Chapter 53


Later that evening,

Mike leaned against the doorway and smile as he watched Beth slow dance with Kaito in her arms as she softly hummed a tune. She turned around to him and smiled.

"That was a really tough conversation tonight." Beth told him, she felt a little heartbroken for Sienna and herself. She had hoped her past could fade away but now it was like she was branded with it.

It was tough to talk about the past. Not that she or Mike went into detail with Mia, but they told her enough so she could understand. She was genuinely upset as she understood in a basic sense what Ashley had said which it didn't seem to fit her little girl fantasies of Mike and Beth's relationship.

"Yes and I'd prefer never to have it again." Mike said as Kaito sleepily reached out for him. Mike took him into his arms and smiled as Kaito snuggled into his chest. He was enjoying it while it lasted.

"I wholeheartedly agree." Beth said with a sigh as she hated the past coming up on them again. It was a discussion she never wanted to have as she didn't want to be reminded nor did she need Mike to be reminded.

"You know I don't care about your past or what a bunch of kids say about us right?" he asked her as he clearly read her thoughts.

"Yeah, I do." Beth told him with a smile of relief. She already knew he didn't care but she loved that he reminded her.

"I love you." he told her, she couldn't help but smile as it was the first time he said it. He said it without the slightest hesitation and what she loved best was that he said it casually like he told her everyday.

"I love you too." she replied as she smoothed her hand down his arm and leaned into him.

"And once I put this baby down, I'm going to kiss you like crazy." he warned her in a teasing manner. Kaito looked between the two with sleepy eyes.

"Daddy! Beth! the movie is starting!" Mia shouted up the stairs.

"Remember when she would only whisper?" Beth asked with amusement as Kaito had just fallen asleep only to stir awake in Mike's arms.

"Yes and I don't miss it." Mike told her with a grin before they shared a brief kiss. Beth then kissed the top of Kaito's head.

"Rain check on that crazy kiss for later. I'll see you downstairs." She told him.

"Ok, try and save me some popcorn." Mike told her.

"I'll do my best." Beth promised him before she left him with Kaito. He looked to a very sleepy Kaito and shook his head in amusement as he relished the normalcy of his life.


"I don't know what we're supposed to do. I can't order her to apologise as it would be insincere and meaningless." Tom said as leaned against the doorway while Sasha was currently emptying her stomach into the toilet. She had been rushing to the bathroom over the past hour that he was surprised there was anything left to throw up.

"Look," Sasha sighed, she flushed away the mess. "She will learn tomorrow at school. She won't be a hero for what she said. A lot of kids there came from factories where their parents were worked to the bone and some even turning to prostitution to survive. She's alienated herself without even realising it." Sasha told him before she pushed off the floor and went to the sink to rinse her mouth out.

"I know but Darien and I didn't raise her to be this way. She didn't learn it from you." Tom argued as he was trying to figure out where Ashley's mean streak came from.

"I think you're worrying too much. We've addressed what she did was wrong and she wasn't contrite but I'm sure tomorrow; she'll be singing another tune. We just have to play it out and make sure she knows that we think what she did was wrong." Sasha told him.

"I didn't call Beth a 'whore' or even think that Mike would pay her to be one." Tom told her.

"No, you didn't. But you have been a little harsh on her." Sasha told him.

"I didn't like the fact that she was a stranger and living in his home. It's the unknowns of the situation that bug me not her past. I would never judge her or anyone for prostituting themselves for food and other necessities." Tom told Sasha, she didn't look entirely convinced but he didn't blame her as he tended to uphold a strong moral code.

"Well, it might not hurt if you apologised to Mike; at least for Ashley's misinterpretation." Sasha said as she proceeded to brush her teeth.

"I doubt he cares. He's probably more annoyed he had to explain prostitution to an eight year old." Tom said, Sasha paused in her brushing and gave him an incredulous look. She spat out the excess paste and levelled him with a serious look.

"Don't be fooled, if I were in Mike's shoes; I'd be pissed. I'd let it go because we're friends and kids do stupid shit all the time but apologising and explaining that you're in part to blame for this might go a long way. It could stop it from biting you in the ass later." Sasha explained to him before she went back to brushing again.

"Ashley was eavesdropping on private conversations and twisted it out of context." Tom told her.

