"I still can't believe everyone thought you were pregnant." Jesse said interrupting Becky who was reading beside him. "And at your age." He chuckled.
Becky looked over at him. "At my age? We could easily have another kid."
"I didn't mean it like that. I meant we have three kids already. We are past the baby phase."
She thought for a moment before continuing. "I know we've had this discussion before but..."
"Beck, do you seriously want to..." Jesse said slightly surprised.
"No! Gosh, no! It's just...well, it got me thinking." She set her book down now and shifted to face Jesse. "Do you remember when we thought the baby stage was the hardest? Then preschool?" Jesse nodded. "We just got done telling Joey it gets easier. But does it? I mean we just thought our son was going to be a father."
He grabbed her hand. "I know. I know. And I'm sure walking in on that conversation was kinda shocking." She nodded. "But he's 17."
"Exactly! The twins are 17. How did that happen?" Jesse couldn't help but chuckle. "They are going to married and having babies of their own. Jess, their gowning up so fast." She let out a soft sob.
"Honey, I know. It's hard for me too. It's two months until graduation. Alex will be at Stanford in the fall."
"It's happening all so fast." She leaned into Jesse who wrapped his arm around her.
"Megan's only 14. We got four more years until she's off at college. Oh man, that's..."
"Upsetting? Unfair?" Becky finished. She looked up at him. "Are you crying?"
"No!" He wiped his face. "What was your point to all this anyway?"
"The kids are growing up."
"I'd like to think of it as we've done our job. I'm proud of Alex." Jesse said.
"Yeah. Me too. And I guess your right."
"I'm what?" He joked.
"Your right. Besides I guess it isn't all bad." She smiled at him. "We'd have the house to ourselves."
Jesse nodded and leaned over turning his bedside light off. Becky grinned at him before reaching over to do the same. When she turned back he was laying down wrapped in the covers his back facing her. "Jess?" She asked confused.
He tilled his head giving her a kiss. "Goodnight." She touched his shoulder softly. "We have enough kids." He said trying his best to keep a straight face.
Becky swatted him. "Goodnight." She kissed his cheek before crawling in farther under the covers.
Jesse and Becky left the twins in charge as both had work things. They didn't really have a choice. Jesse kept paying more attention to his cell phone then the current band they were auditioning. Becky was no better as she bit her finger nail nervously as she nodded not even listening to her producer walk her and her co host through the days schedule. It was the first time they'd left the kids alone. Sure the twins were 12 and should be responsible even to babysit Megan for a few hours before Steph would get home and then later Jesse. She convinced herself everything'd be okay. It was probably the twins that were more likely to cause trouble.
Back at their house Nicky and Alex were playing video games. "I'm hungry." Eight year old Megan whined.
"Can't you get something yourself. We're on level ten." Nicky said not looking up.
"But Mommy said..."
"Here, eat this." Alex said shoving a half eaten apple that was on the coffee table in front of them at her.
"Eww...gross!" She touched it with two fingers holding it out in front of her. "I don't want this."
"I don't care. Get out of the way your blocking the TV." Nicky pushed her out of the way.
"Could you be anymore annoying?" Alex added.
Megan glared at them. "I'm not annoying. You are." She turned and stomped up the stairs.
"Ahh...we lost again." Nicky tossed his controller down. "Forget this. I'm gonna play Dad's drums."
"He said you can't touch his stuff without asking."
"Well, he's not here so I can't ask." He said mischievously. He jumped off the couch and ran up to his room to grab his sheet music. "Hey, Meg." He said as she came out of her bedroom. She didn't answer. As Nicky walked back into the hall she grabbed the book. "Megan!" She darted into the bathroom and slammed the door. "Give it back!" He pounded his hand on the door.
This got Alex's attention. "What are you yelling at?"
"She stole my song book."
"I'll flush it!" She yelled from the other side of the door.
"I swear if you do..."
"Megan? If you come out I'll...make you an ice cream Sunday." Alex tried bribing her. Their dad used that trick on their cousin Michelle.
"Fine." They sighed relieved.
"Megan?" Alex asked after she didn't open the door.
"I'm stuck." Her voice so small and scared. "It's unlocked." She started to cry. Nicky and Alex exchanged looks.
"I don't know what to do." Alex whispered. Nicky grabbed the door handle and started pushing with his shoulder.
"What if we get Dad's hammer and bust a hole in it?" He said excited.
"We'll get in trouble."
"We're already in trouble if we can't get her out of there. Besides it's Dad's fault. He's the one that changed the door knob."
"True. Like when Mom couldn't shut the water off in the shower." Both laughed.
"Guys?" They jumped at the sound of the downstairs door closing.
"We're up here." Nicky shouted. Alex elbowed him. "No were not." He yelled back as if that fixed everything. Alex looked annoyed at him.
"What are you doing?" Steph asked as she came up the stairs. "Where's Megan?"
"Aunt Stephy?!"
"Megan?" She looked back at the twins. "Boys?!"
"She kinda locked herself in the bathroom." Alex said cringing.
"What?!" She tried the handle. "Back away from the door." She tried ramming her shoulder into it but it won't budge. "Megan can you try to unlock it from inside?"
"I did unlock it. It won't open."
Steph sighed. "Did your Dad change the door knob?" There was annoyance in her voice as she faced Nicky and Alex. They nodded.
"I pulled it off last week." Nicky said as if this whole mess was his fault.
"Go downstairs and get a screwdriver from the garage."
"What are you gonna do?" Alex asked.
"Take the door of the hinges. And if that doesn't work try to take the door knob off. If we play with it enough it should just pop off knowing how well I'm sure your Dad put it on there." She couldn't help but laugh remembering how her uncle had somehow got himself trapped behind their murphy bed while building it. After trying for about 10 minutes she just couldn't get in. "Okay...I hate to say it but..."
