Chapter 2

Hey everyone. Thought this was going to be a one chapter story but the creative juices got flowing and I wrote another few chapters. Also working on the next story set another 15 years in future. Please leave a review.

Rizzo sat at the dining room table enjoying a glass of sherry as she reflected on the day and the sight in front of her.

They had put Rob's news to one side as Alex, Eric, Lucy and Adam had arrived not long after Rob and the kids. Kenickie had maintained his title as BBQ legend and as Rizzo predicted there was only just enough food. As the adults sat on the patio talking, the kids had ran about playing different types of games on the lawn including wrestling their uncle Alex to the ground until he begged for mercy. Everybody had helped to clean up and once done, Kenickie and the boys headed to one of their favourite bars for some fatherly-brotherly bonding. Lucy had stayed to catch up with Rizzo and Adam had begged her to stay longer as he was having too much fun with his big cousins. Once Lucy and Adam left, Kenny, Jackson and Dale changed into their jammies before choosing a movie that they wanted to watch. Ryan had wanted to stay up as well but as soon as he sat on his bed, he had fallen asleep so Rizzo tugged him in before coming downstairs with the other three.

Once downstairs, the main living room had been turned upside down as they formed mattresses out of cushions and fleece throws from the sofa's. Once built, the three of them finally agreed on watching Toy Story and they got comfy on their mattresses to watch the film. Rizzo had brought them milk and cookies before settling on the couch, that still had cushions on it, to watch it with them. Just before the film finished Rizzo had taken the dirty cups and cookie plate through to the kitchen to wash them but when she came back to tell the kids it was bedtime, they were sound asleep on their cushions. Not wanting to wake them, she turned all bar one light off and closed the side door from the hall and the glass doors leading to the dining room. The sensible thing would be to wake them up but if a grandma didn't let her grandkids have fun at her house, what was the point of being grandma.

She took another sip of sherry as she gazed at her grandkids through the glass doors of the dining room knowing that everything would be ok. The Murdoch's wouldn't give up or go down without a fight. Just as she put the glass on the table, she heard the front door opening and knew it was Kenickie and Rob. Luckily there were being quiet knowing that the kids would be asleep but as someone came into the dining room she was surprised by who was there.

"Hey Ma." Alex smiled at her as he sat down next to her.

'Hi." Rizzo replied wondering why he was here and not in his own home but she had an idea why.

"Whoa. Cool mattress fort." Alex said as he spotted two of his sleeping nephews and niece before turning back to his mum. "How come we couldn't do that when we were kids?

"Because you were always stuck under the hood of a car you never had energy to do that by the time you came home.' Rizzo replied. "Plus grandkids get away with more than what their parents did."

Alex knew she was right and one day he'd give her more grandkids to spoil but not yet.

"Hi mom." Rob said as he sat down opposite her as Kenickie followed him in and sat down beside him. He didn't say anything to her but smiled at her letting it speak a thousand words.

"You guys have a good night." Rizzo asked as she smiled at them.

"Yeah just hanging with my pit crew." Kenickie said referring to the name he'd give the boys when they were little.

"Nice to have some adult conversation and beers without watching four kids." Rob smiled. "Kids go to bed ok ma?"

"Ryan was out like a light not long after you guys left. As for the other three, take a look." Rizzo replied as she pointed to the glass door leading to the living room.

Kenickie and Rob turned to the glass door and the sight made them smile. Dale was lying on her makeshift mattress with Kenny sleeping on her left with a protective arm slung over her side. Jackson was on her right with his back up against hers sound asleep. Kenickie quietly left the room to grab something.

"Seemed a waste to let a good mattress fort go to waste so left them sleeping." Rizzo said before turning to Rob. "You can wake them and take them to their proper beds if you want."

"All good ma. Their fine." Rob replied as he turned away from the door to face her again. "Plus if you wake Dale and Jackson, it's like poking a bear with a stick."

"Our sweet Dale." Alex snorted. "Don't believe you."

"Go wake her up then." Rob smirked at how well he knew his little girl. "I dare you."

Luckily Alex caught the look in his brother's eye. "Nah your ok."

They let out a quiet laugh as Kenickie came back into the dining room with a camera and put his finger to his lips as he quietly opened the glass doors. He snapped a picture of the kids before quietly closing the door again as Kenny, Jackson and Dale didn't even stir in their sleep.

"Another one for the collection to share when they become adults." Rob said grimacing at the thought.

"That's the plan." Kenickie replied as he wound the camera up.

"Ryan will be upset when he see's the fort and that he's missed out again." Rizzo sighed knowing Ryan wanted to be doing everything the others were but he was to young and could never stay up long enough for things like this.

"I get it." Alex said knowing what it was like to be the youngest out of multiple siblings. "Won't be long till he's keeping up with them and showing them whose boss."

"I still showed you that I was always the boss." Rob smirked at him.

"You mean I let you show me you were the boss." Alex smirked back.

"Boys don't even.." Before Rizzo couldn't finish her sentence as Rob was off his seat and had his brother in a headlock. Alex tried his best to the get free but he couldn't.

