Hiyall03- I mostly post every Saturday but I may start doing Saturday one story and Sunday my other story
Sarah- I'm sorry I'm answering your question in a different story but he does something else for the break up to happen
Kayla's Pov
I was upstairs with Cambry watching some horrible rom-com and Cambry kept making these stupid horrible jokes throughout the movie. "I can't believe your getting married in Italy." She said softly once the movie was over.
"Thanks for all the help with the planning and everything I know you have a lot on your plate right now." She smiled and her blue eyes reminded me of Max for a second.
"Well, I was happy to help I'm usually not into the whole wedding planning thing because let's face it none of my other friends ever ask me to plan something for them so it took me by surprise when you asked."
"I wasn't aware you had many friends." Cambry burst out laughing and I felt horrible. "I'm so sorry! I thought I said that in my head…" She was still laughing.
"That was great." She said and then nudged me when I looked down. "It was funny don't worry."
"No, really I shouldn't have said that."
"I have friends I just don't belong in that sort of group anymore even though they try and make me hang out with them." She shrugged like it was nothing but I was intrigued.
"What kind of group?"
"I was… part of this uh… club…"
"What kind of club?" I looked up from my phone to see her hardcore blushing. "Okay now I really want to know what this club is." She sighed and looked around.
"You know it's only us here right? Well Kai to but he's asleep." She took a deep breath and pushed her hair back.
"It was a um…" She dropped her head. "A BDSM club." She said softly.
I didn't even know what to say I had a million things running through my head so I was just staring at her. "Kayla? Are you gonna say anything?" I tried to collect my thoughts.
"So like some Christian Grey type of stuff?"
"I mean it was an actual club but yeah sure think of it like that." She said and I thought about what she had said about her and Max and how their relationship was really fucked up.
"Wait… Max is into that type of stuff?" It was kinda hot until I thought about him and my sister.
"Used to be he gave it up because he didn't like the person he was." She said casually picking up the bag of chips.
"And you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you still into uh being a-"
"A pet?" She asked looking down into the bag.
"Huh I always thought they were called sub-" Her laugh made me stop.
"It is," She sighed. "That's what Max called me." I couldn't picture it and I'm sure she saw me trying to picture Max that way. "He was dark and mean and ruthless… He has so much hate in his heart for things he couldn't control and when we were together the drugs didn't help his anger problem… He's different now, I don't know the Max he is now but I'm happy he's changed." She brushed her hand over a tattoo so I grabbed her arm and looked at the at the heart with barbed wire around it.
"For Max?" I asked softly.
"No… We had this twice a month thing were we'd go on a date or something normal and we ended up picking tattoos for each other I picked the one he got for his dad and he picked this and when I asked why he said that my heart was guarded with barbed wire." I looked at it again there were words around the heart. "There were times where I thought-" She stopped and shook her head and stood up and came back a few minutes later with a little book. "I was in love with him but Max hated me and he probably still does but… I want Kai to know that at one point Max and I were at least… I don't know how to put it because love isn't the word." She handed me the book.
"Kai's baby book?" I opened it to a really cute picture of Cambry on Max's lap with his arms wrapped around her Max kissing Cambry's head and a huge smile on her face and under that was a picture of Kai so tiny with medical equipment all around him. "He was so tiny…"
"He was a little under two pounds and his entire hand could fit on my finger he was so precious though…" She put her hand on the picture and tears welded her eyes.
"Do you want more kids?" I asked and she wasted no time shaking her head.
"No."
"Oh come on!" She put the chips down and really looked at me.
"No more kids for me."
"Why not?" She shrugged but looked at the picture again.
"As normal parents, your job is to raise your kids and send them off into the world," She took a deep breath and leaned back against the couch. "But me…. I have no idea with Kai, I don't know if he gets to live a long life and die an old man all I have is right now and at any second that can change so my job as a parent is to make sure he gets to grow up and be happy however long that may be." I thought about all the things I wanted for Harlan and Willow and wondered what went on in Cambry's mind when she thought about the future.
"Is this the only picture you have with Max?" I didn't want to talk about Kai anymore because the thought of not having him around was way too much.
"There are some throughout the book Kai likes looking at them I've never really shown it to him before he met Max but now anytime he looks at it he smiles so big and says daa…." She shrugged again. "Although Max hasn't seen Kai at all since the baby was born but I knew that would happen."
"Cambry-"
"It's okay Kayla I'm not bitter or anything Kai has a lot of people who care about him."
"You never answered my question."
"Which was? I already told you I wasn't having any more kids, I got my tubes tied after I had Kai."
"You know are you still into being someone's sex slave or whatever." Her mood instantly changed she was so tense but her body relaxed and she laughed.
"I was never a slave but to answer your question no…. I was on a lot of drugs back then and I was so use to people treating me like shit that being in that lifestyle just came naturally I don't know how to really explain it."
"Would you ever do drugs again?" She looked at me like I was crazy.
"Fuck no… Drugs fucked up Kai's life and that's all on me, I got myself clean for Kai and I can't go back down that track."
"I wish Ryland felt that way…." I mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"He's been doing drugs again." Cambry bit her lip. "Are you okay?" She shook her head.
"I'm gonna k-" She stopped talking when she heard a door slam and Arlo run out and Kai walking towards us dragging something along his stuffed hippo. "Hey, baby you didn't sleep for that long." He struggled to get up on the couch and sat right on Cambry and looked up at her and smiled.
"Maa." He said grabbing her arm and pulling her so her arm was over him, he wrapped his arms around her arm and looked at me.