"No! You can't!" Both twins shouted at their cousin. "We'll get in trouble."
"Guys..." She bend down to their level. "We have to call your Dad. It's not your fault. And I promise you won't get in trouble." They nodded slowly. She pulled out her phone. "Well, here goes."
Jessica sat quietly in the backseat. Alex had already gotten out and was walking toward his friends. Nicky hadn't moved from the passenger seat. The ride had been quite and kinda awkward. Jess had begged her mom to stay home but the deal was she had to go back once Nicky's suspension was over. She played with her bracelet Steve had given her nervously. She was actually kinda surprised by Nicky. "Jess?" He asked turning around.
"Yeah."
"I really am sorry. I didn't mean to ruin your first relationship." He said quietly.
Jess looked out the window thinking. "Was he...really kissing someone else?" She finally said.
Nicky nodded when she looked back at him. "I shouldn't have..."
"It's fine. We're gonna be late." She grabbed her backpack before opening the car door and getting out. She sniffed rubbing her nose before walking away leaving Nicky.
He sighed as he closed his door and followed after her. The looks they both got as they made their way to their lockers made the issue worse. She didn't like the whole school knowing business. As she rounded the corner she spotted Aidan. She hesitated for a second before continuing. Jess hardly got her locker open before he noticed her. "Hey, your back." Aidan said happily.
Jessica slammed her locker and turned to him. "Really? You have a funny way of showing it."
He just smiled at her. "I've missed you." He grabbed her hand. It took everything in Nicky who was at his locker to not go over there and push him away from her. But he knew he couldn't do that. Jessica had to handle it.
"Yeah?" She sounded less mad. He leaned in to kiss her but she darted out of the way. "You miss Kelly too?" The look on Aidan's face was priceless. "You think Nicky was gonna keep that to himself? You think it's okay to kiss other girls? Oh yeah, girls." She emphasized the s.
"Your cousin needs glasses."
"So you're a lair too?" She glanced up to notice a small crowd was forming. She smiled noticing Alex.
"What?"
"So you didn't cheat on me?" She shouted.
"Jess..." He touched her forearm and directed her away from the crowd.
Nicky couldn't hold his anger anymore. "Take your hand off her!"
"You gonna make me?" He stepped at him. "This doesn't concern you." Adian looked back at Jessica. Nicky searched her eyes. He took a few steps away before Jess talked again.
"How could you?!" She shouted her eyes full of tears. Nicky turned back around assuming she was mad at him. But she was facing Aidan.
"He punched me." He pointed.
"Good." She smirked. "We're done." Nicky smiled over at her. "Thank you." She said walking over to him at his locker.
"For what?" He smirked.
"For being right. Just don't ever do it again." She smiled. She looked over to where Alex was standing earlier to find him smiling too before nodding and walking off with his friends.
Jesse looked up at the sound of the door. "Hey?" He set his pen down and looked at Stephanie as she came into his office. "What brings you by?"
"I didn't realize how much I missed this place until I walked in here." She said glancing around. Jesse nodded. "I've been writing and...was wondered if they're good enough you might consider buying them?"
"What about you singing them?" He leaned back in his chair watching her.
"I would. It's just that...well, I can't play."
Jesse put his arms back on his desk making eye contact with his niece. "What do you mean?"
"I can't. I tried." She looked at the ground.
"Sweetie?" He started but she looked up at him a sad expression on her face. "I physically can't, Uncle Jesse." He half smiled at her unsure of what to say. "Believe me, I've tried. This is what I want. And the idea of not being able to...I've always wanted to be a musician. I don't know how to be anything else." Her voice cracked.
"Does it hurt? Or you forget the chords?"
"It just...feels awkward." She rubbed her wrist. "Alex said I gotta practice and it'll get better but..."
"Alex?" He looking confused at her.
"I was practicing the other day. Alex was the only other person home." She chuckled. "He's not very good at playing guitar."
"He actually tried playing?" Jesse was now surprised. It didn't sound like his son but wanting to help Steph did.
"Yeah." She wiped her eyes. "Good thing he isn't into music."
"You think he likes music? I never really pushed him to play. He liked soccer when he was littler and Nicky was the only one at the time to show interest." He questioned to no one in particular.
"I think he would have asked if it was something he wanted." Steph answered. "So you want the songs or not?" She asked after a long pause.
"Steph...no."
"What?" She was surprised.
"No. I don't want your songs."
"Uncle Jesse?"
"I'm doing you a favour. Trust me. Don't give up just yet. Alex's right. You just need more practice." He placed his hand on hers. Steph nodded.
As Jesse was getting out of his car. Alex pulled into the driveway. "Hey, how was school?" He asked hesitantly knowing the kids were fighting before school.
"Great actually."
"You should have seen Jess. She was awesome." Nicky said now on their side of the car.
Jessica smiled shyly. "What happened?" Jesse asked raising an eyebrow.
"She totally put Adian in his place." Alex said smiling over at her.
"So Nicky wasn't off base after all?"
"No, I guess not." She smiled at her uncle.
"Your mother called she's stuck in a pitch meeting so it's just us for dinner."
"Cool. Can we get Chinese food?" Jess asked.
"Yeah! Can we?" Alex added.
"I don't see why not." He said. After grabbing his guitar he noticed Steph coming their way. "We're gonna get some take out. You in?" Stephanie just rolled her eyes before getting into her car and driving away.
"What's got into her?" Nicky asked still watching her drive away.
"She's mad at me for not buying her songs." He sighed. "Guess it's just us for supper." He shook his head as he headed for the house.