"Ok I surrender." Alex said after a minute after struggled in his headlock.

"Who's the boss? Rob grinned.

"You are" Alex grunted as Rob released him. "Must have been the booze. Affecting my survival skills."

"Yeah right." Rob smirked as he sat down.

Alex turned back to the glass door as he thought some of the noise might have disturbed the kids but they were sound as sleep.

"Man they're really out." Alex said as he turned back. "What you do Ma? Slip some sherry in their milk."

"Those three sleep through anything. Remember the thunderstorm with flash flooding about two years ago?"

"Yeah. It was like you literally in the clouds." Alex replied ignoring the dirty look his mum had shot him.

"Ryan was up all night watching the lighting bolts with me and Laura. Those three." Rob said as he pointed to his kids. "Slept right through the whole thing and missed it."

"That's impressive.' Kenickie said remembering the storm as it had brought a lot more work to the shops with cars damaged in the flood.

"Speaking of sleep." Alex yawned. "Can I crash here tonight?"

"You know you don't ever need to ask." Rizzo said knowing he was staying to avoid paying a cab home. She was also making pancakes in the morning which was Alex's favourite.

"Thanks." Alex replied as he stood up. "I'm hitting the hay."

"Me to." Rob said as he stretched and turned to Rizzo. "Where's Ryan sleeping?

"Eric's room." Rizzo replied as she and Kenickie stood up to.

Rob nodded as he pushed his chair in. "Night guys."

"Night parents." Alex said as he followed Rob out the room and upstairs.

"Night boys." Kenickie said as she watched them go up the stairs.

"So how's he really doing?" Rizzo asked him once the boys closed their doors.

"He's good." Kenickie replied as he double checked all the doors were locked and lights were off. "Just needs the two snobs to go away and he'll almost be the same Rob again."

He wasn't lying just to make her feel better. When they went out to the bar, Rob was able to talk about Laura without being sad and it sounded good to hear him laughing again. The only thing on Rob's mind was his in-laws trying to get his kids from him.

"Yeah almost." Rizzo whispered knowing Rob would never fully be Rob again without Laura.

"Come on." Kenickie said as he snaked his arm around her waist. "Let's go to sleep and worry about it when there's actually something to worry about.

"Yeah you're right." Rizzo smiled as she let him lead her to bed and soon everyone in the house was asleep.

Next morning

Even though it was a Saturday morning, Rizzo was up at her usual time of 8am. Seeing Kenickie still sleeping, she snuck out of bed and headed downstairs. She headed into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and once made she went back to the dining room to check to see if her oldest grandkids were still sleeping. They were still sleeping however she could see Dale stirring and knew it wouldn't be long till she was up so she sat at the dining room table to wait.

A few minutes had passed and Rizzo seen Dale open her eyes but she needed a minute to remember where she was instead of her bed. Kenny had taken his arm off her during the night but Jackson was still sleeping against her back so when she sat up, he tumbled onto the spot she had been sleeping. Rizzo put her finger to her lips as Dale quietly opened the glass doors and closed them so she didn't disturb her brothers.

"Morning sweetie." Rizzo said as she opened her arms for her granddaughter.

"Hi Grandma." Dale replied as she walked into her grandma's arms and hugged her tightly.

"Did you sleep ok?" Rizzo asked as she let her go after a moment of hugging.

"Yeah." Dale yawned as she stretched her arms up. "Can we sleep on that every time?"

"One condition." Rizzo smiled at her. 'You have to put it all back in the morning before you go home."

'I promise." Dale smiled back at her new sleeping arrangement.

"That a girl." Rizzo replied standing up from her chair. "Come on. Let's make the pancakes before everyone else gets up."

"Yes!" Dale almost shouted. "I get to lick the bowl first."

Rizzo beamed at her as they made their way to the kitchen.

An hour later and they were almost ready for breakfast. Dale had helped Rizzo put all the ingredients in the bowl and just as they were ready to turn the mixture to pancakes, Ryan, Kenny and Jackson had woken up and joined them. As Rizzo cooked the pancakes, the kids set the table and got juice out for everyone.

"Morning." Rob said as he walked through into the dining room.

"Morning dad." Kenny said as he set a plate down.

"Morning." Jackson said from setting down the juice.

"Hi Daddy." Dale smiled as she walked back to the kitchen.

"Hi dad." Ryan replied from his seat at the table.

Rob smiled back at them as he followed Dale to the kitchen as Rizzo was cutting up fruit.

"Hey Mom." Rob said as he grabbed a mug to get coffee.

"Morning." Rizzo smiled back at him. "How'd you sleep?"

"Like a log. Well needed." Rob replied as he took a sip of coffee. "Can I help with anything?"

"No we got it covered." Rizzo replied. "Sit at the table. Breakfast is ready, just waiting for your dad and brother."

"Cool." Rob said as he observed his kids completing their tasks. "I'll leave you and your troops to it."

"You'll thank me one day." Rizzo shouted as he walked away back to the dining room.

As Rob went back to the dining room only Ryan was left but his dad was now at the table as well munching on a piece of bacon.