"Kids are just little pictures with big ears." Sasha pointed out.


The next day,

"I'm so sorry about what Ashley said." Tom told Mike over their morning break.

"It's ok, forget about it. Kids do and say stupid stuff all the time." Mike said dismissively before he took a sip of his coffee. "Where's Sasha?" he asked changing the topic.

"Bathroom." Tom said with a wince. He really had to admire her stamina and commitment to work as he would stayed at home. But Sasha was not caving in as she planned to work until she was no longer able to.

"I'm pretty sure she swallowed her vomit back down in that meeting." Mike told him, Tom made a face as he had to agree but was trying not to think on it.

"She's a tough one." Tom said with admiration as he was pretty sure he would not come into work at all if he were pregnant.

"Speaking of, did you speak to her about the marriage thing?" he asked Tom in amusement as he was still replaying Tom's crazy ideas.

"No, Ashley and her issues were the priority. How is Beth?" Tom asked him, Mike gave a shrug.

"Kids say stuff. We're both more concerned about the girls." Mike lied, he knew it wasn't easy for Tom. And Beth made it clear that she just wanted to put it behind her. So did he as she asked as he knew there was nothing to gain from being angry and he knew Beth wouldn't be soothed by apologies. What she needed was it to go away quietly and never brought up again unless it was her wish.

"I still can't believe her attitude." Tom said about Ashley.

"She gets it from you." Mike quipped as his mobile started to ring. He pulled it out of his pocket and frowned as it was the school. "Slattery speaking." He said as he answered it.


"You have got it bad for Gene Wilder and purple suits. Don't you?" Beth asked Kaito as she had turned on the TV for some background noise to a mid-morning showing of 1971 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory'. Kaito stared up at the screen like it was a sight to behold.

"Bah, Bah." Kaito told her as the phone rang.

"You hold that thought." Beth told him, she reached for the phone. "Hello?" she said.

"Hey." Mike said. Beth smiled at the sound of his voice.

"Mike, what's going on?" Beth asked as she sat down behind Kaito and pulled him into her lap so they could watch TV together. Kaito leaned back into her and swayed from side to side while he babbled.

"I'm in a bit of pinch here at work. Mia has gotten herself into trouble at school." Mike told her.

"What happened?" Beth asked out of curiosity.

"She punched another kid and she's being suspended for a week. So the school wants her to be picked up now. Can you go for me?" Mike asked her.

"Of course, but ah how does it all work?" Beth asked him, she knew she was on the list of people allowed to pick up the kids but she never been in an official role like this situation required.

"I have no clue, never been called to the principle's office." Mike said with amusement.

"That I don't believe." Beth said before she chuckled..

"Well, they know you're picking up Mia and speaking to the principal on my behalf. I've already spoken to him but they will probably want to put on a show. Really dig in the guilt to Mia and make you understand in no uncertain terms that this is unacceptable behaviour and blah blah. Just look contrite and say you understand" Mike told her, proving that he knew exactly what it was like to be in the principle's office.

"I can do that, and I should hit the road. I'll call and leave a message with any new details." Beth told him.

"Thank you." Mike said sounding relieved.


Half an hour later,

"I'm really sorry." Mia said softly as she and Beth walked out of the school to the car. Her head hung low as she shuffled her feet completely contrite for actions.

"I know and I accept your apology." Beth told her, she wanted to say it was ok and that Bobby Taggert deserved to have his nose broken. But she was pretty sure that wouldn't send the right message.

"Dad's going to be so mad." Mia said, Beth wasn't so sure about that. If anything, Beth was a little resentful that Mia was punished while it was Ashley's antics that had acted as a catalyst to it all. Ashley however was not held accountable, but then she heard from other parents that the Chandlers were untouchable. Just one of those unfair facts of life.

"I think he'll be upset that you punched Bobby as violence should always the last option." Beth said, they reached the car and she unlocked it. Mia jumped into the back and waited as Beth strapped Kaito into his car seat. She closed the door and walked round to Mia's side and opened the door. She moved her face so it was in Mia's eye line.