"Hey, sweet boy."
"Hi." He snuggled back into Cambry but then frowned. "Ha?"
"Harlan's with his grandma right now." Kai's frown returned.
"Osie?" He asked looking up at Cambry.
"She's at daddy's house baby." He smiled again.
"Daaa!"
"Daddy's busy today Kai." His smile fell once again and this time he leaned back against her again but this time he started to cry.
"Do you want me to go?" I asked as he started to cry louder Cambry shook her head while turning him around.
"No, we still have some last minute wedding details to finish up."
"Speaking of my wedding you never told me if you're coming or not."
"I had no one to watch Kai until my mom offered to take him to some family thing that's happening in Ohio."
"How long is he gonna be gone for?"
"Three weeks." She said sadly but she was still smiling. "He's gonna have fun though and that's what matters."
"Your worried that he's gonna get sick or something?"
"No my mom's a nurse and can take better care of him then I do." I slapped her shoulder.
"You are amazing Cambry stop saying otherwise." She looked down at Kai who was sleeping again.
"It's probably just the guilt that's always eating away at me." She mumbled like it was nothing at all.
"Cambry-"
"Have you ever done drugs?" She asked and I laughed.
"No."
"Liar…" Aaron mumbled.
"You scared the shit out of me!" I yelled throwing a pillow in his direction.
"Hey, baby," Cambry said leaning back for Aaron to kiss her forehead. "What's he talking about?"
"Nothing."
"What was it? Freshman or Junior year of college Kayla?" Aaron asked with a smirk.
"End of Freshman year," I mumbled thinking back to that night.
"What happened?"
"I smoked weed once...barely and it was horrible," I said and Cambry laughed. "Never again."
"What happened?" Cambry asked but I spoke before Aaron could.
"It was just a horrible experience that I will not share with anyone and my friends who were there that night still make fun of me." I glared at Aaron. "Anyway moving back to wedding stuff," I said Aaron laughed and ended up waking Kai up.
"I'll take him into the room and watch a movie with him you two continue the wedding planning."
"You could help," Cambry said but Aaron looked down at the magazine and shook his head.
"Come on K." Kai stood up on Cambry and jumped to Aaron he laughed when Cambry gasped.
Harlan's Pov
Grandma took Willow and me to the toy store and I got some new army men and a new helmet for my dirt bike. "Ah!" Willow yelled pointing at a baby doll in a stroller. "Ah!" She yelled again.
"Is that what you want princess?" She yelled again and grandma laughed and grabbed it. "Harlan come on."
"Grandma?"
"Yeah, baby?"
"Will mommy and daddy still love me when the baby comes?" I asked and grandma stopped pushing the cart.
"What are you talking about?" I just shrugged. "Harlan?"
"My old mommy and daddy didn't like me once Katie was born and then mommy left me and just took Katie and daddy left me at the park…."
"Har…" Grandma looked sad. "They love you so much and no matter what."
"But-"
"No buts Har nothing will change how much they love you." I nodded but I still was scared.
"Are we going home after this?"
"Yeah, you and Willow need some food."
"Is it almost time to go see daddy?" I asked grandma as we walked through the store.
"Two more weeks and then it's time." She said and Willow kept trying to get out of the cart. "Willow sit down," Grandma said but she stood up instead so grandma let Willow out of the cart and just like a bad little baby she started running in the other direction.
"Willow!" I yelled and I couldn't grab her because I still gots no hands but she started walking towards us when grandma started going the other way and when she reached grandma she helped her push the cart to the front. "Grandma?"
"Yeah, baby?"
"At our new house daddy says I have a surprise!" I cheered and grandma raised her eyebrow.
"What kind of surprise?" She asked as she put our toys up on the big thingy that moves.
"I don't know he won't tell me," I said sadly. "But when we Facetime he says that it's gonna be super cool and just for me."
"Me," Willow said.
"No not for you for me."
"Me!"
"No me!" I yelled back.
"You two cut it out," Grandma said lifting Willow up and putting her back in the cart she didn't like that at all but grandma didn't pay any attention to her.
"Two broken arms? That's awesome." I turned around and there was a guy standing there he didn't look very nice.
"...Thanks." I looked down at my casts my arms weren't broken though they just had to have a little surgery to make them feel better that's all.
"You okay?" He asked I looked at grandma she was paying for the stuff and Willow was hitting her arm with her empty snack cup.
"Yeah," I said and his eyes wandered down and I lifted up my foot.
"I gots light up shoes!" I said and stomped down and my cars shoe started to flash he smiled.
"Maybe they have them in my size." I giggled and grandma turned around and pulled me towards her.
"Come on baby." Grandma put me in the cart so I wouldn't walk too slow going to the car. "What did he say to you?" She asked once we left.
"He said that two broken arms were awesome and that he liked my shoes." I looked down at them again and frowned they weren't the ones I wanted, the ones I asked mommy for they had lace and I have to have straps because of my stupid hands.
Grandma clicked in Willow and then lifted me up into my car seat, "What's wrong Har?" Grandma asked kissing my head as she clicked me in.
"Nothing." She just frowned but nodded.
We were listening to daddy in the car and I was screaming the song just like daddy does and grandma didn't look like she was enjoying it but she would smile when I would move my head back and forth. "Grandmaaaa!" I whined when the music stopped playing.
"I'm sorry baby I'm getting a phone call." She said and answered it by pressing a button on the steering wheel. "Hello?"