"Hey dad." Rob said as he sat down next to his son.

"Hey son." Kenickie replied with a guilty look at being caught sneaking bacon as he quickly finishing it as he heard Rizzo coming back.

Rob smiled at him as Rizzo sat down beside him ready to eat. "Where's the other three gone."

"Told them their uncle needed waking up." Kenickie said as he eyed all the food. "Jax said he knew to wake him up feeling refreshed but needed Dale and Kenny's help. Whatever that means."

"Oh no!" Rob sighed as his face dropped.

"What?" Rizzo and Kenickie asked at the same time.

"Wait for it." Rob replied as he knew what was coming.

Just as Rob finished talking, shrieks of shock, "Stop it" and "I yield" could be heard from upstairs. Once all the noise stopped, the running of footsteps was heard along the upstairs hallway then again running down the stairs before Kenny, Jackson and Dale reappeared in the dining room and sat at the table. All three giggling non stop.

"Jackson what did we say about those water guns?" Rob asked but more footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs.

The footsteps approached the dining room and Alex appeared in his sleep T-shirt and shorts but he was all wet. Luckily he didn't look mad as Rizzo, Kenickie and Rob were trying not to laugh but they couldn't help it.

"I'll give that a prank a 8/10 Jax." Alex replied as he high fived his nephew.

"Thanks." Jackson replied as he high fived him back.

"You're not mad?" Kenickie asked knowing how much Alex loved his sleep.

"Nah its just water." Alex replied as he sat down. "Plus I take mom's pancakes over more sleep any day."

"Amen bro. Let's eat!" Rob said as everyone reached for the food on the table.

Soon everyone was full and every crumb of food had been eaten as they sat round the table chatting until the door bell ringing interrupted them.

"Which garage we working at today bro." Alex asked Rob as Kenickie got up to answer the door.

"The one on harbour road. It's got the least workload so shout be empty by 1." Rob replied.

"Can we come?" Kenny asked as Ryan and Jackson matched his excited face.

"Course you can." Alex replied smirking at Rob. "Who else are we gonna get to bring us snacks and drinks."

"Dale do you wanna stay with Grandma?" Rizzo asked hoping to spend time with her.

"No." Dale said trying to sound as nice as possible as she went to her dad. "I wanna go work on the cars to."

"Ok. If you guy's want I can have dinner ready for when your done." Rizzo smiled at them all.

"Will let you know ma." Rob said he placed Dale on his lap.

Kenickie came back into the dining room and he didn't look happy.

"Alex." Kenickie said through gritted teeth. "Why don't you take the pit crew upstairs and show them the new race car video game and leather jacket you got."

Alex and Rob shared a quick glancing knowing it wasn't good knows.

"Sure thing pops." Alex replied.

"I get to go first." Kenny said as he shot off his chair and ran to the stairs.

"Ladies get to go first." Dale shouted as she jumped off Rob's lap and after her brother.

"You're not a lady." Jackson shouted as he ran after her.

"No me first." Ryan replied as he was hot their kneels.

Alex knew by his dads face that he didn't have time to ask what was going on so headed upstairs knowing that he found find out soon enough.

"Their outside and they wanna talk." Kenickie said through his teeth.

Rizzo and Rob let out matching sighs knowing that this wasn't going to be good.

"Take them round to the backyard." Rob said as he stood up. "I don't the kids hearing them."

"Agreed." Rizzo replied standing up. "Their not welcome in this house."

"I'll meet you guys there in a minute." Kenickie replied as he walked back to the front door.

"Ma." Rob said as Rizzo headed towards the patio doors.

"Yeah?" Rizzo asked, as she turned round to face Rob knowing exactly what he was going to say.

"Please keep your cool no matter how much they press your buttons." Rob pleaded with her.

Rizzo didn't mind Laura's father and could put up with him but her mother was a different ball game. They had clashed since the moment that they met with her mom making snide comments about the Murdoch family but it came to a head on Laura and Rob's wedding day. Rizzo had watched Laura's mother berate her for marrying beneath her and told her she still had time to ditch Rob at the alter. When her mother finally left, It was Rizzo who calmed her down and redid her make up so it looked like she hadn't been crying. Ever since then the two women never spoke besides a small greeting of "hello."

"I will for you and my grandbabies." Rizzo said through gritted teeth.

Rob knew she would try her best and that's all he asked as he followed her through the patio doors.

They walked to the decking on the patio and sat down on the cushioned chairs. Just as they sat down, they heard the clink of the gate opening and closing as Kenickie appeared round the corner followed by Laura's parents. As they made their way to them, Laura's mom was inspecting their garden with a look of disgusted on her face.

"Robert." Arthur, Laura's father, greeted him as he sat down on the seat opposite Rob.

"Arthur." Rob reached out to shake his hand which Arthur returned. He then turned to his mother in law. "Violet."

She didn't reply but nodded her head to him before glaring at Rizzo which she tried not to mirror.

"Nice to see you both." Rob said as he sat down. "What can we do for you?"

"It's more what we can do for you." Arthur replied as he reached in his pocket.

TO BE CONTINUED