Chapter 3

It was Sunday and Mom and Dad left me in charge of Jesse and Justice. Gwen and Kevin left me in charge of Genesis. I was in the middle of doing some school work when I heard Jesse and Justice arguing. Genesis was trying her best to quiet them down. Charlie was at work and Bryan was down for a nap.

I tried to continue reading. However, my eyes continued to read the same sentence over and over and over again. I have two years left before I get my master's in education and I try my hardest each week to make sure my scores are at least a B or better. I wasn't about to let my brothers mess that up. I groaned and slammed my book. I entered the living room where my brothers and Genesis were having their loud discussion.

"Jesse, Justice, do you mind?!" I said sternly. "Seriously, I've got lots of work to do and Bryan is trying to take his nap, can you please stop fighting!"

"I tried to tell them." Genesis said after.

"Thanks Gen...now what is it you two are fighting about...you're brother's for pete's sake."

"Jesse started it-" Justice began.

"Start nothing, you're the one who got all mad!" Jesse said after.

"I don't care who started it...just please come to an agreement."

"We can't." Justice told me.

"Why not?"

"Because there is this girl at school okay her name is Tabitha...but everyone calls her Tabby." Justice began to explain.

"Short version please."

"Anyway...I think Tabby is hot but she didn't ask me out, she asked Jesse, and Jesse doesn't even like her..."

"And that's Jesse's fault? Look Justice, if you like her so much why don't you talk to her, and Jesse if you don't like her you need to tell her...and if she ends up not going out with either of you forget it...okay?"

Justice scoffed.

"Okay?!" I repeated.

"Okay..."

"Good...now be quiet for about an hour or so."

I then left them to continue studying. About 11:30 Charlie came home. I was in the middle of preparing lunch for everyone when Jesse and Justice started to fight again. Only this time they were at each other's throats. I had Bryan on my hip and hot dogs in boiling water. I heard Jesse yell.

"Stop it!" I heard Genesis scream.

Charlie and I met at the living room entry way to find Justice on top of Jesse.

"Call her back!" Justice yelled violently.

"No!" Jesse yelled back. "And let go of my hair!"

"Guys!" I screamed. I gave Bryan to Genesis. Charlie grabbed Justice up by his arms and I grabbed Jesse. Justice was still trying to kick him.

"Justice!" Charlie hollered.

"Knock it off both of you!" I yelled.

"Justice calm down!" Charlie shouted and grunted as he tried to hold onto him.

"He told Tabby that neither of us liked her!" Justice screamed. "Let go of me!"

He squirmed and fought in Charlie's arms.

"Not until you calm-" Charlie grunted and let go of Justice.

"Charlie..." I breathed. I slowly let go of Jesse. Seeing Charlie double over in pain made my brothers freeze. I quickly grabbed Charlie's arm. He slowly stood up and held his stomach.

"Charlie...Charlie are you okay?"

"Yeah...Yeah I'm fine..."

Jesse and Justice exchanged glances and started to leave the room.

"Stop!" I shouted.

They stopped in their tracks.

"What happened babe?"

Charlie raised his shirt up and I saw his insulin pump.

"Justice...he mashed on it...but it's okay I'm alright."

I sighed heavily and glared at them. Everyone ate lunch in silence.

"Charlie..." Justice finally said softly. "I'm really sorry."

"That's alright...but I don't think I'm the one you need to apologize too."

His eyes shifted to Jesse. I fed Bryan in his high chair and watched as Jesse got up and left the table. Justice didn't follow him.

"I'll go talk to him." Genesis replied sweetly.

I nodded. It grew quiet again after she left. Charlie sighed.

"Justice I'm not your dad...and I've never had a brother or a sister...but as your brother-in-law you owe it to your brother to hear him out...and it's stupid of the two of you to fight over something like a girl."

"But Harmione met you when she was my age...and you're married and have a kid and stuff; I just thought Tabby really was the girl for me and Jesse ruined it...he's always ruining things."

"I got lucky when I found your sister...she got lucky...I don't know if Tabby was the girl for you or not, but I know one thing for certain; and it's that Jesse loves you...and at the end of everyday it's always gonna be you and him. No matter what."

I smiled as Charlie spoke.

"I'm sure whatever he told her; he didn't mean to tell her on purpose."

