A/N: So this is my first 9-1-1: Lone Star fic that I've posted, so please be somewhat gentle, I'm still getting a feel for writing the characters. And thanks again to Shannon and Erica of the 118 Discord for checking my Spanish; and to my Twitter friends for giving name suggestions for Tarlos' daughters.
Carlos wakes up to little hands poking into his back. Smiling, he rolls over, "Morning mijas," he greets, seeing both his daughters standing next to his side of the bed.
Carmen goes in for a hug, which he is happy to reciprocate. Carlos looks to his nightstand for the time, 6:20. "It's still early, do you want to lay in bed with Daddy and me for a little while?" he asks. When both girls nod, he lifts the covers so they can climb between TK and himself.
Mariana goes closer to TK and snuggles into his chest waking him, "What's going on?" he mumbles.
"Relax, babe," Carlos soothed as Carmen climbs in next to him, "the girls want to cuddle."
TK opens an eye to see both girls in between himself and Carlos. "M'kay," he mumbles, wrapping his arm across the girls and over to Carlos before closing his eyes again.
An hour and a half later, everyone in the Reyes-Strand household is fully awake and getting ready for the day. Carlos is in the kitchen getting breakfast for everyone while TK is in the living room helping the girls with their hair.
"Ouch," Carmen yelps when TK brushes through a stubborn knot.
"Sorry, baby," TK apologizes while attacking the knot gently.
"Why can't Papi do our hair?" Mariana asks, knowing that Carlos has an easier time with their curls.
"Because if Papi was doing your hair that means I would be making breakfast," TK answers.
"And I don't want our kitchen on fire," Carlos teases his husband.
"I've gotten better," TK argues as he finishes with Carmen's hair.
"You set the smoke detector off at Abuelita's last week," Mariana giggles as she sits in front of him so he can do her hair.
"I've made dinner for us before while Papi is at work," he pinches her sides playfully, causing her to giggle louder.
"It was in a box," Carmen tells him.
"Babe?" TK calls to Carlos, looking for help.
"Sorry, mi amor. Cooking isn't your strong suit," he responds, causing both girls to laugh again.
"I see how it is," TK sighs. "What do you want today?" he asks his youngest daughter.
"Two braids," she answers happily.
"Two braids it is," he responds, grabbing some hair ties.
By the time TK is finished, Carlos is finishing up with breakfast and Carmen is helping him by getting plates for everyone.
Carlos makes a plate for Carmen and then himself while TK does the same for Mariana and himself.
"You know the Giants are playing the Cowboys today, right?" TK looks over to his husband.
"I know. And you're going to get crushed," Carlos responds.
"No, Papi," Mariana giggles.
"'No, Papi' what?" Carlos asks.
"You're going to get crushed," she giggles even louder.
"That's my girl," TK exclaims, reaching over for a high-five which she gives him.
"What did you do to our daughter to get her to be a Giants fan in Texas?"
"What makes you think I did something? Remember we said we'd let the girls pick on their own," TK smirks.
Carlos shakes his head at his husband. "Daddy the Cowboys are going to win," Carmen looks to TK, making Carlos smile.
"Papi," Mariana gets Carlos' attention. "Are we going to Uncle Juddy's for the game?"
"Not this week cariño," Carlos tells her.
"It's just going to be the four of us this time, Monkey," TK adds. "Now you two finish up your breakfast before it gets cold," he tells Mariana and Carmen.
Ten minutes later the four of them are finished, so TK and Carlos send them upstairs to get changed so they can go to the Reyes family ranch while they clean up the kitchen.
"You know our daughter is going to be teased for being a Giants fan, right?" Carlos questions.
"It's just a football team, babe," TK reminds him. "Besides, if that's the worst thing she gets teased for, I think we'll be fine."
"Mm-hmm," Carlos hums, wrapping his arms around TK from behind.
"Baby," TK moans as Carlos kisses his neck. "As much as I don't want to stop, we have two kids who are going to be back down any minute."
"We will finish this tonight," Carlos whispers.
"Is that a promise?"
"It is," Carlos answers just as the girls come back down. Both wearing a light pair of blue jeans in slightly different shades. Carmen wearing a gray Cowboys t-shirt and Mariana a blue Giants t-shirt. "Mijas, ¿están listas?"
"Sí, Papi," they answer together.