"Uh… Hi, Clary, it's me, Henry."
"UNCLE HENRY!" I yelled and he laughed.
"Hey, little dude."
"Is everything okay? Is Jessie alright?"
"Yeah, she's perfect."
"Is something wrong?" Grandma asked.
"It's Logan…." He said softly and Grandma looked at me before talking.
"What's wrong with Logan?"
"Well, he uh… Well…"
"Henry?"
"Logan and Damien broke up… I haven't been able to get Logan out of bed he won't move, won't talk, won't eat, I've tried everything for the last three days and I really didn't want to call you because you are probably busy but I'm really worried about him. I can usually get him to talk to me but-"
"I'm at Ryland's with the kids but I will be on the first flight to New York."
"Do you want me to tell him that you're-"
"No, he'd just pretend to be fine and tell me not to come."
"I'm sorry I really tried to-"
"Henry don't apologize."
"Right, yes ma'am."
"And don't call me that."
"Yes, ma- Clary…." Grandma looked really sad for some reason.
"Are you sad grandma?" She looked back at me in the mirror.
"No baby I'm fine." She smiled and turned back on daddy's music.
Once we got home I ran around looking for mommy but she wasn't here, "Grandma where is mommy at?" Grandma had Willow in her arms and she wasn't very happy.
"I don't know maybe she's up with Cambry?" I nodded and ran up all the steps again plus the steps to get to Cambry's home and I knocked on the door because mommy says it's rude to just barge into someone's room or home.
"Come in!" Aaron yelled so I opened the door and ran in and someone caught me and started tickling me.
"Slow down Bubba," Cambry said and kissed my cheek.
"Is mommy here?"
"Yeah Kai was showing her something in his room go on." She let me go and I started running again to Kai's room but I have no hands to open the door so I ran back to Cambry she was in the kitchen putting stuff away.
"Cammie?"
"Yeah, handsome?" I smiled, I like when she calls me that and sometimes she winks at me and I blush and then she laughs and sometimes kisses my cheek.
"I can't open Kai's door." I looked down at my casts and she ruffled my hair. "Come on Harrie." I don't like when she calls me that. Uncle Aaron called me that once when we were making fun of each other and mommy and Cambry thought it was super cute and now they call me that.
Once Cambry opened the door Kai yelled and tried to close it. "Hi Kai!" I yelled and he stopped pushing at the door.
"Ha!" Kai hugged me and then grabbed me pulling me into his room and Cammie closed the door smiling. "Se?" He said pointing at something in mommy's hand.
"Hi, mommy."
"Hey, Har." I jumped up on Kai's bed it was kinda big cause it was here before Cambry and Kai moved in. "What's wrong baby?"
"Willow was crying the entire way home and I got a headache and my arm is itchy."
"You just have a few more days before we see the doctor again."
"Am I getting them off?"
"Yeah, and he might put a new one on we don't know yet." I looked at what she had in her hand and smiled at Kai's picture.
"What's that?" I asked looking over mommy.
"Kai was telling me that he drew his family and he needed help naming everyone." She said and showed me.
"Did he do that himself?"
"Ya!" Kai said clapping his hands.
"Who is in the picture?" I asked Kai, I sat down beside him and put the picture down in front of us.
Mommy helps Kai learn just like me and she teaches him how to write and I like to teach him how to speak new words. The picture was of Cambry, Aaron, mommy, daddy, me, Willow, Arlo, Nugget, and even Sergio.
"Amy." He said meaning family.
"Yep, that's our family." I patted his head when we go to the park together people ask if we're brothers and I always say yes.
"Maa?" Kai asked looking at mommy and she nodded and he picked it up and left with it.
"Did you and Kai just make that?" I asked and mommy nodded.
"He wanted to make Cambry a present." Mommy stood up and I kissed her belly.
"Hi, baby." Mommy smiled as she grabbed my hand and we walked out.
"I'm so proud of you baby." Cambry was holding Kai kissing him over and over while he giggled. "Thank you." She said to mommy who shrugged.
"He loves to learn and he's so smart and really all I did was write it down and watched him copy the words. Besides, when I was younger I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher."
"Mommy? Can I spend the night here?" I asked mommy shook her head.
"No baby their busy today."
"Oh…" I sighed and leaned back against mommy.
"Come on baby." Mommy put her hand on my shoulder and we started to leave.
"What's wrong with my baby?" Cambry asked looking down at me.
"Nothing," I said softly mommy ruffled my hair.
"He wanted to spend the night up here." Cambry looked at Aaron who shrugged.
"We're just going to see Kai's heart doctor and then to dinner but Harlan can come."
"Please mommy? Please?"
"Are you sure?" I asked Cambry nodded and looked at Aaron.
"Do you care?"
"Nah, come on Har." I wrapped my casts around mommy for a minute and then ran over to Kai.
"Do you want to go camping?" I asked Kai he nodded and looked at Cambry.
"I don't think we can go camping today guys."
"No in Kai's room I got a tent in my room and sometimes mommy let me sleep in it." Cambry smiled and nodded.
"Come on Kai let's go get our tent."
"Kay." He said as she put him down and he ran to me. "Om?" He said but he meant room, I tried to help Kai down the steps but he grabbed onto Arlo's harness on his vest and walked down each step slowly so that Kai didn't fall and when he got down all the steps he smiled and wrapped his arms around Arlo's face and said something to him.
When we got into my room Kai jumped up on my bed and picked up one of my toys, everyone treats him differently because he's sick and gots tubes attached to him, but to me, he's just like any other kid he's just a little bit different… Just like me. "Wha is?" He asked holding up Timmy.