"Yeah...I guess you're right Charlie... did I hurt your stomach really bad?"

"No...and I know you didn't hurt me on purpose...I think you should talk to Jesse."

Justice nodded and left the table. Charlie sighed. I contiued to feed Bryan. Bryan cooed at me.

"Is that good baby?"

For Bryan's lunch I fed him canned salmon mixed with mayo, greek yogurt, and dijon mustard. I also gave him some Triscuits. Dana said that she used to feed it to Charlie. Bryan seemed to like it, he just smiled and placed his hands on the plate. He despite the turmoil didn't seem bothered by the high emotions of the house. After his lunch I took him in the living room to play. Charlie followed us and lied down on the couch. Before too long Charlie was asleep. I'd thank him later for his advice and strong love toward my brothers. Even though they were teens, after dinner I told everyone they had to be in bed by 9:30. I didn't want to mess up the morning when I dropped them off for school. Genesis slept on a pull out bed on the couch. My brothers in our guest bedroom. As long as they are with me I'll have them switch out every other night to keep it fair. Meanwhile Bryan has his own room, and Charlie and I the master bedroom. I overheard Jesse tell Justice that Tabby assumed they didn't like her when he turned down their date. He couldn't get a word in, and was unable to speak. They made up and even played video games with each other until bedtime.

It was all like having a huge family to me. I'm sure Charlie and I will have more kids in the future so being with Genesis and my brothers was good practice.

I sat up in bed reading when Charlie entered. He slowly laid down next to me and covered up. I just smiled. As the night carried on, I accidently fell asleep with the book on my chest. About three in the morning I heard Bryan squeal. Charlie heard it too. He and I kicked our covers off as fast as we could. We entered Bryan's room and Charlie got the lights.

Bryan was standing up in his crib crying, bouncing up and down and holding onto the railing.

"Mama!" He screamed.

"Oh come here...what's wrong baby?" I prompted softly. Bryan's sheets were soaked. His pull up diaper full.

"Poor baby."

I took him to the changing table and began to clean him. Charlie tended to his bed and got Bryan some fresh bedding. I wasn't happy he wet the bed, but I'll take that over Albedo and Vilgax any day of the week.

The next morning I took Genesis, Justice, and Jesse to school respectively. Bryan then helped me run errands while Charlie went to work. I carried Bryan on my hip as I entered Bellwood City Light and Water to drop off some bills. As I walked in a man about my age entered. We had to stand in line near each other. I smiled shyly at him. He looked familiar.

"That's a cute boy you have there." He said.

"Thank you."

"What's his name?"

"Bryan." I replied.

The man beamed a smile.

"Nice name."

"I'm Franz Lovelace of Lovelace Industries.

I had heard of Lovelace Industries, they were comprised of businesses that sell goods and services in electronics, software, computers, artificial intelligence, and other industries related to information technology. I heard once that the Lovelace net worth is close to 1.6 million. I wondered what he was doing here. I'm sure they have servants to pay bills for their servants.

"What are you doing here Mr. Lovelace?"

"Please call me Franz... and I was hoping to hook up a system here to do things digitally...this place is so outdated...so in short business."

"Oh...well then let me get out of your way."

"You're fine um..."

"Harmione...Harmione LeMay."

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. LeMay...where's Mr. LeMay? He couldn't watch junior here while you pay the bills?"

"At work...and I don't mind bringing Bryan with me."

"Well if you don't mind, my family and I are hosting a gala this weekend, would you and your husband like to come?"

"I...I don't think we can."

"I'll bet you've never even been to a gala, fancy dresses, cocktails...and it's on a boat."

"Thank you...it sounds wonderful but that's alright."

"Come on...it'll be a lot of fun, and we even have a nursery for Bryan...just a drink and a chance to enjoy the good life."

"I already have a good life, thank you though."

"Harmione..."

"I said no, Franz."

"Well...I suppose when the little lady means no...she means no...It'll be down by the pier if you change your mind."

Franz turned and left. I glared at him as he did. Later that afternoon I was folding clothes back at the house. Bryan was in the living room playing with his toys.

"Ball!" He screamed.

"Yes Bryan, that is a ball!"

Bryan giggled and rolled the ball along the floor. I smiled. Just then my phone rang.

"Hello?"