"Mia, look at me." Beth told her, Mia reluctantly looked at her. She grabbed the little girl's hands with her own and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Bobby had no right to say those mean things to you. I'm so sorry that there are mean people in world who do and say hurtful things. But sadly we can't change that and while I don't think punching him was the right thing to do. I do really appreciate the reasons for you doing it. That you stood up for me and our family." Beth told her with a warm closed lip smile. She unbuckled the seat belt and pulled her into a hug.


"You ok?" Sasha asked Mike, she came back from the bathroom to find Mike looking like he was ready to snap his phone in half.

"Yeah, Mia was suspended for a week for punching a kid." Mike said waving a dismissive hand as he was trying to not let him bother him given he now knew why Mia had punched the kid.

"What?!" Sasha asked completely surprised as she couldn't imagine Mia hurting a fly let alone punching someone. Then it hit her that Mia was in her Aikido class and it was probably her fault that said kid knew how to punch to begin with.

"Yeah, some kid picked on her and she popped him in the nose. I'm a little pissed at school as the kid who was picking on her is not being punished. As for Mia, not sure if I should be proud or angry." Mike said thoughtfully.

"I don't know what to say." Sasha said a little flabbergasted.

"Nothing, just wait until it's your turn. Three kids with your temperament; one of them will be a wild child." Mike told her with a smug grin.

"Urgh, please don't remind me. I was expelled a couple times for anger issues." she blew out a breath looking nauseated. "I can't keep anything down today and someone in that room smells like rotten cabbage." Sasha said with a sickening groan. She wondered how she'd gone from pretty good health to vomiting half the time.

"I didn't notice it. Maybe you should try popcorn." Mike told her.

"I can't look at dairy products at the moment." Sasha said as she swallowed down her nausea at just the mere thought of butter.

"Nah, there's some health food store down the road that stocks 'organic' popcorn. No butter, just salt, sugar and corn. It helps Beth when she's feeling off." Mike offered her.

"Anything is worth a try at this point." Sasha said as she wasn't entirely put off by the idea.


Later that evening,

"I'm really sorry Daddy." Mia said as Mike tucked her into bed, dinner had been a quiet affair as everyone with exception of Kaito were feeling a little subdued by the day's events. Mia's sadness was palpable and affected everyone.

"I know and it's ok. You can stop apologising as I know you are aware of your actions and the consequences." Mike told her as he tucked the bedding in around her shoulders just how she liked it. The kid was truly weird and he loved her for it.

"I'll never do it again." Mia promised him.

"How about you won't punch anyone unless they are going to or have physically attacked you." Mike said, Mia looked thoughtful for a moment before she nodded.

"Ok." Mia replied.

"Good, now anything else on your mind?" he asked her, as he liked taking the time to check in with her.

"Bobby said you couldn't marry Beth because of what she did in the past." Mia informed him, he gave a laugh and shook his head as he knew it was not appropriate but couldn't help it.

"That's not true." he assured Mia, "And while we're on the subject of Beth. How would you feel if Kaito called her 'Mommy'?" he asked her changing the topic, Mia's face lit up with a smile for the first time since he came home.

"I think it would be great." Mia told him.

"Good, I wanted you to know that you don't have to call her 'Mommy'-" Mike started but Mia cut her off.

"What if one day I wanted to call Beth 'Mommy' too?" Mia asked him, he looked thoughtful for a moment before he could respond she continued. "Mommy will always be my first Mommy but Beth could be my second Mommy? Right?" she asked him.

"It's your decision to make not mine." he informed her, with a smile. "But for now, it's time for you to go to sleep." he told her, Mia gave a nod.

"Ok, I love you Daddy." She told him.

"Love you too, kiddo." He said before he placed a kiss on her forehead goodnight. Mia smiled before she snuggled into her bedding. Mike left her room, partially closing her door before he moved down the hallway until he reached Sienna's room. She normally didn't want him to tuck her in or leave her door open. But tonight it was open. She was sitting on her bed, pouring over her school books.

He knocked softly on the door frame, Sienna looked up and to him.

"Hey, mind if I come in?" he asked.

"No, come in." she replied, he came in and pulled out the chair at her desk and sat down.

"I'm sorry things have bee tough for you." He told her sincerely. Sienna gave a nonchalant shrug but he knew better.

"Ashley never apologised and she just walked up to me and acted like it never happened." Sienna told him.