"That used to be daddy's when he was small and they gave him to Willow but she doesn't like him anymore so I asked for him because he told me he was sad." Kai looked at for a few minutes before putting it back down.
"Low?" He loved playing with Willow but she's not nice sometimes and if she gets a hold of his tubes she tries to pull it off and it hurts him.
"She's with my grandma." Kai gave a small nod I don't know if he understood me but I think he does.
Ryland's Pov
I couldn't go anywhere without dad coming with me or a twenty-page questionnaire on where I'm gonna be and how long I'm gonna be and when I go to leave dad just tags along. "You hungry kid?" Dad asked leaning against the wall.
"No," I muttered dad threw his empty water bottle at me. "Ow, what was that for?"
"Stop being such a baby," Dad said giving me a look that I didn't care to acknowledge.
"I just want to be alone." He rolled his eyes and hit my leg.
"Come on let's get some food." I rolled out of bed and sighed.
"Aren't you sick of me yet?" Dad laughed.
"You ever get sick of seeing your kids every day?" I thought about it and bumped his shoulder with mine as we walked out of our room.
"Maybe when their teens." I joked and dad rolled his eyes.
When we were in the elevator my phone chimed three times I pulled it out and dad leaned over me I groaned to look at the messages.
My Love: How I found the boys this morning :D
It was a picture of Harlan, Kai, Arlo, and Nugget in a tent sleeping, Kai was cuddled up to Harlan and Arlo was laying beside him and Nugget was laying across the two of them.
"Can I see?" Dad asked I showed him the picture and he smiled. "Kai and Harlan get along?"
"Most of the time they're inseparable Harlan calls him his brother." Dad smiled still looking at the picture.
"What do you think the baby's gonna be?" Dad wanted it to be a girl but I was rooting for a boy but I just shrugged like it was nothing.
"Just healthy… You know the full nine months I was terrified when we had Willow it was all way too much and I'm praying that this pregnancy is better for her because I know she's scared." She just won't say it.
"It will be easier this time around," Dad said and didn't say anything else as we walked through the hotel and ended up at some restaurant with a name I couldn't pronounce because I never learned French like dad insisted. "Cecily would kill to come here." He said with a smile that instantly had me thinking about Willow for some reason.
"Has Cecily ever been to France?" Dad nodded.
"Once for Fashion Week in Paris but she went with your aunt and uncle."
"So?"
"The most she went outside was to walk either to or from the car."
"Damn that sucks."
"Yeah, I remember she ranted about it for a week and then when we finally asked her about fashion week she drove Benji crazy for three weeks talking about it."
"Glad I missed out on that one." I missed being home though and the family all being together.
"How are Benji and Liam?"
"Benji he's… Benji," Dad said laughing. "Liam he's a bit more complicated lately…."
"Meaning?" Dad just looked at me and shrugged as we passed the line of people waiting to get in. "Dad?"
"Hmm?" He asked as he went for the door but I stepped in front of him opening it.
"What's going on with Liam?" He sighed and right as he was about to open his mouth the hostess comes to take us to our table and dad changes the conversation completely but I'm not having it. "Are we finally gonna talk?" He's been looking at his menu for ten minutes.
"He's been having a hard time dealing with the whole teacher thing recently and you know how he never wants to talk about how he feels with anyone other than Logan."
"So you guys are just letting him-"
"He actually came to us and asked if he could go to therapy and of course your mother made sure that he was, in fact, Liam and not some alien or something." I snorted. "He's been better recently he went through a rough patch for a bit."
"I'll talk to him when we're all in Italy, I think this is the one part I hate about my job…"
"Which is?"
"We get crazy busy and by the end of the day I call Kayla to say goodnight to her and the kids and then I go to bed or I get on a plane and do it all over again it's non-stop and I never get to call any of you guys and then stuff happens and I don't hear about it and then I'm the dick because I break promises I made that I tried to keep but couldn't… I use to be so close with Jessie and now," I shrugged and then sighed. "I just want to be close with them again."
"Are you planning on coming on the family vacation?" Dad asked putting his menu down and taking mine away from me.
"Hey, I wasn't done with that," I whined.
"You can never make up your mind and then you ask me what I think you'd like anyway so giving you the menu is pointless and don't give me that look you've been doing this since you were five," I smirked.
"Anyway," Dad laughed at the fact that I wasn't denying what he said. "Why wouldn't I come on a family vacation?"
"We all assumed that you and Kayla would want to go on your honeymoon after the tour."
"Kayla said no."
"No?"
"Apparently to her, the wedding being in Italy is already too much money for her liking so she said that she didn't want a honeymoon or if I was even thinking about doing something it had to be in the state of California so I told her about the family vacation instead."
"I really like Kayla," Dad said and I couldn't help the smile that lit up my face.
"She's amazing isn't she?"
"I think you got some drool falling there JJ." I rolled my eyes.
When we were done eating dad let me go meet up with the guys while he called mom it was a small relief to have a moment alone.
I fell onto the couch beside Spencer, Zach came in throwing something at me. "Try it its candy."
"Oooh," I said picking one and handing it to Spencer.
"Hey! I offered Ryland, not your fat ass." Spencer laughed and took three before throwing them over to Tyler. "There goes my candy…." He muttered.
"So now that we're all here can we finally talk about your bachelor party?" I groaned.
"No."
"Dude-"
"I don't want a crazy party."
"Dude you're getting married we are going to party."
