*Author's Note*

Thanks for the follows, faves, and reviews.

And here's the new chapter. It's a really long one, so have fun reading it. IT also has some future-past time jumps too.

He's Always Been Protective

September 2039

Gem POV:

"Buckland, where the fuck where you?!" My husband shouted, rising from his seat and marching over to the young man who just fought his way thru the media crowded front doors of the ER; snapping me out of the mental trip down memory lane I was having. "Your brothers were getting shot at in an ambush and you just ran off! Why?!" Bock shouted in raw tone as he stopped right in front of Buckland, not that far from the nurses' station too.

Nicky and Morgan, who was being held in her husband's arms and had her head on his shoulder, just looked on at Brock and Buckland curiously. Austen's brow dipped and his eyes turned into hard slits as he waited for his teammate to give his uncle an answer, all the while Darcy and Billy looked on in earnest. Their ears were perked up; I just knew that if they heard something they didn't like they'd act on it.

Ava looked at me, her blue eyes red and puffy from crying, and asked in an astonished tone, "That's Buck, Rocky's best friend? Why'd he leave him? They're like brothers or that's what Rocky told me."

"Yes, he left his brother behind, but I'm sure he'll tell my husband why right now." I told Ava with a tone in my voice that was sweet, but also conveyed the hidden meaning that when the Head of HYDRA asked you gave an answer no matter what.

Ava just nodded while Buckland held his chin high and had the audacity to tell my husband, "I ran off to try and call for help. I thought the PATRIOTS might've jammed the lines, plus I didn't want them to get the case, Brock."

I didn't buy that for a second. Actually, by the looks on everyone's faces, I don't think anyone bought Buckland's bullshit. Any sane HYDRA member's first instinct would be to shoot at the people shooting at them, not to take off to 'find' reception for a phone call for backup.

"Really?" Brock sarcastically quipped in a dry and deep tone. With a tired, but levling look in his hazel whiskey eyes, Brock firmly told Buckland, "Cause right now it looks like you left your brothers, your team, to die. Which is very unlike you, soldier."

"I didn't leave them to die, I was trying to get them help!" Buckland shouted at my husband. Everyone in the room waited on baited breath to see how my husband was going to react. Normally, Brock wasn't the type of person you'd yell at and get away with it, but right now we weren't in a normal time. We were in the ER waiting room, sitting and waiting for news on Rocky. Brock didn't say a word, but he tilted his head in a way that gave off a warning. A silent warning of, 'You're pushing your luck'. Pulling his phone from the holder on his hip, Buckland tossed it to Brock and said, "Take a look, Sir. I called headquarters, reported the ambush."

"I believe you, Buck. I'm not going to go digging around in your phone." Brock tiredly sighed, handing the phone back to the man that was a bit sketchy at the moment. I could tell by my husband's exhausted and raw tone that he was too worried about the wellbeing of our son and didn't want to deal with debunking a suspicious alibi.

I knew, I just knew that Brock didn't believe Buckland, but I also knew that he'd deal with the lies later cause his family needed him at the moment. A family that Buckland was considered a part of since he was Rocky's best friend since the academy, but I'm not sure how much longer he'll be a part of the family. I guess it all depends on how bad his treachery is and whether or not my son can vouch for him if (no when) he gets out of surgery.

"I'll dig around in it instead." Darcy piped up while her husband and son just gave Buckland a deadly, cold glare.

"Darcy, not right now." I told my best friend in a tired tone.

"Not now, but later, my sister from another mister." Darcy told me while Brock made his way back to my side with Buckland in tow.

"If you're hiding something, Buck, my mom'll find out." Austen informed Buck as he stood right in front of Ava while Brock took his seat next to me.

Buck just huffed and waved off my nephew. He looked Ava up and down, like a predator sizing up its prey. I didn't like it one bit, so I cut my eyes at him. Ava seemed to shrink a little under Buckland's scrutinizing gaze. "I don't know why you're here? You're just Rocky's flavor of the week, doll face."

Ava's eyes widened and her lip quivered. Tears welled up in her eyes from Buckland's mean words. I wasn't going to sit back and let him get over on her. Wrapping a comforting arm around Ava's shoulders, I gave Buckland a hard cutting look and told him, "Don't you dare talk to Ava like that, Buckland. She's important to Rocky. You need to worry about that barista in the HYDRA HQ coffee shop you're having problems making happy; you might want to worry about whether or not you'll be breathing next week too."