I put the phone between my cheek and my shoulder as continued my laundry.

"Speaking...who is this?"

I was struck with static and dead air on the other side.

"Hello?" I said again. "Hello!"

I scoffed and hung up. Bryan crawled over to the door. Charlie was home.

"Back up baby, Daddy's coming in...Bryan get away from the door sweetie."

Charlie opened the door slightly and picked up Bryan in the process.

"Dada!" Bryan cried.

"Hey son...Har."

"Hey."

Bryan giggled and smiled brightly at Charlie.

"Da duh, duh Mmmm muh!" Bryan cooed and drool left his mouth.

"What?" Charlie asked him. "What's up little man?"

Charlie then bent down and gave Bryan his favorite set of toy keys.

"You like those things?"

Bryan shook them in Charlie's face and dropped them.

"Uh-oh." Charlie exclaimed.

"Uh-oh!" Bryan said loudly.

Charlie and I laughed.

"That's right...uh-oh!" Charlie breathed and picked up the keys.

Bryan blew a raspberry.

"Eww, you nasty why you spitting for huh?"

Bryan blew another raspberry and giggled.

"Eww!" Charlie teased. "Here let's go spit on Mommy.

"Nope, nope leave me out of it!"

Charlie put Bryan down on the ground and held his hands.

"You gonna walk to Mommy, well go ahead...go on Bryan." Charlie told him. "Won't be much longer and he'll be walking."

"Yeah I know... and running and falling and all kind of stuff."

I looked at my phone.

"Oh it's time to pick up the kids, and I'm working the graveyard shift tonight...can you-"

"Don't worry Harmione...everyone will be okay until you get back."

"Okay..."

I took Charlie's word for it. The pizza place didn't really have a graveyard shift, but I did have to work the dinner rush. We normally didn't have a lot of customers but on this particular night we did. We served everyone until nine that night. While I was at work all I could think about was my baby. I then remember the conversation I had with Franz Lovelace and the mysterious phone call I recieved later in the day. Things didn't seem right to me. In the pit of my gut my anxiety began to act up. I'm sure it was nothing but my nerves got the better of me. I accidently spilled soda on another waitress.

Around 9:30, I helped close up the parlor and headed for home. In the rearview mirror of my car, I kept seeing headlights as if someone was following me. Just when I thought they might rear end me, they turned down another exit. I breathed heavily.

"Get a grip Har...everything's... okay?" I questioned as I turned down our street. My breathe got caught in my throat. There were cop cars and an ambulance in front of my house.

"Oh my God!"

I parked a few houses down and ran over to the scene.

"Excuse me, sorry excuse me that's my house!"

A police officer stopped me.

"I'm sorry mam you can't go in there."

"I live here!"

"I'm sorry this is a crime scene and is now under investigation."

"Crime, investigation, what are you talking about, what happened to the people inside the house?!"

"3 kids and a man?"

"Yes!"

"They were taken downtown for questioning."

"And the baby?"

"I'm afraid that's the crime mam...a man called said the child was missing from his crib...we suspect a kidnapping possible theft, we're looking into it."

"Oh my God!"

I quickly drove to the police station. Charlie, Genesis, Jesse, and Justice had their cell phones taken away and were waiting patiently for answers. I ran in and Charlie met me half way.

"Harmione!"

I embraced him and he held me in his arms.

"Charlie what's happened?" I said and began to cry.

"Everyone had just gone to bed...I got up to check on Bryan...and he wasn't there Har...I...I don't know...there was no noise...no...nothing...the air was deathly still...I didn't even hear him cry out to me or...scream..."

"Do you think it was Vilgax or another alien?"

"The cops said whoever took him seems to be human...he made a mistake...I might not have heard him come in but I know how he got out...Bryan's window was open ajar.

"Then that's it...they've got him...someone has my baby."

"Har I swear that I would have done everything I could if I-"

"It's done."

I stood there like ice. My blood frozen. My heart ached. I looked into Charlie's eyes when tears streamed down mine. Though I made not a sound. I just cried silently as I stared. I didn't know why my baby was taken from me, but I had an idea of who might have taken him.

"Charlie..." I sniffled.

"What babe?"

He stroked the side of my face. I touched his wrist and stroked it with my thumb.

"How do you feel about boat food?"