"Okay, why don't you go in the living room and color while Papi and I get changed? Then we can head to Abuelos'," TK tells them
Carmen and Mariana nod and hurry off to the living room where they left their coloring books and crayons.
TK and Carlos are back down in twenty minutes, having taken a shower to get any remnants of breakfast off of them. Both wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a t-shirt of their respective team; Carlos' shirt is blue and TK's is red.
Carmen is the first one to see them, "Are we going now?" she asks her dads.
"Yup," TK answers. "I take it you're excited," he laughs.
"Uh-huh," she responds.
"Papi, are we going to see the new calf Abuelito was telling us about?" Mariana asks Carlos.
"We need to ask Abuelito first, but I don't see a problem with it," Carlos answers before reminding them, "remember we need to be gentle-"
"Because it's a baby," Carmen adds.
"Right," Carlos agrees.
"I guess we're going," TK laughs as Mariana grabs his hand and leads him towards the door. "Do you have the car keys?" he looks back to his husband.
"Yeah, we're taking your car, right?" Carlos checks.
"Yeah, it's easier with the girls," TK reminds him. Even though the girls are older now, they are both still on the smaller side, and being in the careers that they are, both Carlos and TK want to keep them in car seats as long as they can before moving them into a booster seat. In a pinch, Carlos can take the girls in the camaro, but it is easier to use TK's car which has four doors.
Carlos sends Carmen out with TK and Mariana while he sets the alarm. Joining his family by the car, he walks over to the driver's side with Mariana while TK helps Carmen on the passenger's side. Both girls have the same gray car seat, but the lining on Carmen's is mint green and the lining on Mariana's is a pale pink.
"Daddy?" Carmen questions as TK is making sure she is buckled in securely.
"Yes, Bug?" he responds.
"Why do you like the Giants?"
"We talked about this, remember? I was born in New York and moved here when I was 26."
"Yeah, but you've been in Texas forever," she exaggerates the word like only a child can.
Carlos laughs at this, "Yeah, TK," he grins. "When are you going to convert?"
"Ha-ha," TK dryly laughs. "You two are so funny," he looks between his husband and their daughter. "I'll have you know, I tolerate them now."
"I guess it's a good thing we live in Austin and not Dallas," he teases his husband.
TK, not able to come up with a good comeback, does the only thing he can think of and sticks his tongue out at his husband like a child, making the girls laugh at their dads. "You're a child," Carlos shakes his head at TK.
"But you love me," TK responds.
"But I love you," Carlos agrees.
"Papi, Daddy. Are we going yet?" Mariana asks.
"Yes, mija," Carlos kisses her head before shutting her door and getting into the driver's seat. When TK gets into the passenger's seat Carlos starts the car and backs the car out of the driveway, starting their journey to the Reyes Family Ranch.
"Abuelita," both girls run towards Andrea when they enter the house in front of their dads.
"Mis mijitas," Andrea addresses them with equal enthusiasm, hugging her granddaughters.
"Hi mom," Carlos greets when he and TK catch up to their girls.
"Carlitos, TK," Andrea smiles at her son and son-in-law, not letting go of her granddaughter.
"Hi, Andrea."
"Where's dad?" Carlos asks.
"Feeding the horses," she answers. "If you and the girls want to help, I'm sure he won't mind."
"Por favor, Papi?" Carmen and Mariana look to Carlos.
Carlos looks to TK, "Now you know what it's like to look into Carlos Cow Eyes," TK whispers to his husband.
"Are you going to be okay here?" Carlos asks.
Before TK can answer, Andrea interrupts, "TK and I will be fine, Carlitos."
"Daddy's not allowed in the kitchen," Mariana laughs.
"Well, then, I guess it's a good thing I'm a good teacher," Andrea informs her granddaughter.
"You're going to teach TK?" Carlos asks surprised.
"Are you doubting your mother?"
"No, Mom. I'm doubting my husband," he grins. "A little birdy told me he set the smoke detector off on you last week."
"Hey!" TK protests.
"Mi amor, we went over this thismorning. Cooking isn't your strong suit."
"We'll be fine, babe," TK insists. "Take the girls."
"Are you sure?" Carlos checks.
"Positive," TK answers, pulling him in for a kiss causing the girls to cry eww before falling into fits of giggles. TK pulls away first, "I think you should take them to find your dad."
