So Lightning took Colton and Landon while Ece went shopping with Sally. Lightning still was a little miffed at the fact that Sally didn't trust him with HIS kids. It hurt and she had no right in his eyes. Lightning took Colton and Landon out for a walk down the street and to the entrance of the beach. Landon was in a small stroller while Colton walked next to his Dad and whined "How much further?" Lightning smiled down to his son answering "Not far. Stay with me though okay? Don't step in the road." He warned as they walked on the sidewalk.
Colton was quiet for a moment then looked up asking "Do you like Mama?" Lightning snickered. "Of course I like Mama." He chuckled. Colton's brows lowered "But you always working." Lightning stopped and knelt down to his son saying "And that's going to change. You hear me kid?" Colton nodded, but looked as if he thought he was in trouble or depressed. That kind of hurt to see in Colton's face. Lightning sighed and thought for a moment. "Mommy and I just.." "Are divorced?" Asked Colton. Lightning's brows lowered "How do you even know that word?" He asked his son. Colton shrugged saying "Well grandpa says that." Lightning glared mumbling "I'll bet he did..." "He says a lot!" Colton added!
Lightning stood up and they all continued on as he asked "What else does Grandpa say?" Colton looked up smiling. "Well, he says that you are lazy and a bad guy. I don't think so. Just work alot." He answered. Lightning sighed and pulled his son closer, against his leg. "I'm sorry for that Colt.." "It's okay I guess.." "You're getting way to big." Lightning chuckled. Colton nodded saying "One day I'm gonna be big as you. Bigger than you! Like big big!" "Oh I bet champ." "Dad?" "Hmm?" "What is a?.. Divorce?" Colton asked.
Lightning frowned having to think about that. Not what a divorce was, but how to answer. Sally would probably kill him if he told the truth, but he didn't want to lie to his son. Or was lying about that appropriate at his age? Lightning was clueless here. "Well.. uh.. See a divorce is... When two people that love each other a lot decide... Decide they want to... Love other people?.. No, wait.. That's not it." Colton was giving his Dad a weird look, listening as Lightning muttered on. "It's when two people that love eachother use to live each other, but.. Now they want to love someone else... Like uh.." "You sound conflicted.." Colton spoke. Lightning stared down at his son with wide eyes. "That's a big word." He blurted. Colton smiled proudly, explaining "Grandpa taught it to me. He's been teaching me to speak properly he says." Lightning sighed.
Maybe Carson was spending a bit to much time with the kids. Colton continued talking about what all Grandpa Carson had been teaching him and saying as they walked towards the entrance. Landon in the stroller, sipping some juice out of a spill proof cup. Lightning noticed someone in the road. A woman who looked to be picking up some things she dropped from a few shopping bags. Whatever, minding his own, he moved along with the kids. Colton looked at the woman and asked hia father "Should we help her? Mama says we should help those in need." Lightning snickered saying "That's something you should do more. Listening to your Mother, not Car-um Grandpa as much." Lightning noticed a little white sports car speeding up ahead. He glanced back at the woman and shouted "Hey lady! Car coming!" Lightning and the kids stared at her.
She didn't even acknowledge his warning. Lightning looked back and car was still coming. Back to the woman, "Lady! Car!?" Still, the woman didn't acknowledge him at all. Lightning glanced back at the car that swerved a bit then grabbed Colton's shoulders and said "Hold onto this, (stroller) Don't move." Then ran over to the woman shouting "Move!" Nothing. Wow. The car coming Lightning grabbed the woman's arm and yanked her back to the side walk hard and against him as the car sped by!
The woman pushed away from Lightning then removed some dumb, white air pods from her ears. "Oh my gosh... Thank you!.. I.. I didn't even see them." "Yeah, or hear me warning you over and over. Maybe pay a bit more attention to your surroundings.." he growled and began walking back to his boys. The woman grabbed her couple bags and ran over to Lightning saying "I should thank you." She said. Lightning pushed Colton along, grabbing the stroller and replied "No, no. No thanks necessary.." "Well.. Okay. Are those your boys?" She asked. Lightning stopped and sighed answering "No, I found them and now I'm trying to find their Mother." Colton raised a brow and looked up at his Dad as he didn't get the joke or sarcasm there.
The woman glared saying "You know you're not that funny." Lightning snickered saying "Yeah, kind of the point.. Come on, let's go." Lightning said as he gently pushed his son to continue down to the beach...
The boys played and buried shells and rocks and each other a bit in the sand whle Lightning sat and watched them. He should check on Cruz, he thought to himself. He did fall asleep on her last night with the phone. Was't on purpose or anything. He was just tired. Lightning glanced at the boys once more before taking out his phone and pulling up Cruz's name and calling.
Hey.
"Hey. Sorry about the.. Other night.. I didn't mean to fall asleep like I did."
It's fine. You were tired. How is it in California?