"Spencer-"
"No, you ain't gonna talk us out of this Herondale."
"Guys why can't we just go out for pizza or something?"
"Where is Ryland?" Spencer asked I groaned.
"I'm right here!"
"Dude one last party."
"Nothing crazy dude."
"I promise it won't be crazy." That was a lie but I just shrugged I was actually excited for this.
My phone started to ring I grabbed the candy from Spencer and threw back to Zach. "Hey, baby." Spencer and Tyler 'awed' at me I kicked Spencer but glared at Tyler he was too far.
"Hey." She sounded tired or mad.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing I'm just tired didn't get much sleep."
"Why?"
"Cambry and I went out to eat with some of her friends."
"Her friends?"
"Uh huh they're really nice."
"What are the kids doing?" I asked I didn't have much time before we had to go to a signing.
"Harlan is helping Kai do his feeding tube and Willow is eating strawberries and waffles."
"How'd you end up with Kai?"
"Harlan spent the night up with Cambry and them last night and now Kai wants to spend the night down here with us and he's very upset that you aren't here." I laughed softly I love that kid.
"I know he wants to go ice skating again."
"He could've been hurt you know."
"Everyone treats him like a fragile little doll." I knew she rolled her eyes at me.
"Because he is."
"No he's not so he doesn't have the greatest heart in the world it doesn't mean-"
"And on top of a crappy heart, he has over nine chronic illnesses," Kayla said and that was news to me.
"Nine? What the hell is a chronic illness anyway?" She must've moved away from the phone because I could hear her voice faintly. "Hello?" The phone cut out and then I heard her voice again.
"I have to go Kai's trying to get Harlan to drink his nutrition." I didn't get a chance to say anything she hung up and I sighed. Love you too baby.
"Someone looks like he's in the dog house," Tyler muttered to Zach.
"Suck my dick."
"I'll pass." The door opened and dad came in I groaned.
"Good to see you to kid." He smirked as he took Zach's candy from him and ate the rest of it.
Max's Pov
I had a nightmare for the third time this week and I didn't want to wake Sadie up so I just laid in bed trying to shut the dream out. Empire started to cry I carefully picked up the baby monitor and left the room. "Hey, Emp," I said softly picking him up when I made it to the stairs DJ's door opened and he rubbed his eyes as he walked out.
"Hi, daddy."
"Hey, bud." I ruffled his hair and he reached his hand out to touch Empire.
"Can I hold?" He asked pouting his bottom lip a little.
"Do you want to feed him?" He nodded and we went down to the couch, DJ sat down holding his arms out for his baby brother.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?" I glanced at DJ and then back at my task of not spilling the formula all over the floor.
"I miss grandpa."
"So do I player but we'll get to see him soon."
"Promise?"
"Promise." I let DJ feed Empire while I made breakfast for the kids and Sadie.
Breakfast was done by the time Sadie came in holding Empire with DJ and Rosie following behind her and to the breakfast nook. "Morning beautiful." I kissed her head and took Empire from her. "Eat."
"Are you not hungry?" Sadie asks picking up Rosie putting her in the chair.
"I ate while I was making it." She nodded and pointed to the chair.
"At least sit?" I sat down and looked down at Empire he was awake and looking around with dark blue eyes. "So I was thinking."
"That's never good." She threw a piece of bacon at me and the kids started to laugh.
"I was thinking that in our new house that we could get the boys a bunk bed."
"You want Empire and DJ to share a room?"
"No DJ and Kai." DJ nodded his head while bouncing up and down in his chair.
"That would be so much fun!" I still haven't told Sadie about Kai not being allowed to come stay in New York with us and I really didn't want to tell her.
"Max?"
"Huh?"
"I mean if you don't like that idea we could always put the baby in the room with us and give Kai the other-"
"No… I like the bunk bed idea I was just…. I haven't seen Kai since Empire was born…" It's been almost a month since then and I feel awful.
"Why don't you call Cambry and ask her if Kai can spend the night?" I went out into the living room and put Empire in his little rocker and called Cambry.
"Please answer," I mumbled as I dialed her number I know she's going to yell at me I haven't checked on Kai since Empire was born.
"Hello?" Well, at least she didn't start it off with what the fuck do you want so maybe this won't be so bad.
"Hey… I was wondering if I could have Kai today?" I asked and waited for what felt like thirty minutes.
"No." And here comes the yelling.
"Please?"
"He had a doctors appointment yesterday a follow up with the specialist on if he needs another surgery for his heart which you failed to show up to even though I texted you three times to remind you and even told you that you could have kept him after his appointment but you didn't show up and I'm getting sick and tired of Kai begging me to go to your house and then when I say no he cries and I become the bad person when it's you because you don't even fucking want him."
"I'm sorry we got busy with the baby and…" I'm a horrible father… "I'll try harder I promise."
"Don't make a promise you aren't gonna keep your moving to the other side of the country Max." She said it softly.
"Cambry just-"
"Just leave us alone… I'm sorry I ever even told you about him." He begs to come over? And I always tell Sadie that we'll get him later and I never thought it would matter because Kai didn't understand but he's getting older and learning.
"I'm a horrible father." I finally said the words and Cambry didn't deny it immediately like Sadie always does because to her and our kids I am a great father but to Cambry I'm a deadbeat and if nothing changes that's what Kai will remember me as.
"I wouldn't go as far to call you horrible just really shitty sometimes." She said and then laughed. "He's spending the night with Kayla she took him and Harlan to the rink."
