January, after Christmas break. Twins are 13, Glenn is 8, Drew is 15


Slowly Lauren walked through the school. She checked her phone again but knew it was hopeless. The last text she had received from Kenny was in December for her thirteenth birthday. Now it was after Christmas break and she had texted him to wish him a happy new year, but even to that she hadn't gotten anything back. It made her hopeless and she knew she was desperate for still following him, while he had a girlfriend, whom was 15, just like him. Unfortunately it had cost their friendship as he didn't have time for her anymore. Aiden opened his locked beside her and threw his books in his locker, smashing it shut again.

''All these tests, all this homework, it is driving me crazy!'' He said angry as he didn't want to make homework, he wanted to sport but last week he had to skip a soccer training from his dad because Lauren had ratted out that he had homework and his dad was so strict when it came to homework. He knew it was for his future but he could just not understand how this boring classes where going to prepare him for real life. As if he would ever need these things again. Lauren on the other hand loved homework, or at least she enjoyed doing them. She could sit at the kitchen table and could even have hour long discussions with Glenn about topics Aiden himself didn't care about. He couldn't even care less about.

The bell rang and they walked to their first classroom.

At the Casey residence Gabby brought a bowl of soup Drew, who was on the couch, snotty and sick. He stayed at home today as he was still sick and Matt was walking around the kitchen.

''Why do you keep walking in my way, sweety?'' Gabby asked as she pushed him away from the stove as she had to be there, but Matt kept standing in the way.

''Nothing, I just love you being so passionate about lunch.'' He said as he laid his arm around her and kissed her on her cheek with a smile as she was preparing the potatoes and chicken for dinner. Gabby smirked and let him taste a little of the marinated Chicken and potatoes.

''Mmm, that's great.'' He said as he kissed her and she gave him a short smile. Matt was worried as she seemed a little distant lately.

''Something wrong?'' He asked worried as he stole another piece of potatoe from the pan and leaned against the counter but she shook her head, assured him nothing was wrong. He just brushed it off as he didn't want to make her upset and walked to the living room.

''Hey buddy, still not feeling well?'' He asked Drew as he looked at the flushed boy, curled up under his fire truck blanket on the couch and he shook his head with a pout.

''Daddy, can I have hot chocolate?'' He asked then, sniffy and Matt stood up and walked ot the kitchen.

''Do we have some milk and cocoa powder?'' Matt asked as he wanted to give the boy what he wanted because of the pout and the sad face and Gabby shook her head.

''Guess I am going to the shop, do you need anything for dinner or something else?''

Gabby shook her head but frowned then; ''Are you going to give the kids everything they want now?''

Matt shrugged. ''He got my puppy face, just saying. I can't resist that.''

Gabby nodded with a smile and he walked to the shop down the street, buying a gallon of milk and cocoa powder.

''Kids got their will again?'' The woman behind the counter smirked.

''Yes, one is sick so better give him what he wants before he makes even more drama than snotty nappy's.'' Matt said as he handed her the money and the woman laughed.

''Tell me something, they can make some drama when they are sick.''

Matt nodded as Drew had been acting like he had been dying for the past few days. He was a master of drama and no family member would miss when he blew his nose or coughed.

''But he is so sad because he is the youngest, so mommy and daddy don't really fall for his drama anymore...but I don't think the cocoa and milk proves that.'' Matt said with a smile and he walked out of the small shop and back home, where he prepared a mug for drew and for himself and sat down next to Drew, watched the kids show with him as Gabby was doing the laundry. He should have been constructing today but it was way too cold to work on a shed outside and he wanted to help her around the house but she didn't let him.

''I feel so much better now.'' Drew sighed as he took a sip and looked at Matt with a chocolate moustache from the drink.

''I bet, buddy. Time to go back to school tomorrow.''

''No way.'' Drew coughed then, overly dramatic.

After lunch and playing a board game with the three of them in the living room as Drew was bored Gabby went to pick up the other kids. The roads were still snowed and her phone shook in her pocket.

''Hey Gabriela, it's Cindy. Our car broke down because of the cold and of course Christopher has no idea how to fix it. Can you pick up Kenny, maybe?''

''Sure.'' Gabby answered, trying not to imagine CIndy and Christopher bickering by the minivan and she drove to the school, picking the twins up and to the building next to it, to pick Kenny up.

Lauren looked surprised as he got in the car and he smiled at her.

''Hey, how are you doing?'' He asked and Lauren blushed. ''I am okay.''

''Sorry I didn't reply your text, my phone is broken but I will get a new one today.'' He told her and she smiled, so glad it was not her fault.

That night the kids and their parents were sitting at the big sofa, all with a glass of hot chocolate and all together as it was so cold. There were watching a movie as it was friday night and Aiden was sad as he gotten an F on his test, but he didn't dare to tell his parents. As they all went to bed he doubted if they should tell them but he didn't dare too. Then it was too late as they all went to bed.

Lauren laind in bed when her phone suddenly gave a beep and she took it, checked the message from Kenny.

'Laurie! You want to go ice skating in the park tomorrow?'

With a smile she replied a yes and went to bed with a smile that was not going to dissapear from her face soon.

Aiden felt guilty about not telling his parents about the F. Why was he so bad at school!?

In the parental bedroom, Gabby also had her worries.

''Do you think I am still pretty?'' Gabby asked worried as she undressed as they were ready to go to bed and Matt looked at her, worried.

''Why wouldn't you still be pretty, you are gorgeous, Gabby.''

Gabby looked down, sad. ''I am getting older, Matt.''

Matt walked around the bed and pulled her in his arms, kissing her on her forehead. He thought she was the most pretty woman that was to be found in Chicago and he felt bad that she felt like this about herself. She was beautiful, pretty and he didn't care she was getting older, so was she. That she was getting older did not mean that she was getting any less beautiful.

''There are lines under my eyes.'' She complained.

''That is because of your pretty laugh and you laugh so much.'' Matt said as he kissed her again. ''We are getting older and that is okay, becaus eit means that we are still together. You are the most pretty woman of Chicago and nothing will ever change that. I love you.''


NOTE: Aww, Gabby is worried about her looks now she is gettig older, but Matt wiped her worried away. Lauren and Kenny are talking again but Aiden is getting worse at school.

Sorry for the long time no update, have some other stories I am working on right now. Thank you so much for still following and reading though I an hope you liked it and please leave a review with what you thought! Please do also tell me what you still want to see because except for the main storylines I am running a little bit out of ideas for one shots so please do tell me what you want to see!