"I don't know what to say. To be honest if it were me, I'd walk away until I got an apology." Mike told her, though he knew he shouldn't set the bar for her.

"Yeah, I just don't have a lot friends." Sienna pointed out, proving the apple did not fall far from the tree in that respect.

"Friends come and go. Those who stick around and show up when it matters and treat you with respect are the ones to hold onto." he said as he didn't want her to be a doormat for the sake of being 'popular' or 'included'.

"So basically I'll be a loser." Sienna said plainly.

"You're not a loser." Mike assured her. He tried not laugh while she rolled her eyes at him and shook her head as if to say he didn't understand.

"I'm ok Dad, is there something else?" she asked him as majority of her focus was on her books.

"Yeah, I wanted to know how you felt about Mia's idea for Beth's birthday." Mike said.

"I'm happy with it. I think Beth will love it." Sienna told him with a closed lip smile.

"I'd also like Kaito to call Beth 'Mom' when he starts building his vocabulary." Mike told her, he thought it was best to see how Sienna and Mia would take it. He knew Mia would be fine but Sienna was a bit of a wild card.

"Ok." Sienna said with another shrug as she clearly didn't mind at all which was a relief.

"Now, I'm not suggesting you gotta call Beth 'Mom' too. I just want you to be aware and have the chance to talk about it." Mike told her, Sienna nodded taking in his words.

"I don't mind Kaito calling Beth 'Mom'. She is his Mom and he totally loves her; so why not? and I get it that she's not replacing our Mom, so you don't have to worry. Beth also talked to me about it too. You know, her not trying to be my Mom and she's totally cool with me not calling her 'Mom'. And Beth is family no matter what, she doesn't need a label to fit in." Sienna told him.

"Oh, ok." Mike said as he had prepared himself for a bit more a fight.

"Unless you want me to call her 'Mom'?" Sienna asked.

"No, it's entirely your choice." Mike said, he knew Beth didn't mind if the girls or Kaito called her 'Mom' or not. It was something he just liked to address before it was more of a reality.

"Cool, though I think Mia wants to call her 'Mom' now." Sienna informed him.

"Does it upset you?" Mike asked her.

"It would if Mia had forgotten Mom but she hasn't, and Mia just wants us to be a real family where everyone has a role. Beth is our 'second' Mommy." Sienna said with amusement as she used her fingers to make air quotations for 'second'.

"Mia like structure, it makes her feel safe and comfortable." Mike explained but he did have to smile at the distinctions being made.

"Yeah, I get that." Sienna said with a nod of appreciation.

"You know if there's anything you want to talk about. You can talk to me." he told her.

"I know." Sienna replied before her expression grew serious. "But it was my fault." she told him, Mike frowned.

"What was?" he asked a little lost in the discussion.

"Ashley, she really hates the idea of triplets coming into her life and I tried to convince her it would be cool. I just didn't let it go." Sienna explained with a reluctant sigh but it was clearly bothering her to not talk about it.

"Your intentions were good but you're not at fault for what she said. She could've changed the topic or asked you not to talk about it."

"Yeah, I don't get it. She's really lucky and she just doesn't see it. She wasn't in the factories and like yeah her mom died from red flu and her grandpa was killed in front of her but I saw loads of people get hurt and die, I saw a woman kill her own baby to make it quiet-" Sienna stopped and looked away, she looked so haunted and older than her years. "She's complaining about babies ruining her life, every life is precious and they shouldn't be wasted if they don't need to be." she told Mike.

"I completely agree." Mike said, his heart broken hearing his daughter's confession and how he hadn't been able to shelter her from the dark side of humanity.

"I wouldn't be mad if you and Beth had a baby." Sienna told him in a matter of fact tone.

"I don't know if that's in the cards." he said as it hadn't been discussed and he didn't want to get Sienna or Mia's hopes up for something that may not happen.

"Well, whatever, I just want us all to be happy." Sienna told him, tears ran down her face "As I'm so tired of being sad and angry." she added, Mike moved to the bed and pulled her into a hug.

"I know what you mean." he said before he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. "But I think Beth, Kaito and I are pretty happy. Mia will be happy once she feels better about today and that leaves you, so what would make you happy?" he asked her, he felt her tears dampen his shirt.