Carlos hums in agreement, "Come on, mijas," he leads them to the door. Mariana grabs his left hand and Carmen stays close by on his right.
"Abuelito," Carmen runs into Gabriel when she sees him, Mariana, not far behind.
"Mis niñas," he hugs them.
"Hey dad," Carlos greets once he catches up.
"Carlitos," Gabriel smiles, "Glad you guys made it. Where's TK?"
"With mom in the kitchen," Carlos answers.
"Abuelita said we could help?" Mariana asks shyly.
"Of course," he smiles. "Wanna help me get them some hay?"
When both girls nod, he motions for them to head towards where they keep the hay while he and Carlos follow behind them.
"What did that husband of yours do to my granddaughter that she's a Giants fan?" Gabriel asks Carlos, low enough that the girls can't hear him, saying Giants like it's a curse word.
"She has some Cowboys stuff, but if they're playing each other, she won't wear it."
Gabriel shakes his head smiling, "I don't know if she gets her stubbornness from you or TK."
When they reach the bales of hay, Gabriel helps Carmen with one bale and Carlos helps Mariana with another. Carlos and Mariana take their bale to Apollo, the chestnut horse that Carlos learned to ride on growing up, and Gabriel and Carmen take their bale to Raven, the smoky black horse that Carlos' sister, Valentina, learned on.
Both Carmen and Mariana are petting the respective horses as they eat. Carlos and Gabriel standing back watching the girls, Carlos also takes a picture so he can show TK later.
After a while, Gabriel looks to Carlos and nods. "Girls," he calls. When both Carmen and Mariana look up, he continues, "Your Papi told me that you want to meet the calf?"
They look to Gabriel, "Really?!" they ask excitedly.
"Sí, mijas," he smiles. They each grab a hand and they walk over to the pen with the calf with Carlos following.
Gabriel opens up the gate, letting them in, "Remember, we need to be gentle."
"Sí, Abuelito."
Gabriel brings them closer to the calf, "Did you know that calves are normally born in the spring?" he asks them.
"I'm starting to think Carlos was right," TK mumbles after narrowly avoiding setting the pan on fire.
"I will teach you at least one meal. You need to feed my grandbabies," Andrea orders.
"I feed them," TK argues weakly.
"Food that doesn't come from a box or bag?"
"I don't feed them junk food," TK defends.
"He makes sure the girls are fed, mom," Carlos defends TK, walking into the kitchen.
"Hey, baby. Where are the girls?" TK asks, walking over to him, happily pecking his cheek.
"With dad and the calf. I just wanted to check that you haven't burned down my parents' kitchen," Carlos answers pulling TK into his side.
TK gives him a sheepish look.
"TK," Carlos groans. "Are you both okay?"
"We're fine mijo," Andrea assures him. "TK stopped it before it even turned into anything."
Carlos looks to TK. "Relax, babe. Remember, I'm still duel certified," TK grins.
Carlos just shakes his head at his husband. "Once dad can get the girls away from the calf, we're going to take the girls riding. Want to come with us?"
"You're still not getting me on a horse," TK answers dryly, stepping away.
"We're just going to lead the girls. Do you want to watch, City Boy?"
"You're not going to try to get me on a horse?" TK looks at him skeptically.
"No. I know better by now," Carlos answers, pulling TK close to him.
"Hmm, watching you and our girls? That sounds good to me," TK lightly headbutts Carlos.
"And not setting my parents' kitchen on fire is a bonus," Carlos teases, causing TK to bury his face in Carlos' neck.
Andrea smiles at the couple, "Carlos, you boys should go help your father with the girls. You know how excited they get about riding."
"Are you sure, mom?" Carlos asks. "Don't you need help?"
"Go Carlitos, I'll be fine." Andrea chases them out of the kitchen.
When Carlos and TK get back to the barn, Gabriel is watching the girls as they feed the horses carrots. Mariana is the first e to notice them, "DADDY!" she runs to him.
TK picks her up, "Hey Baby Girl, you having fun with Papi and Abuelito?"
She nods her head vigorously. "Abuelito said we were going riding once Papi came back."
"Papi told me," TK tells her.
Carmen also comes over to hug TK around the legs, "Are you riding with us?" she asks.