"Buckland, go to the cafeteria and get coffees for everyone." Brock ordered, backing me up.

"Yes, Sir." Buckland nodded; his jaw clenched as his shoulder's stiffened a bit.

Right after Buckland marched off to get the coffees, Ava turned to me and softly squeaked out, "Thank you, Gem, for taking up for me like that."

"You're welcome, Ava." I smiled at the strawberry blonde. "I know my son and he's crazy about you, sweetheart. You're the one for him; don't let his dating past or anyone else say otherwise."

Ava just smiled shyly and nodded.

Brock smirked at Ava, only to assure her, "My son's a lot like me. He won't shut up about you cause he's in love with you; even tho it's only been a month." Lightly rubbing my knee, he softly added, "I was like that with my wife and we've been together since 2008."

"Oh, wow, you've been together that long?" Ava asked in an awed tone.

"Unofficially, yes, but officially it's been since late 2009." I told the girl next to me.

"I count 2008 as the start of us, baby." Brock told me matter-of-factly.

"Of course, you do." I nodded with a smile. Turning to Ava, I assured her, "You mean a lot to Rocky; as I understand from Nicky, he was calling for you before he passed out when he got shot. You belong with the family just as much as Morgan, my daughter-in-law, does."

Ava just nodded as grateful tears welled up in her blue eyes. She brushed them away while relaxing a bit in her chair.

With a large maniacal grin on her face, Darcy turned to her husband gave him the order of, "Billy, go get me my bag from the car. I got a douche-nugget to do a thorough hacking on."

"Oh, I love it when you put your hacker hat on, babe. It's so sexy." Billy winked before doing what he was told, high tailing it to his car in the parking lot to retrieve his wife's techie bag.

Oh no, Buckland's in for it now. If he has anything to hide (which I'm positive he does) Darcy's going to find it, along with what he had for lunch 3-years ago in July.

When Buckland returned with a large tray full of coffee (and a tea for Morgan), he nearly had a stroke seeing Darcy sitting Indian style (in a fancy dress, no less) with a laptop balanced on her knees and her glasses on the tip of her nose as she worked her hacking magic. He ended up sitting in a corner chair, looking a bit worried as Darcy typed away at her computer, digging up dirt in the dark web. Billy made up Darcy's coffee with lots and lots of sugar and vanilla flavored creamer cups (that he ran to the cafeteria for since Buckland only brought back the original flavored Coffee Mate cups back). He even made his coffee up the same way so that he'd be able to give it to his wife once she drained her cup dry. They were such a loving couple.

My nephew, Crazy Tazer, kept glaring at Buckland with a look that screamed 'you're a dead man, teammate'. His deadly level of a look was making Buckland squirm a bit in his seat as he tentatively sipped on his coffee. Oh, just by that young man's body language I could tell that something was of with him. He was worried and I'm sure it's about what Darcy was going to find on him. The dirt had to be bad; had to tell why he turned his back on my sons and nephew; leaving them for dead.

Damn bastard. Me and my husband welcomed Buckland into our home with open arms (although I was a bit leery of the boy) when Rocky brought him home on their first holiday furlough from the academy. He was our son's bunkmate and new best friend, so of course I pushed down my leery feelings and made him feel welcomed. Brock welcomed him without a second thought since his firstborn vouched for him (And I think he wanted his son to have a brother-like-bond with his bunkmate and fellow academy member since he himself had a close bond with his SEAL teammate Rhett since they were in the classes for the Navy SEALS. Sadly, Rhett died during a road ambush in Afghanistan.) Hell, we treated Buckland like our own son (that's how much he was around since he was Rocky's bff) and then he turned around and pulls some shady shit. I just can't believe it…

I was pulled out of my mental mussing whenever my phone started to ring in the silent room, causing the ring to loudly echo. Quickly, I opened up my black clutch and grabbed my phone from it. As I snapped my clutch shut, I saw that my uncle's name was flashing on my Caller Id. I steeled my nerves and gathered all of my wits before hitting the green accept button. "Hi, Uncle Rocco." I answered after putting my phone up to my ear.

"Dear God, Tesoro, what the hell's going on? There's a breaking news story about Rocky getting shot; reporter's saying that his condition's unknown." Uncle Rocco rambled a bit frantically on the other side of the phone.

"Yea, Rocky got shot when shit went sideways during a mission. He's in surgery right now."