"I don't know." Sienna told him quietly.

"Well, give it time and maybe you'll feel better. If you don't and you know what will help you. Let me know." he told her, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head as she nodded. "I'll let you get back to your books. I love you." he added.

"Yeah, love you, Dad." Sienna said, he reluctantly released her and rose from the bed. She gave him a watery smile.

"Don't study too late." he told her.

"I won't." Sienna promised, he gave a nod and left her to her studies before he headed to his and Beth's bedroom.

He walked into the room to find Beth leaning on the railing of Kaito's cot; watching him sleep. She wore her usual Pjs of his t-shirt and 3/4 tights with her hair loose. She wore a serene smile on her face. He closed the door and moved behind her, he slipped his arms around her waist and gently pulled her close.

"I just love watching him sleep. He looks so happy." Beth told him in a low and content tone.

"Yeah, he does." Mike said as he looked down at Kaito. He loved kids as they seemed to make everything seem special and wondrous.

"How was Mia?" Beth asked.

"She's going to be ok. You going to be ok with her at home?" he asked her.

"Yeah, Mia felt that suspension wasn't punishment enough. So she's going to change Kaito's diapers for the week." Beth said turning around in his arms to face him.

"Really?" he asked with amusement as he didn't remember agreeing to that punishment. He figured Mia was doing enough of a job on that to not need him to reinforce it.

"I'll supervise, she'll need the life skill as a future babysitter for the triplets. I don't want to punish her. She knows what she did is wrong but she feels this need to be punished. She suggested diaper changing and what punishment can we give her when we don't want to punish her?" Beth asked him honestly, she was right.

"I know, I guess it's not a bad idea." Mike conceded.

"She's a really good kid." Beth told him.

"She is." Mike agreed.

"How do you think Sienna is going?" Beth asked him.

"I don't know, she's a bit of mixed bag at the moment." Mike replied honestly, he just hoped Sienna pulled through on her own but they were here for when she needed them.

"I tried talking to her but I don't think it went well." Beth told him.

"Same, but I think she'll be ok in time." Mike assured her.

"I hope so. I just want everyone to be happy." Beth said, a sentiment they all shared and wanted for the family.

"We are. This is just a minor bump." Mike assured her, he was glad that as bumps went this one didn't feel too bad. He hoped it was the worst they'd face.

"Why do I feel like you found another bump?" She asked him with amusement as she was trying to keep things light and nice.

"I was wondering with Sasha being pregnant, if that was something you wanted. A baby of your own." he said, he cringed at his wording as he really didn't know how to broach the subject. Beth made a face clearly showing that she gave it a lot of thought but didn't really have the urgency or desire for a baby that he remembered Christine having when they discussed having kids.

"Would it be terrible of me, if I told you I'm really happy with the three kids we have?" Beth asked him, she looked up at with a worried expression and nervously gripped onto his shirt with her hands as if she thought were giving the wrong answer when it was possibly the most perfect answer.

"No, I just don't want to deny you something I can give you." Mike told her, if she wanted a baby that was theirs then he'd think seriously about it. But he liked how she claimed his kids as her own even if it was unofficially.

"You've given me more than I ever dreamed of. I got a family with three beautiful kids and a man I love who loves me back. I want for nothing but if you want another child. I'm open to it, just know I'm very happy with the family we have." Beth confessed, Mike couldn't help but love her all the more for her answer.

"I love you." he said not able to help himself, she smiled a mixture of joy and relief.

"I love you too and I remember you telling me that you'd kiss me like crazy at one point." she reminded him a little shyly, a slow smile crossed his lips as he lowered his head, he bypassed her lips and pressed his mouth to the hollow of her throat.

Beneath his lips, he could feel her pulse racing, and he touched his tongue to the special spot that made her gasp and melt. At her gasp of pleasure, he made his slow way along her jaw, over warm, soft skin to her ear. When he finally lifted his face to hers, her eyes were slightly dazed with pleasure.

He then kissed her, and kissed her again, her whimper for more going straight through him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she was kissing him, an all-consuming, earthy, raw kiss, and he was a goner. He groaned into her mouth at the pleasure of her touch, at the rush of heat, at the anticipation that swam through him. He pulled her tightly against him and walked them back towards the bed.