Before TK can answer, Carlos beats him to the punch, "Daddy's too much of a city boy to ride horses."
"But Daddy you've been in Texas forever now," Mariana tells him.
"And Daddy still hasn't been on a horse," Carlos reminds her.
"But I will watch you," TK stresses. "When do I miss a chance to watch my girls?"
"Never!" Carmen answers, looking up to him.
"That's right, now go grab your helmets so Papi and Abuelito can take you riding," he tells the girls as he puts Mariana down.
Mariana and Carmen run over to where they know their Abuelos keep their helmets. Carmen grabs Mariana's first, handing it to her before grabbing her own.
They both put their helmets on their head, but don't bother buckling them because they already know that their dads are going to unbuckle it just to do it themselves.
Making their way back to TK and Carlos, Mariana stops in front of TK and Carmen by Carlos. Both dads kneel in front of their daughters to secure their helmets.
TK straps on Mariana's denim blue helmet, making sure it will stay on her head. "Snug, Monkey?" he asks. Mariana nods her head excitedly and TK can see that it isn't budging.
While TK is getting Mariana ready, Carlos is checking Carmen's green helmet. "Does it feel okay, cariño?"
"Sí, Papi," Carmen answers.
"Okay, can you shake your head for me?" he asks, wanting to make sure it doesn't move. Carmen does as she is asked and Carlos is happy with the result.
"Are the girls ready?" Gabriel asks TK and Carlos when they look to each other.
When both boys give the affirmative, Gabriel leads Carlos and his granddaughters to the horses' stalls as TK watches with a smile on his face. Carlos is with Mariana and Carmen is by her grandfather's side.
Carlos and Mariana go to Apollo, and Gabriel and Carmen go to Raven. Both men put on a saddle to the respective horse and then attach the leads. They hold the leads to bring the horses out of the barn.
TK follows the four of them and stops at the fence. He watches as Gabriel and Carlos help the girls up and then lead the horses around the enclosure. Smiling to himself, he looks to his family, the family that younger TK would never have imagined having. A loving and supportive husband, two wonderful daughters, and supportive in-laws. Ten years ago, TK wouldn't have thought he would live to see thirty.
By one o'clock, they are all inside eating lunch. The girls are telling their Abuelita about all that they did with their Abuelito and Papi.
When they finished eating Carmen and Mariana insist on showing TK the calf before they go while Carlos helps his parents with the dishes. When TK tries to help, Andrea all but pushes him out the door with the girls helping her.
Once TK is out of earshot with her granddaughters, Andrea looks to Carlos, "You did good Carlitos," she smiles at her son.
"I did," he agrees, looking out the window trying to find his small family.
"We don't tell you enough, but you found a good man. And you're raising two beautiful, intelligent girls."
"They're amazing," Carlos agrees, taking a dish from his mother to dry it off.
"When you came inside to get TK a little birdy told me about this morning," Gabriel tells his son.
"What about this morning?" Carlos asks, confused.
"According to Mariana you're better at doing their hair than TK," Gabriel leads.
"He's getting better, he's just not used to curly hair," Carlos shakes his head.
"You've had them for two years now?" Andrea raises an eyebrow.
"And for the first year, they went to me more because of the language barrier," Carlos reminds them.
"And now look at them," Gabriel laughs. "Mariana is definitely TK's."
"She is," Carlos agrees, drying another dish.
"Well if he ever needs any tips," Andrea offers, "I had to do your sisters' hair for years."
"He's getting better at it. He still has trouble with Mariana's since it's curlier, but he did her braids today."
"You talking about me?" TK's voice startles Carlos from the doorway.
"Always," Carlos answers, pulling TK in for a chaste kiss. "I thought the girls were showing you the calf?"
"They did," TK answers. "Then it went to sleep. They're kicking around a soccer ball in the yard."
"Okay, let me finish with the dishes and then we can go home," Carlos tells him.
"Carlos, you guys don't have to go home to watch the game," Andrea tells him.
"I think it's best because who's playing," he responds.
Andrea nods in understanding, especially with how her husband gets with football.
TK grins sheepishly, before offering to take over for Andrea. When she denies him, he tries again, "Are you sure? Carlos and I split this all the time at home, I don't mind. Besides, I feel like I should do something other than setting off your smoke detector."
"This is the last of it, TK," she tells him, handing a dish to Carlos.