"Um.." Staring at his boys laughing and throwing sand. "Something's missing."
Like?.. What? What do you mean something is missing?
"I don't know really.. I have the boys right now anyway and.. Hold on.. Stop throwing sand at your brother please!"
Cruz giggled slightly.
Did I ever tell you how having kids made you even sexier?
Lightning snickered. "No."
Well they do-you do, I mean.
"How are you doing Cruz?"
So far today is going well. Little more tired than usual, but that's probably from the lack of sleep from being up all night sick.
"Sorry I couldn't be there.."
I totally understand Lightning. Your kids come first. And I hope it's that way with our little girl.
"I haven't old my kids yet.. I'm not sure how.."
Um.. When do you want to tell them? Do they even know me really?
Lightning didn't answer. No, his kids didn't know Cruz. They should though. That really got Lightning thinking.. "No, but.. That gives me an idea. Because really you will be a part of my life and theirs. We should start doing something about that once I get Sally to actually let me have them again..."
Wait.. Is she keeping them from you?
"Sort of.. Not really and yes at the same time. She doesn't trust me... Think it's mostly because of the drugs.."
Well how did she know about that?
"Um.. Doctor visit and a drug test.."
Sheesh.. Well something like this happened to one of my gal pals way back in middle school. Her Mother wouldn't let their Father have them over for whatever reason and they were still married and on the verge of divorce and-"I'm not on the verge of divorce, Cruz." Lightning snapped!
Sorry.. I just assumed.. never mind. Look, if you are still married to her, she can't do that. You can take her to court over it though.
Lightning sighed. He really didn't want to take Sally to court over custody in a marriage. "Yeah.. I don't know.."
We still have to come up with a name by the way.
"I know.. Please no Diamond or whatever it was I said. I honestly can't even remember."
OH! We could do like my name and your name combined!
"What?"
Yeah! She could be... Ligh.. Um.. Well.. Guess you are Monty. So-OH! Montez? I mean it's not exact, but it's pretty cute. Montez McQueen. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
"Yeah, that's not bad. Hey, I gotta go... Kid thing, but I'll call you later about an idea I have, bye." He hung up and stood up and shouted at Colton, "Where's your brother?!" Colton looked at his Dad and smiled all goofy like answering "I buried him." Oh the fear that hit...
Sally got to the house and found an ambulance and cops as she parked the car. Ece looked out the window asking "What's that Mama?" "Um.. I don't know.." She got out and grabbed Ece, carrying her into the house. She found the emt looking over Landon who was just covered in sand and had an oxygyn mask on and Colton saw Sally and ran to her saying "MOMMY! I"- Lightning's hand stopped the kid from bragging about this event.
Sally's brows lowered as she asked "What the hell happened?" Landon saw his Mother and began crying hard and reaching for her and screaming her name "Mama...! Mommy!.." Sally gave Lightning the most I'm going to kill you look ever and put Ece down then ran to Landon, telling the emt that she was his Mother. She held Landon close in her lap and the boy cried as he held onto his Mother tightly. "What happened?" Sally asked. Lightning tried explaining "We went to the beach and I"-"NOT YOU! I'm asking the medics!" She was pissed.
Lightning stepped back and let the medic explain that Landon was burried in the sand by his brother and he was more scared than hurt. "He'll be fine though. Everthing is fine. He's a healthy little boy. Luckily Dad here was quick to act and called us." Sally glared at Lightning snarling "Not quick enough.." Very, very pissed.
The medic cleaned up, finished making sure that Landon was okay, packed up and left. Lightning knew that meant the fight was about to start. He wouldn't get a say, he could never be right and he would not have a chance to win anything.
Sally looked at Lightning asking "What the hell is wrong with you?" "It was an accident Sally." "Accident!? How does Colton find the time to bury his brother to the point you lost him!? What were you doing? Were you asleep!?" She yelled to his face. Lightning sighed answering "No.. I was .. On the phone for like a second." "THE PHONE!? AT the beach!? Besides getting buried alive, he could have drowned!" She reminded! Lightning nodded saying "I know I messed up, okay.. I just"-"Making excuses for yourself Lightning! I'm tired of it! You could have killed our son!" She yelled. Lightning nodded and apologized again. He wasn't even going to try and fight. He had no fight in him and felt bad enough and was already a broken spirit inside.
Sally took a deep breath then took Landon up in her arms and said "Let's get home and get you cleaned up then some dinner in that tummy? Okay?" she asked. Landon nodded and leaned on his Mother. "You have had a rough day little one. Don't worry.. It won't happen again.." She warned, sending Lightning a pretty mean and serious look. Lightning stared down to the floor. Now more than ever would Sally never trust him with the children, his children. Part of him didn't trust himself after this one. How could he take his eyes off for one second and this happen? And when sally got home and talked to Carson about this ordeal.. Og god.. Carson was a good lawyer. He'd find ways to make sure Sally got full custody easily.
