maybe we could start making this your room. How's that sound?"
"Ok I guess, but it still wouldn't be like my house…"
"I'm sure it'll start feeling like home after a while," South said in an attempt to make him feel better.
"I guess…"
"Something else bugging you?" South asked.
Nathan gave another sniff, "I miss mommy…"
South sighed before moving to sit next to him on the air mattress. She rubbed his back, "I know. I'm sorry about what happened." Nathan surprised her by turning and snuggling in to her, trying to hide his sniffles. She saw Locus poke his head around the door, motioning to give them a moment. He nodded and turned to head back downstairs.
"Do we have to go to dinner?" Nathan asked when he'd finally calmed himself down.
"Well, I know Ally was really looking forward to hanging out again, but if you don't want to go, we can stay here."
"Ally will be there?" Nathan asked picking his head up to look at her.
"Yup."
"Oh…well then I guess we can go," Nathan gave a little shrug before wiping his nose on his arm.
"Alright," South gave a short chuckle as she stood up. "Get your shoes on and meet us downstairs."
"Ok."
South headed out of the room and downstairs to where Locus was waiting on the couch. He glanced up at her, "Everything alright?"
"No, but it'll get there I guess," South sighed walking over to lean against the arm next to him. "Have you thought about if he's staying?"
"I have," he sighed. South raised an eyebrow at him. "He can stay if that's what he would like."
"Are you sure?" South asked him.
"I'm sure." South leaned forward to kiss his forehead as footsteps came running into the room. "We'll talk more later."
South nodded before turning to look at Nathan, "Ready?"
"Uh-huh," he nodded.
She pushed herself off the chair and held out a hand to pull Locus up. The three of them left the house and headed down the street. South opened the door to her brother's, not bothering on knocking, which was good because both Tyler and Oliver seemed to be throwing fits. Chuckling she leaned against the back of the couch where Oliver was being bounced by Emma.
"What's the deal little man? You miss me?" South chuckled.
"The deal is that I think someone is teething," Emma grumbled.
"Ah. And what's T's issue?" South smirked looking over at Ross who was holding him. "Shouldn't his father be doing that?"
"Tyler woke up and decided he was hungry. York's heating a bottle up," Ross answered.
"Rest of the guys are in the kitchen," Emma said looking up at Locus. She glanced at Nathan who was peeking over the couch, "I believe Ally is out there as well."
Nathan tucked himself against South. She looked over at Locus, "Want to let her know we're here?"
"Sure," Locus nodded before heading out to the kitchen. North was making drinks as Ally appeared to be supervising York who was waiting for the bottle to finish warming up. Wash was sitting at the table and gave a wave to Locus when he saw him.
"Hey there," North greeted.
"See, look. I bet Nathan's here now," York said to Ally. "Go play a game or something."
"Ok, but don't make Tyler's bottle too hot. Momma said it only needs to be a little warm," Ally instructed.
"Kid, I think I know how to warm up a bottle. Just because your mom told you to keep an eye on me, doesn't mean you have to," York grumbled at her. She gave him a big smile before skipping past Locus and out to the living room. York rolled his eye, "Gotta enjoy that when mom gives an order, she listens to the fullest extent."
"Well, she is your daughter," Wash chuckled.
"Oh just wait…I can't wait to rub this in your face years from now," York grumbled as he pulled the bottle out and checked the temperature. He headed out to the living room.
"Sorry we're late," Locus said as North handed him a glass.
"Not a problem," North replied. "Dinner's ready, we were just waiting for you guys."
"I apologize again."
"Don't worry about it. The boys were being restless," North shrugged.
Locus nodded before heaving a sigh, "I had a question for the four of you."
"What's up?" Wash asked.
"I was hoping you three would be willing to come with to help grab some of Nathan's stuff from his house," Locus replied.
"He staying with you guys then?" North asked.
"It would appear so," Locus reached up to rub his forehead. "I figure it might make him more comfortable if he has as much of his things as he wants. Plus, I'm sure the city would appreciate someone coming to clean the house out."
"I'm in," North nodded.
"Think the four of us will be enough?" Wash asked.
"I don't see why not," Locus shrugged.
Wash nodded, "I'll check with Mi, but I don't see a problem."
"That's because you are the problem," York chuckled coming back in. "What are we talking about?"
"Locus asked for our assistance in fetching some of Nathan's stuff," North informed him.
"Sounds fun," York shrugged. "Long as I'm home for Thursday, let's do it."
"What's Thursday?" Wash asked.
"No, we don't ask that question," North cut off York's response. "You'll get drug into an attempt at gaining sympathy for him."
"I'm not going to do that," York huffed.
"All you've been doing is whining at me since you got here. I don't think Wash and Locus will put up with it like I have."
"Whatever," York rolled his eye.