"I'm going to grab the girls," Carlos tells TK when he finishes with the dish.
"And I'll get your leftovers," Andrea calls after her son
After the fifteen minutes it takes to day good-bye to Carlos' parents and the promise of coming to lunch at Tía Lucy's next Sunday if their schedules allow, the family of four is on their way back to their own home with enough leftovers to last until Wednesday.
"Did you both finish your homework for tomorrow?" Carlos asks his daughters.
Mariana answers yes, but Carmen does not. "Can you help me, Papi?" she asks. "Daddy couldn't help because the word-problems were in Spanish."
"The disadvantage of having them in a dual language program," TK jokes as he puts the food Andrea sent home with them in the refrigerator. "You get homework duty."
"Or maybe it's a hint for you to learn Spanish," Carlos replies casually.
"Hey!" TK shouts indignantly, "My Spanish is a lot better than it was before we had the girls. It's just not good enough to be helping with math homework."
"I know mi amour," Carlos responds lovingly before turning to Carmen who has now come back with her homework folder. "Okay, let's take a look at this," Carlos encourages.
"Daddy, can you color with me?" Mariana asks when TK is finished.
"Sure, Monkey," he responds, following her to the living room where they keep the coloring books.
It takes fifteen minutes for Carlos to walk Carmen through her math homework. When they are done, they join Mariana and TK in the living room.
"Game's on soon," Carlos announces as soon as he and Carmen sit down.
"Giants are gonna win," Mariana tells him as she climbs onto his lap, abandoning her coloring book.
"I think the Cowboys will," Carlos responds, poking her sides causing her to giggle.
TK goes to help Mariana when he is stopped by Carmen. "Oh, is this how it is?" he asks as Carmen is pulling on his arm and trying to tickle his sides. He picks her up and throws her over his shoulder so she is upside down. Carlos sees this and goes to help, but Mariana attaches herself to him like a koala before he can do anything.
During the competition, the game comes on and Carmen is the only one to notice. "Daddy, Papi. It's starting," she tells them, still hanging over TK's shoulder. Both men look over to the TV and see that kickoff is about to happen.
TK puts Carmen down and Mariana un-koala's herself from Carlos, though still in his arms. TK and Carlos both sit down, Mariana moves so she can cuddle with TK and Carmen sits between her Papi and sister.
The game is close the whole time, but in the end, the Giants were able to pull off the victory with a score of twenty-one to twenty-four, winning by a field goal.
"Okay, girls," Carlos looks to Carmen and Mariana. "Dinner then bath then bedtime."
"I'll get the stuff out for sandwiches," TK tells them.
Carmen follows to help, while also asking if she can have a turkey sandwich. Carlos turns off the TV before Mariana grabs his hand and walks into the kitchen with him.
TK is making Carmen's sandwich when they walk in. "What do you want, Monkey?" he asks looking up.
"Can I have ham, Daddy?" she looks to him.
"Yes, you can," he answers.
"I've got hers TK," Carlos tells him. "Just get yours and Carm's."
"Okay," TK responds, handing Carmen her sandwich.
"Okay, you two," Carlos looks to his daughters. "Bath Time."
TK looks up from clearing the dishes, "Who has who?"
Carlos looks to his husband sternly, "Can I trust you two? Last time you gave her a bath after the Giants won, there was more water on the floor and you then there was in the tub."
"We'll behave," TK promises.
"Okay, take her to our bathroom and I'll take Carmen to the girls."
"Girls, go grab your pajamas and wait in the bathrooms but don't touch the water until Papi and I get there," TK tells them.
Once the girls leave, Carlos looks to TK, "Let's get the food away and we can do the dishes once the girls are in bed."
"Sounds good," TK responds, grabbing the bags of lunch meat while Carlos gets the condiments.
"Divide and conquer," Carlos looks to TK.
TK nods as they both head into the separate bathrooms. Carlos walks into the girls' bathroom to find Carmen sitting on the floor waiting.
Turning on the water, he adjusts it until he is happy with the temperature. "Mija, does this feel okay?"
"Uh-huh," she nods.
Getting her approval, Carlos lets the tub fill and puts bubbles in it for her. "Okay, water's all ready. Call me if you need help with your hair," he reminds her.