"Jesus…is my great-nephew fighting for his life over some mission your HYDRA husband sanctioned?"

"My son's fighting for his life cause of an ambush, Uncle Rocco." I edgily snapped, feeling myself about to lose my shit.

"Baby, let me talk to Rocco." Brock softly told me before taking the phone right out of my hand. "Hey, Uncle Rocco, Gem's barely holding it together; she's been comforting Rocky's girl too, so just ask me anything you wanna know." My husband told my uncle.

Brock and Uncle Rocco tolerated each other, since Rocco disapproved of HYDRA and felt if it wasn't for Brock, I wouldn't be involved in it. Wouldn't be the First Lady of HYDRA and my boys wouldn't be on one of HYDRA's elite STRIKE teams. My Uncle Rocco was truly the only one in my family that would eat crow and be nice to my husband, but that was for the sake of Rocky and Nicky (especially since he missed out on Rocky's first few years of life over a grudge).

Brock POV:

I heard my wife's pitch go up slightly and her body stiffened as she told her uncle about the ambush. Her words were a bit clipped, but I knew she was barely holding it together. My wife's strong, but there's only so much she can take and I think being a comfort to our son's girl drained the last of her strength. I think her uncle's phone might push her over the emotional edge; make her break.

Giving my wife a soft look, I told her, "Baby, let me talk to Uncle Rocco." She didn't say a word, just nodded as I took the phone from her. Putting the phone up to my ear, I told my uncle-in-law, "Hey, Uncle Rocco, Gem's barely holding it together; she's been comforting Rocky's girl too, so just ask me anything you wanna know."

"How bad is it, Brock? Is my namesake gonna make it?"

"It's bad; he's been in surgery for hours and we haven't heard any updates yet."

"Jesus…" Rocco sighed. After a silent second, he asked, "You talk to Arlo yet?"

"I haven't talked to Pops in over 20-years, Uncle Rocco. You know that he disowned me over my political views and my choice of wife." I dryly answered the one in-law I was civil with.

"I haven't had a civil word with Arlo for years, but I could visit him and tell him about his grandson if you'd like."

"It's late; you don't have to do that." I told the retired hitman. Yea, my wife's uncle was a hitman, but he disapproved of us being high up in HYDRA. Fuck up, huh? "I imagine he'll see it on the news, like you did."

Rocco let out a long sigh before telling me, "I'm not gonna lie and say I like the path you brought my niece, who I consider to be like my own daughter, down and the life you brought your boys, my grand-nephews that I consider to be like grandsons, into, but I can but our differences aside for the boys and their mother. Maybe you should do the same with your Pops, cause neither of yinz are getting any younger and now there's a family tragedy involved."

"Rocco, thanks for the heart felt advice, but maybe you should practice what you preach. I know your wife doesn't know you're on the phone, cause Connie and the rest of the family disowned Gem years ago. You sneak around to make 'checkup' calls and visited during 'business' trips. Don't give me your advice when my son's on a goddamn operating table." Was my blunt response to the advice I was given, since I wasn't going to listen to some hypocrite. Yes, I was civil with my uncle-in-law, but that doesn't mean I agreed with most of his actions when it came to family related shit.

Gem POV:

"Rocky gets his protective streak from his dad, doesn't he?" Ava asked, sounding a bit squeaky like a tiny mouse, as I listened to my husband's side of his conversation with my uncle.

Turning to Ava, I warmly smiled and nodded, "Yes, he does."

"I know I haven't been with Rocky that long, but I've seen his protective streak a few times when he's picked me up from work. He makes sure the rowdy customers don't hassle me."

"Rocky's a good man, just like Brock is. He'll be very protective and loyal to you cause he loves you, sweetheart."

Subtly nodding at my husband, the strawberry blonde asked, "Was Brock like that with you from the beginning?"

"Yes, he was." I answered with a warm smile.

Before Ava could ask anything else, Brock interrupted us by placing a hand on my shoulder and telling me, "Uncle Rocco says he'll be here as soon as he can."

"Okay." I nodded as he passed me back my phone.

"If anyone else calls, let me handle it. You've been thru enough as it is, baby." Brock told me as I popped open my clutch and dropped my phone inside of it.

As I snapped my clutch closed, I couldn't help but to remember how Brock's always been so protective and good to me. Not just when we officially started dating, but before that when we were friends with benefits. My thoughts drifted back to September of 2008, when I had my first clinic appointment for birth control at the young age of 18 ½-years old and Brock was by side since I was so nervous and overwhelmed.