"The rink…?"
"Ryland and Harlan were having a 'dude day' it's basically father son bonding but Ryland thinks that's lame and calls it a dude day. Anway, he took Kai with and took the boys ice skating he taught Kai how to skate and now Kai is obsessed with it Kayla put Harlan in this class that helps kids learn how to skate because he's going into hockey and all Harlan talks about is hockey so now all Kai talks about is hockey."
"Kai's gonna play hockey?" Just like I did as a kid…
"He can't." His heart.
"Oh…"
"His doctor doesn't think it's a good idea and neither do I but he said that skating is okay as long as we monitor him to make sure it isn't taking to much out of him but he usually goes after naps so he has a lot of energy and then comes home and sleeps again." I should've been the one to teach him I don't even know anything about Kai I always treat him like he doesn't understand what's happening around him.
"Is he in the same class as Harlan?"
"Yeah he loves it and after Kayla's taking them to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the hockey game, it's what Ryland does with Harlan."
"Can I call Kayla and ask her if I can take him?"
"He's having fun Max don't ruin that."
"How about Monday then?"
"He'll be gone."
"What?"
"He's going with my mom to a family thing out of state."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Seriously? Should I tell you how long you've been in Kai's life? Because I can count on one hand the number of times you've taken your son."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not me you have to apologize to."
"What if I go to the rink?"
"That's your call, not mine… Can I go now?"
"What time is she dropping him off to you?"
"She's not."
"What?"
"She's keeping Kai tonight." Why is it when I try and do the right thing the universe hates me?
"Okay…"
"He'll be back on the eighth."
"I'm moving the sixth." She didn't say anything for a minute. "Cam?"
"And you aren't gonna take him at all before you leave?"
"How the hell can I when-" I yelled I knew I shouldn't of because Sadie came out of the kitchen and to my side.
"Well let's see Max," Cambry said sarcastically. "You have Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. But god forbid if taking your fucking son disrupts plans with your little perfect family. Don't worry about Kai he survived this long with a-" She stopped and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry that was uncalled for I'm just tired of this Max either you are his father or not."
"I'm his father."
"Are you?"
"I have a paternity test that says he's mine," I mumbled.
"Just as you proved with Sadie's kids it doesn't take blood to be a father."
"I'm his father, not the fucking douchebag your dating."
"I'm gonna ignore that comment because I do not bad mouth your girlfriend and I am not gonna start fighting again. Just let me know if you want Kai at all this week if not have a nice life in New York." She hung up and I threw my phone.
"Max?" Sadie said softly.
"What."
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's great." She rolled her eyes and sat down beside me taking my hand.
"Stop pretending with me."
"I can't take Kai today and then he's gonna leave on Monday."
"Leave? Where is he going?" I explained everything and she stood up. "Why don't we just take the kids to the-"
"Would you mind if I just went? I've never spent one on one time with Kai and I take Rosie places and I take DJ it just doesn't seem fair that Kai doesn't get that." I thought she'd be mad but she smiled and kissed my cheek.
"You're such a good daddy." No… I'm not.
Kayla's Pov
Harlan was skating slowly beside Kai, he was laughing at whatever Kai was saying to him. "Mind if I sit?" I looked up and Max smiled.
"What are you doing here?"
"I didn't know he liked hockey or ice skating."
"You can thank Ryland for both those… In the short time he was home he took them skating three times for hours and they'd go watch the game after or come home and play hockey out front… Kai loves it but he gets tired really fast."
"Look at him…" He sat down beside me and watched Kai carefully, he had a mask on but I knew that he was smiling and I'm sure Max knew as well. "I don't know him." He said softly.
"What?"
"Sadie says I'm a good dad but I'm not I don't know the first thing about Kai so how can I be a good dad."
"Well he's not stupid," I said and Max looked at me. "You, Ryland, and a lot of other people treat him like he's-"
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. You think he doesn't understand or he can't comprehend what you're saying to him. Well he can, he has foods he likes and doesn't, he tells jokes, he has favorite people, he has a toy he's attached to just like normal kids, the only difference is he has some illnesses but you guys treat him like he doesn't have a brain."
"I-"
"I see him everyday Max he's an amazing little boy."
"Can I tell you something but you can't tell Sadie."
"Uh…" I don't like keeping things from her but he looked like he really needed to get something off his chest. "I won't tell her anything."
"I don't want to move to New York like really really don't."
"Why didn't you tell her that?"
"She's so excited to get out of California she's never lived anywhere else and I want her to be happy."
"But?"
"Kai can't visit us there."
"Sadie would never have agreed to go if she knew you wouldn't be able to see your son."
"I didn't tell her."
"Max." I groaned and he nodded.
"I know I'm an idiot for not telling her sooner but she's excited and the kids are excited and I'm not."
"Max you realize when you move and she says oh when is Kai coming and you tell her the truth she's gonna be pissed."
"I know…"
"Tell her."
"I can't."
"Max-"
"I already bought the house but I'm gonna talk to Cambry and probably make the drive."
"Drive?"
"It's the only way I'd be able to take him." I didn't say anything and Max went back to watching Kai skate around with Harlan. "Where is Willow?"
"I traded her for Kai." Max laughed. "Cambry and Aaron took her to some kind of puppet thing."
"Oh." I gave Max a look but he just went back to watching Kai. Arlo was laying by my feet keeping me warm he looked up at me and the poor pup looked tired and bored.
"I know how you feel." I kissed his head. "I'm freezing." Max laughed and shrugged off his jacket. "No."