Colton tugged on his Father's shirt and said "I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to hurt him.." Lightning sighed and replied. "He's okay.. Just.. You..." How was he suppose to punich and or even explain this to Colton. He was so young and those eyes. Gah those little sparkling puppy dog blue eyes. "It's okay.. Come here." He knelt down and hugged his son warmly. Knowing very well this might be one of the last with Sally or Carson stepping in. "I love you Buddy.." Lightning cooed. Colton held his Father tightly and replied "I love you Daddy.." Those words will hit you to. Nothing like hearing your child say that at such an age.
Sally stood there watching and thinking. She didn't want to take the kids away, but drugs and Cruz, Cleo and now this.. Things were really messed up with Lightning right now. She walked out and spoke to her son first. "Colton, why don't you go get your shoes on so we can head back to Grandpas." Colton stomped and snapped "NO! I don't want to go to Grandpas!" "Colton"-"NO!" "GO!" Sally ordered and pointed her finger. "Go get your shoes on so we can go back and get your brother a bath and so I can speak to your Father again." She was serius and firm! Colton was stubborn and stomped his foot again, screaming "NO! I don't want to go! You send Daddy away every time! I don't want him to go! I want Daddy!" "Colton! I don't care what you want! I said it's time to go!" Sally shouted! Colton hid behind his Father's leg and yelled "NO! I HATE YOU! I WANT DAD!" This caused Lightning and Sally to just stare at each other.
"See what you are doing!?" Sally yelled at Lightning! "ME!? You can not be blaming this on me!?" Yelled Lightning! "WHO ELSE HAS MADE MY SON HATE ME!?" She snapped back! Lightning growling "OUR SON! AND I NEVER TOLD HIM TO HATE YOU! BUT HE'S RIGHT! You keep making me leave! YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING THAT!" "Oh I can and I will until you are you again!" Sally yelled! "DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF!? That doesn't even make sense! I am ME. I am here! I'm standing right in front of you Sally! ME! It was a fucking figure of speak when I said I'm not myself! I just meant I don't know what to do anymore!" "Race!" Sally announced! Lightning just growled loudly. He was a bit frustrated, already stressed and hurt and afraid and whiny sounding a little to. Sally sighed and stared at her husband then down at her son who was still hiding behind him.
"Get your shoes and let's go Colton." "But Mom"-"Now." Sally was firm and not changing her mind. Lightning looked down at olton saying "Go on.. Listen to your Mother.. I'll see later sport." Colton moped out. Very angry, hurt, upset. Once he was gone Lightning snapped "You ever come between me and my son, my children again and you will have to deal with me legally." "Excuse me?" Sally asked rudely. "You heard me. Time for this to stop. Whatever stupid thing I have done to make you hate my guts all over again, is between you and me! DO NOT bring the kids into this!' Lightning snarled. Sally's eyes widened. "I never did, never wanted to at least! I have no choice! You are never around!" "Because of you!" Yelled Lightning.
Sally sighed and rubbed her head. Such a head ache happening. "You can't keep me from OUR kids Sally. And honestly, I'm at the point where I don't even care if we are over, if we divorced! Because at this point in our... WHATEVER this is!? I hate it! I hate it so dam much because I tried so hard for you! I tried everything I could to get you back including putting my academy on the side lines for you! I put EVERYTHING I AM on the side FOR YOU! And all you can say is that I'm not me anymore!? I Agree! I had to change and adapt to you! I had to be a stanger for you just to get you to see me again last time! And I think it's because you aren't YOU anymore either Sally!"
Sally stood there. Not sure what else to say really. "Okay. Maybe we just need more space.." She whispered. "NO! NO, that's the last thing we need right now!" Shouted Lightning. "I'm tired of working and always being gone! I am YOUR HUSBAND and I am STAYING! You can not keep pushing me away and expect things to just ease back to normal." He explained. "But.. Your'e"-"NOT ME! I know! YOu won't shut up about that!." He yelled and then fell silent. Both were just so stressed out by the day and everything, plus.. The kids, all three stood in the corner to the side now listening and snooping.
"I should really get the kids home.." Sally muttered. Lightning nodded replying. "Yeah.. Go on kids.. Come give me hugs." He knelt down and opened his arms to each kid. Ece, then Landon, then Colton last. Colton really didn't want to leave his Father and was very angry with his Mother right now and would probably give her trouble getting into the car seat and bed.
Lightning stood back up and he and Sally stared at each other. "Night Lightning.." Sally mumbled. Lightning glared at her a bit replying "Night Sally. Thanks for the place to sleep." "Sure, whatever.." And she left...
so this would have been the rest of the prior chapter had I had the energy to write the rest! hope you all enjoy. and thanks Laika and Aa for reviewing most every chapter and it means a lot!!! thanks guys!