September 2008

"You actually took off of work early for my appointment?" I asked Bock, slight disbelief evident in my tone, as I sat in a waiting chair in the Culver clinic lobby as he walked thru the door. He cut it a bit close getting here too, but I wasn't expecting him to actually show up.

"Of course, I did, baby. I said I would, didn't I?" Brock replied as I waled over to the open chair next to me and took a seat in it.

"Yea, but-" I began only for him to interrupt me with, "No buts, baby." Looking between me and the ront desk, he asked, "You check in?"

"Yea." I nodded. "Just did that right before you walked in."

"Shouldn't be long before they call us back then."

"I still can't believe you're doing this with me." I admitted to the man next to me as we waited for the nurse to come out and get me, well us.

"Why not?" Brock rhetorically asked before going on to say, "I'm the reason you need birth control to begin with; I'm a responsible guy that isn't going to let you deal with this on your own."

"I know. I guess I'm just used to Geno and his pissy attitude. You being the way you are just takes getting used to." I admitted to Brock, earning me a nod of acceptance from him.

We feel into a comfortable silence while thumbing thru some magazines that Brock grabbed for us from a nearby table. A couple of people came and went too while we were waiting. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the receptionist talking to a nurse. They were looking at us while talking and I had the feeling they were gossiping about us. Oh god…

Whenever the nurse left the reception desk, I had the feeling that we were next. My feeling was right whenever the door to the side of the reception desk flung open and a tall, skinny middle-aged nurse with a long-shaped face clipped out, "Gem Rizzo-Schulze."

Brock took my magazine out of my hand and placed it on the small table along with his right before we both stood up. The nurse was giving us a side-eyed look as Brock placed his hand on the small of my back and led me over to the door. Without a word, we walked by her. She closed the door, clutching the clipboard in her had a bit too tightly, and curtly said, "Follow me."

Of course, we followed her which resulted in me having to get weighed and get my height measured. It just confirmed that I was petite. After that the nurse led us over to an examining room. She opened the door and let us go in before following us inside. I sat down on the table while Brock took a seat in the chair next to me while the nurse looked at her clipboard before going over to the cabinets and fumbling around in them.

"Since you're here for birth control you'll have to pee in a cup. You need an official negative test before you can get started on contraceptives." The woman said as she stopped in front of me and handed me a small sample cup. "Bathroom's the first door to the right near the station. I'll be there, just give me the cup when you're done." The nurse said in a flat tone. "And here's your gown. Change into it after you get back to the room." She instructed while handing me a thin paper gown. The nurse looked between me and Brock only to dryly say, "And please, no getting frisky on the table. The doctor doesn't approve of such things."

"Ah, too bad. I thought maybe we could get a quickie in during the 15-minute wait for the Doc." Brock dryly chuckled.

I felt so embarrassed, I could've sank right down into the floor. I had to get out of that room, so I jumped down from the table, tossed the gown at Brock, and ran out; making a beeline to the bathroom to fill up that sample cup.

Brock POV:

"Oh dear, I needed to ask her some questions too." The nurse sighed, looking down the hall that Gem was speed walking down.

"Can't you ask her those when you come back in to give us the negative piss test results?" I asked, causing the nurse to narrow her eyes at me.

"That test better come back negative, for her sake. She's too young to get saddled down with a man like you."

"I think I'm quite a catch, thank you very much Nurse Ratchett." I smirked at the nurse, causing her to shake her head and storm out of the room. The door slammed shut right behind her, making me chuckle at her close-minded Southern ways. Of course, the Culver clinic nurse pegged me as a military man (bet she's seen many come and go with college girls since Norfolk's only just up the road) and immediately thought the worst about me and Gem. Guess the South only approves of large age gaps when it comes to Gone With The Wind and the love-hate couple of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler or very old money, otherwise it was frowned upon. Gosh, I hope the Doc doesn't have a shitty attitude like the nurse, cause is so we're gonna have some problems.

I was only by myself in the room for a few minutes before Gem shuffled back in. "Hey, you okay, baby girl?" I asked, a bit concerned about her since she had a deer caught in headlights look on her face as she made her way over to me.

"Yea, I'm okay." She nodded, grabbing the paper gown from me.

"Need any help?" I offered, earning me a quick head shake from her.