"Really it's fine, I've been skating since I was four so I'm used to it."
"I hate the cold." I put his jacket on of course it was too big for me but I cuddled into it and sighed happily. "Do you and Ryland share cologne?"
"I actually stole it from him on tour don't tell him because I told him that he left it."
Max had gotten a call so he stepped outside and I went to get the boys. "Mommy! Did you see us?" Harlan was waiting for me to take his skates off, I can't wait until he gets these damn casts off.
"Yeah, I did baby you were so good."
"Me?" Kai said I picked him up and squeezed him.
"You are amazing." He giggled and Harlan nodded along with me.
"Yeah K your really awesome."
"Tank you." He said as I set him down and started to help Harlan with his skates Kai successfully got his off by himself and then hugged Arlo. "Ar." He muttered into his fur and he said something else to him as he stood up.
I couldn't see Max once we got outside maybe he left? I'd give him a piece of my mind if that's the case. "Come on into the car."
"I'm hungry mommy," Harlan said as he struggled to get in the car.
"Let me hel-"
"No!" He yelled, he tried again this time putting his body on the floor of the car and then trying to pull himself up but it wasn't working for him and Kai was laughing at him. "I can do it," Harlan said as he wiggled. "Almost…" He was breathing hard. "There." He got in and took a deep breath. "See mommy? I did it all myself."
"Good job Har."
"My tur." Kai said when Max came up behind him and scooped him up Kai screamed. "Daaa!" His arms went around Max instantly and his head into the crook of his neck.
"Hey, buddy." Max kissed Kai's forehead and turned his head and I could've sworn that Max was crying. "I'm sorry." He said softly kissing him again.
"I ska!" Kai said tapping Max's shoulder.
"I know you did I was watching, you're awesome you know that?" Kai nodded and Max's smile was pure fatherly love. "Cambry said you were gonna take the boys out to eat do you mind if I come?"
"Your paying then," I said sweetly he rolled his eyes.
"I can afford it." He said bumping my shoulder and went to put Kai down but he clung to him.
"Don go." He said with tears in his dark blue eyes and I think Max finally sees how much Kai actually missed him because Max's face expression almost broke my heart and I just wanted to wrap him in a tight hug but I know Max and he'd most likely push me off of him or punch me and I don't know which so I didn't say anything and just watched him.
"I'm not going anywhere I promise." Max looked at his car and then bit his lip.
"Why don't you take Kai?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah go on I mean we're going to the same place."
"You wanna come in my car?"
"Ya." He said sadly wiping his face.
Dinner was fun Kai held onto Max the entire time but Max didn't seem to care and he even got him to eat three wings the most I've ever seen him eat. "Well… I should get going." Max said looking at Kai who was already asleep and in his car seat. "Thanks for letting me tag along."
"Are you sure you don't want to take him? Cambry won't mind."
"No, I know Kai and Harlan were having a sleepover." For the second day in a roll.
"Max-"
"I'll try and take him sometime this week." He said softly and started to walk away I grabbed his arm and pulled him into a much needed hug.
"He loves you so much I don't think you realize that most of the time you are all he talks about." I kissed his cheek. "If you were a horrible father, Kai wouldn't love you so much." I hugged him one last time before pulling away and I noticed he was crying.
"He shouldn't love me…"
"Max-"
"I never hated her." He said softly.
"What?"
"Cambry… She said she wanted Kai to know that she loved me but I hated her… I don't, I mean, I didn't hate her back then."
"I know."
"You do?" I wiped his tears.
"You loved her… A lot." He didn't say anything. "I'm sorry it's not my place to say anything so I'm gonna shut up and take these crazy boys home."
"Kayla-"
"Don't worry Max, your secrets are safe with me." He leaned in to kiss my cheek and open my door for me.
"Thank you for everything." He said giving me a half smile.
"It's what family does."
Ryland's Pov
Dad was talking my ear off about something I really didn't care about. "And then… Are you even listening to me?"
"Huh? Uh yeah." He shook his head. "Oh come on dad." I groaned.
"What?"
"Can I go hang out with my friends?"
"Oh I'm sorry am I boring you?" Dad asked sarcastically as my phone chimed finally I had text Tyler twenty minutes ago asking what the guys were doing.
Tyler: Spence says you have to stay away cuz we're smoking
That sounded perfect right now but I knew I couldn't even if I wanted to. "Ryland?" Dad said and when I didn't respond he pinched me.
"Ow!" I whined.
You wanna start paying attention to me?"
"I hate to see what you do when mom ignores you." His smile told me enough. "EWWWWWWWWW!"
"I didn't say anything." He was laughing.
"I'm leaving."
"Where do you think you're going?"
"I just want to spend five minutes away from you."
"Take a shower, watch a movie, go to bed, call your kids."
"I want to go hang out with-" Dad shook his head.
"Not gonna happen."
"Dad!" Whining wasn't working so I just started to walk away from him I knew he was following me but I didn't care I walked to Spencer's room and knocked on the door. "Since when do you want to spend your only day off hanging out with me and the guys?"
"Since I can't trust you."
"Dad…."
"You aren't gonna get me to stop."
"I'm not asking you to stop I'm asking for five fucking minutes."
"First off, the language watch it, second, I have to call your mother to find out if Benji's okay so you have until then."
"What's wrong with Benji?"
"That's why I'm calling to find out."
I left dad and walked into the room and just closed my eyes for a moment of aloneness. "RyRy!" Spencer yelled once he saw me and my aloneness was gone.