Carmen nods before Carlos leaves her alone in the bathroom with the door cracked open and he sits on the floor by the door.
Meanwhile, TK sits on the closed toilet seat supervising Mariana as she takes a bath. He lets her play for a while before he reminds her that she needs to clean herself off and to let him know when she's ready to wash her hair.
TK helps her wash her hair and makes sure he puts enough conditioner in it so it is easy to comb through.
"Okay, stand up," he tells her, wrapping a towel around her before plucking her out of the tub. "What do you think? We didn't do too bad?" he asks her, looking at the floor, which has minimal puddles.
Mariana nods her head in agreement, spraying TK with water from her hair. He helps her dry off before she gets dressed in her pajamas; once she is dressed, TK runs the microfiber towel through her curls to get the excess water out.
Once all the excess water is out, TK leads Mariana to his and Carlos' bedroom and has her sit in the bed so he can blow dry her hair. He grabs the diffuser attachment and connects it to the hair dryer. Making sure that the temperature is on cool, so he doesn't cause heat damage, TK cups Mariana's curls in his hand and turns it on. He continues this process until all of her hair is dry.
"Okay, Monkey," he starts while unplugging the hair dryer. "All done. Why don't you go to your room and see if Papi is done with Carmen? I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay," Mariana agrees, climbing down from the bed. She exits her dads' bedroom and goes down the hall to the room that she shares with Carmen.
When TK enters the girls' room five minutes later, he finds both girls in Carmen's bed and Carlos sitting at the foot of it. "They want you to read tonight," his husband tells him.
"Did you pick out a book?" TK asks, knowing they finished the last book the previous night.
They both nod, and Carmen holds out the book. "Good choice," TK comments as he takes it, climbing into the bed, with his daughters on either side of him.
"I thought so too," Carlos comments from his spot.
With his girls snuggled into him, he starts reading. By the time he's finished the first chapter, both girls are out like a light. Carlos carefully picks up Mariana, as to not wake her, and puts her in her own bed as TK climbs out of Carmen's bed. The dads kiss their girls good night before switching places. Carlos makes sure their panda bear night light is on before TK turns off the light and both fathers leave the bedroom making sure the door is cracked open.
"I believe you made a promise," TK tease, placing a hand on Carlos' chest.
"I believe I did," he answers while kissing TK.
The couple make it to their room without stopping, only to pull apart when TK reminds Carlos, "Lock the door."
TK and Carlos lay back in bed, "We need to get up," Carlos tells him.
"Nope," TK responds.
"We need to clean the kitchen still and our bathroom."
"Kitchen can wait and I already clean the bathroom."
"You did?" Carlos looks at TK surprised.
"I did after I sent Mariana to the girls' room and before I got there."
"But the kitchen…"
"Can wait," TK responds. "It's just the dishes. I can get them when we have the breakfast dishes tomorrow. I'll get them once I get the girls to school, I don't need to be in until noon."
"Fine, but we still need to get up. We need clothes and to unlock the door," Carlos reminds him.
"Fine," TK groans, getting up.
Carlos laughs, "You wouldn't change anything. You love being a dad."
"I love being a dad with you," TK responds, pecking Carlos' lips before getting out of bed to find their clothes and unlocking their bedroom door.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Carlos agrees throwing his clothes back on, pulling TK close when he makes it back to their bed.
"I love you," TK whispers.
"I love you too," Carlos responds, pressing a kiss to the back of TK's ear.
A/N: Welp, this was it. I have a few more fics I want to do for Lone Star, I'm also planning on doing TK Strand Week and Tarlos Week, but if you know me you know I'm not the best about doing that kind of thing on the actual week. I'm thinking of doing a Tumblr post of Carmen and Mariana's backstory, so let me know if that's something you'd want to see. There also will eventually be cover art and some story art of some scenes that I pick.
Side note: I hate both teams so picking who won was very painful, so I choose the lesser of the two evils, or at least I think the Giants are the lesser of the two evils in this case lol.
If anyone reading this also reads my One Chicago stories, I will go back and finish them, I just needed a break from that fandom. I have outlines and plans for any story, one shot, and request I responded to. I am also going to finish the "Appreciation Weeks" that I started in February from last summer that I did not finish because I was discouraged by some. I'm starting to get back into the headspace for writing and hoping that it carries over to my One Chicago stories.