"I'm fine, Brock. But thanks for the offer." She told me before shedding her t-shirt and tossing it at me. Guess my job is to fold up the clothes and hold them for her. Ah, the duties of a not a boyfriend, but more then a friend are lovely, huh?

Gem POV:

After changing into the thin paper gown, leaving me in nothing but the gown and my flip-flops (cause no way in hell was I going barefoot in the campus clinic), I just sat around on the table-waiting for the nurse to come back. Brock sat in his chair by my side, my clothes neatly folded and sitting in his lap. That was an awkward sight for some reason. God, why was he putting himself in this position for again?

I don't know how many minutes ticked by before the door creaked open and the nurse walked in, holding her clipboard tightly. "The results of your pregnancy test are negative, Miss." The nurse announced, shutting the door right behind her.

I just nodded while Brock had a smug look on his face. What the hell?

"Now, Miss Rizzo-Schulze, I have a few questions that need to be asked and answered before Dr. Snyder comes in for the examination and consult." The nurse said, taking a couple more steps into the room while taking the attached pen from the clipboard. "Now, Miss, when was your last menstrual cycle?"

"Last week." I answered, causing the nurse to quickly write down my answer.

"And when was the last time you were sexually active?" She asked.

"Um, why do I need to answer that?" I asked, feeling it wasn't something important to me wanting to get birth control since my pregnancy test was negative.

"A part of your health history for the doctor's file is your sexual history, Miss Rizzo-Schulze."

"Oh…"

"The last time we had sex was last month and before we started fooling around, she was a virgin. Any more questions, Nurse Ratchet?" Brock bluntly told the nurse, causing her to flinch slightly.

"Well, I was going to ask what type of birth control, if any, is currently being used." The nurse responded to Brock's question.

"I'm not on birth control." I told the nurse while at the same time Brock said, "Condoms, but we get a bit rough and they don't always hold up."

Oh MY GOD! He really just said that?! I want to die. This is so embarrassing. Oh my god… I could feel my face flushing as the nurse scribbled something down on her clipboard.

"It's not necessary, but may I suggest, Miss, getting tested for HIV." The nurse told me, causing my eyeballs to pop out of my head. What? Is she implying that I'm not as innocent as I claim to be or something?

"I'm clean and I'm the only one she's been with, so a blood drawl's not necessary, Nurse Ratchet." Brock told the nurse, giving her a cutting look.

"Dr. Snyder will be with you shortly." The nurse told us, smiling tightly, before leaving us alone in the room.

Turning to Brock, I asked him, "Brock, do you have to be so snarky and blunt?"

Tilting his head at me, he sighed before answering me with, "I'm being honest and just answering the questions since I know the answers and you're getting too overwhelmed. I'm not being snarky and blunt, baby, just honest."

"Oh…" I trailed off, feeling a bit dumb since all he was trying to do was take some of the pressure off of me and I was berating him for it.

Brock gave me a reassuring smile and extended my hand out to me. I just weakly smiled back, took his hand and squeezed it for support. "Don't worry, Gem. The examine and consult so go by fast, and I'll take the reigns if you get too overwhelmed. Okay?"

"Okay."

A Few Moments Later…

"Good afternoon. You must be Miss Gem Rizzo-Schulze." The doctor remark as she walked into the room with her white lab coat billowing behind her with every step she took. Looking at Brock, she asked in a tight, but saccharine tone, "And you must be the boyfriend?"

"You could say that." Brock replied as the doctor took a seat in the stool that was neat the counters behind the examine table I was on.

"According to this, you're here for a gynecological examine and to consult about birth control." The doctor remarked, looking between the clipboard and me.

"Yea." I nodded as the doctor placed her clipboard on the counter and grabbed some gloves from the box on the counter.

"Now, are you experiencing any pain or discomfort during intercourse?" The doctor asked while gesturing for me to lay down on the table.

"No." I answered while Brock raised a brow at the doctor.

"Okay. That's very good, cause if so then that might be a sign of something going on." The doctor said before starting my examine.

The examine itself felt weird and uncomfortable, but Brock was by my side and let me squeeze his hand. I think he was just doing that so that I wouldn't be too tense or nervous tho since it was the first time I ever had this kind of thing done before.

When the examination the over, I sat up while the doctor took off her gloves and announced, "Everything looks good, Miss Gem." Tossing her gloves into the trash, she went on to tell me, "Here at the Culver University Clinic we over three types of birth control: the ring, the patch, and the pill. What one are you interested in? If I may suggest, the patch and the ring are more lenient in usage and will be most less forgotten or miss-used."