"Don't call me that." Spencer laughed and stood up. "Leaving?"
"Nah… Wanna hit?" He asked and then smiled. "I was just kidding."
"I know…" I wanted to it's been almost a month and I am not gonna fuck up now. "Do you mind uh-" I stopped and sighed.
"I'll just put it out," Spencer said but Tyler took it and left into the bathroom. "You okay?"
"Yeah just got a lot going on…"
"Did Max stop as well? Anytime I talk to him I forget to ask."
"No he hasn't and I've told him to but no he still smokes pot and does coke."
"Dude if Sadie finds out."
"It's not Sadie he has to worry about if Cambry finds out she'd take him back to court." Zach came into the room as Tyler was coming out of the bathroom.
"I feel great," Tyler said and Zach rolled his eyes.
"Yes, I'm sure drugs will do that."
"Oh come on haven't you ever-"
"Nope never have and never will."
"Not even-"
"Not even pain medication." Come to think of it I haven't even seen him take Tylenol before his phone began to ring he groaned struggling to get his phone out of his pocket and Spencer and Tyler were making fun of him for it.
"Hey, mom." He said with a smile that fell almost immediately. "What's wrong?" He listened to her and tears came to his eyes and he shook his head. "I'll be on the first plane to-" He stopped and shut his eyes tight. "Mom…"
All the laughter stopped and everyone was watching him and when he noticed us he turned around and started to whisper, Spencer leaned towards me. "What do you think is going on?" Maybe they finally caught the guy who killed Kenzie. No. Zach didn't look like he was getting that news although I doubt I'd know how he'd act.
"No idea," I whispered back.
"Keep me posted, I love you too mom." He hung up and took a deep breath before turning back to us. "I should-"
"What happened?" Zach took a deep breath.
"Henry got hurt at work… He's in surgery right now." He sat down and took a deep breath no one knew what to say and suddenly he stood up and left quickly everyone was about to move to follow him when I jumped up and ran after him.
"Zach wait!" He just held his hand up.
"Leave me alone Ry." I grabbed his arm and he turned he had tears falling down his face. "We can't lose Henry too." I pulled him into a hug and for a second he just stood there before dropping his head onto my shoulder. Spencer and Tyler came out of the room.
"Henry's strong he's got this you don't have anything to worry about." Zach pulled away wiping his eyes.
"Thanks, guys." Dad came up to us and he didn't look too happy.
"Hey, Jace." Spencer waved.
"Hey." He was probably mad because the smell of weed was coming from the room.
"You okay?" Dad asked Zach he quickly told him what happened and dad hugged him and whispered something to him.
Dad didn't say anything as we walked in silence. "I didn't smoke if that's what you're thinking."
"Wouldn't be the first time you lied to me about drugs would it?"
"No it wouldn't but I'm telling you the truth right now."
"I know."
"Is Benji okay?"
"Well your mother isn't with him he's with my parents so I called them and talked to Benji."
"Is he okay?"
"He got stung by a jellyfish and Liam told him that his leg was gonna have to be amputated," I burst out laughing dad punched my stomach. "It's not funny."
"It's a little funny."
We went back up to our room and I thought about what mom said to me so I figured I'd ask him. "Hey, dad?"
"Huh?"
"Why'd you stop drinking?"
"I already told you why." He said picking up his leftovers from last night and walked to the couch.
"Mom told me to ask you about the last time you got blackout drunk." He stopped and looked at me and then shook his head.
"I don't want to talk about that."
"Mom said you'd say that and to just keep asking you."
"The twins got into trouble and had to stay home so your mom asked me to stay with them while she took everyone else out I can't remember where and we had fought earlier and then she tells me I have to stay home with the twins so I was pissed."
"And you got drunk?"
"Yeah really drunk…"
"What happened?"
"I… I remember being mad at your mom and yelling… Logan asked me to stop drinking and I got even more pissed but Liam pushed Logan out of the way and me…" Dad was looking down at the ground. "I threw the bottle at him and it cut his head really badly he had to get stitches."
"At Liam?"
"Yeah, the scar on his head is because of me…"
"Dad-"
"They were afraid of me after that and I couldn't make it better so I promised I'd never touch alcohol ever again and I haven't."
"But…" I didn't know what else to say.
"The twins were afraid to come near me after that… I tried everything to make it up to them."
"How did you?"
"After a while, I sat them both down and apologized about a million times… Liam asked me not to drink anymore and Logan didn't say anything."
"So they forgave you?"
"Yeah but I still felt awful so I bought Liam his motorcycle and I helped Logan build his library in the basement."
"What did mom say when she found out?"
"I really don't want to talk about this anymore Ry… it was the worst moment in my life."
"I'm glad you don't drink anymore."
"It's only been two years since then but I'm glad to… The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you any of you guys."
"We know that dad." I hugged him and thought about what mom said about me. "Thanks for telling me."
"Don't be like me JJ."
"Dad… I wanna be just like you because you're amazing and everyone has a low point in life." He smiled and looked at his food.
"How about you go get some real food?"
"Sure where do you want me to go." I stood up but dad shook his head.
"You have thirty minutes go on."
"You mean?"
"I'm trusting you Ryland don't make me regret it."
"Thank you, dad." I ran out of the room. "Sweet freedom," I mumbled while deciding where to go with my time.
In the next chapter Kayla and the kids go to Italy
In Jessie's chapter Liam, Cecily, Benji, and maybe Clary and Jace will all have POV's to kinda catch up with everyone