"Um…" I trailed off, feeling a bit overwhelmed since I knew nothing, absolutely nothing, about birth control.

"What's the side effects of each option?" Brock asked, causing the doctor to look at him and raise her brow.

"Sir, I was taking to-" The doctor began only for Brock to cut her off with, "And I'm the reason we're here for the birth control to begin with. Now what are the side effects, Doc?"

Dr. Snyder gave Brock a curt nod before saying. "Well, the NuvaRing can cause breakthrough bleeding, changes in mood such as depression, weight gain, vaginal irritation or infection, acne, and reduced sexual desire."

"Yea, she's not getting that then." Brock bluntly told the doctor.

"Not every woman experiences those side effects. In truth, the NuvaRing is a very good form of birth control that's inserted once a month." Dr. Snyder told Brock, causing his brows to hike up.

"Uh, I'd be able to feel that shit when we're fooling around's what you're saying?" He asked with a funny look on his face. Hmm, I didn't even think of that.

"Some partners say they can feel it, but it's not uncomfortable."

"Yea, skip the ring. Tell us about the patch." Brock told the doctor with a little dismissive wave of his hand.

"The patch is applied on the skin once a week. It's very effective and the side effects are less sever; being: spotting, breast tenderness, nausea, and changes in mood."

"How effective is it?" Brock asked, seeming a bit interested in the patch option.

"91%." Dr. Snyder answered, causing Brock to shake his let and let out a throaty scoff.

"That's not very effective, Doc. That means I can still knock her up if I don't wrap my shit."

"Sir, it's highly suggested that condoms are paired with birth control to prevent pregnancy." Dr. Snyder dryly told Brock.

"What about the pill?" I squeakily asked before Brock could open his mouth and make things worse. God, this is the most awkward doctor's visit I've had in my entire life.

"Yea, is the knock up odds less with the pill?" Brock asked only to follow it up with the remark of, "I know it's been around since Disco, so I'm thinking it works the best."

"The pill we offer her at Culver is a low hormone dose that's 99% effective and the side effects are the same as the patch. The pill also regulates periods and makes the lighter too."

"Okay." I nodded while Brock asked, "And she just takes it every day, right?"

"Yes, but it has to be taken every day around the same time or it won't work. It's recommended to be taken before breakfast or before bedtime."

Turning to me, Brock asked, "You want the pill, baby?" Before I could even open my mouth, he went on to say, "I think that'd be our best bet. Least amount of side effects with the highest efficacy."

I nodded at Brock before turning to the doctor and telling her, "I'd like the pill."

"I'll write that out and have that filled for you. You can pick it up from Amber at the front desk; free of charge since you're enrolled as a student."

"Thank you." I sincerely told the doctor as she stood up from her stool.

"A week before you need your refill you need to stop by the clinic with your school ID and request the refill. Then you'll be able to pick it up the next week when you need it."

"Okay."

"Have a nice day and just toss the paper gown in the trash before you leave." Dr. Snyder told us before leaving the room.

"See, if you didn't have me to help, you'd be getting something that'd be giving us an uh-oh or making you feel like shit." Brock smirked, handing me my underwear as I got down from the table and tore off my paper gown.

"Thanks for your help, Brock. I guess I was more freaked out then I wanted to admit." I told him, taking my underwear and putting it on.

"Anytime you need me, baby, just let me know." He told me, handing me my shirt.

Darcy POV:

I was just about to grab the door handle to the clinic whenever the door opened and out walked Gem and Brock. Aww, how sweet, he actually showed for her bc appointment. I knew she was going to get it today and she was worried he'd flake out. Seems that she had nothing to worry about. I swear, my sister from another mister's so oblivious when it comes to her Sugar Daddy. He's crazy about her, but she just doesn't see it. I think that's cause of that jack-hole ass-hat ex of hers, Geno. She told me about him (and I really want to hack into his shit and get his stupid car boosting ass tossed into jail by giving the man his cell ping with an anonymous tip about a stolen car…) and I'm positive he's the reason she has some low self-esteem and can't see Brock's actions for what they really are. Him being into her.

"Hey girl hey!" I exclaimed in a fake valley girl accent at my roomie. "I told you he'd show, my sister." I winked at her before turning to Brock and greeting him with, "You treat my sister from another mister right or I'll taze your balls off."

"You've got nothing to worry about, Darcy." Brock assured me before asking, "You going in?"

"Yeppers." I nodded, causing Brock to open the door for me. "I gotta get my bc refilled. Billy's deployed most of the time, but I don't feel like carrying around his spawn for 9-months cause of one drunk night when he was on leave." I told my friends before waving and telling them, "The pill takes like a week to get into your system, so you better pull out this weekend.", before walking into the clinic.

"Oh my god…" I heard Gem sigh in embarrassment, paired with a deep and amused chuckle form Brock, right before the door closed.

I giggled silently to myself, finding it cute how Gem got embarrassed easily when it came to her hot jack-booted thug. In time she'll break out of her shell. Between me and Brock, she'll have no choice, but to break out of it.

As I made my way up to the reception desk, I heard Nurse Susie and Bethel, the receptionist, gossiping. Loudly too, and it pissed me off cause I just knew that they were talking about Gem and Brock. The handful of people in the clinic waiting room were sitting and listening with perked ears. Damn bitches and bastards getting off on two-bit gossip.

"My god, Bethel, I swear that older man did all the talking and made all the decisions for that girl." Nurse Susie remarked in a dramatic sigh.

"Of course he did, Susie, he just screams career navy man." With a cackle, Bethel added in, "Old and set in his ways."

"He reminded me of that dom in that new book."

"Oh god, really? Hmm…I guess I could see that."

"He was really nasty and rude to me. Didn't let that girl get a word in at all." The bottle-blonde nurse with leather looking skin snipped out as I came to a stop at the desk.

"At least she's on birth control now cause it'd be such a shame if she got stuck with that man." The receptionist, who's light pink fake nails looked too square badly done, responded while ignoring my presence. I guess gossiping was too important then doing her job.

I loudly cleared my throat, causing the two middle-aged women to turn their heads and look at me. Their eyes widened since they didn't know how much of their gossiping I heard. "Yea, I heard everything you said. I mean E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G you said and you should be so damn ashamed of yourselves for gossiping about my friends. She's a nice girl and he's a great guy for being so supportive of her." My voice rose angrily as I continued to chew them out. "You see these dipshit college douchebags pressuring girls into abortions, pressuring girls into shit, or taking advantage of them and causing girls to seek out Plan B, but you see a guy in his 30's that's a jacked-boot thug doing right by his girl; supporting her and discussing birth control like a normal adult and you think he's a bad guy. How dare you act like that, you small minded bitches?"

Bethel gave me a sour look and tartly stated, "Miss Lewis, if you weren't Professor Lewis' daughter, we'd tell you to get your refills from the pharmacy down the road."

"Jokes on you, Bethel. I'm a Poli Sci major here, so you're stuck seeing my face once a month for the next 4-years and you sure as hell bet your paycheck that I'm going to be coming in with Gem to get our bc refills." I told the receptionist before turning to the nurse and telling her, "Shouldn't you be bringing people to rooms, Nurse Susie, or did your job suddenly change to being two-faced at the reception desk?"

Nurse Susie stormed off while Bethel just sighed and stood up from her desk. She went over to the shelf a bunch of bins were at and grabbed my prescription bag. "See you next month, Miss Lewis." Bethel sourly smiled while handing me my bag.

"Oh, just so you're aware, my jacked-boot's an elite Marine and he doesn't put up with rude behavior against his friends, so don't give me a reason to tell him about your gossiping." I told Bethel, making her eyes go wide, before smiling and skipping off. Ha, she'll think twice before gossiping with Nurse Susie about Gem and Brock, or better named BROMA. Yes, they need a name smoosh like Bradgelina or Bennifer.

AN:

I hope you guys liked this chapter. It had some time jumping between the future and the past in it, but I *just* had to do an update on Rocky "Little Man" before writing the element of Brock and Gem's "relationship" that was him taking the lead when she's overwhelmed (like he does in the future when she's on the phone with her uncle and is ready to crumble). And of course, I had to add in some Darcy having her sister from another mister's back too. I know, this chapter was super long, but since I've been having crazy work weeks (they're really pushing us to hit higher metrics) I'll most likely be writing longer chapters and posting once a week. I have no idea what story will be updated next, but I've got the beginning of the first scene of the next Holiday RomCom AU written so it might be that.

In the next chapter of this I plan on giving Brock and Gem a sweet moment before tragedy strikes in the form of Darcy experiencing a loss; causing her and Gem to rely on each other as 'family'.