Title: Making a foundation
Name: Julia Fitzgerald
Email: rubyjewels_13@yahoo.ca
Disclosure: The only people I own are Julia Fitzgerald, Jason Matthew and Michael Matthews (the child). I had to make up a few names for the firefighters but that's because we really don't learn their names in the show. Please forgive me, I'm just having some fun here. I also don't know the name of the school that Joey Doherty attends so I made that up.
Sorry it took so long for me to get this up.
Chapter 3: Girls Night
On Friday after their shift Alex, Kim and Julia left the firehouse and pilled into Julia's jeep. Julia was just about to pull out of the parking lot when Ty leaned onto the passenger side door.
"Hey Ladies" he said.
"Davis" "Davis" "Hey" Kim, Julia and Alex replied simultaneously.
"Where you guys headed?" he asked.
"My place, I'm making dinner for them," Julia replied.
"I told you about this get together this morning, Ty" Alex said.
"I don't remember you mentioning anything about this," Davis answered.
"Sorry, Davis but I'm not giving you an invitation. This is strictly for the girls," said Julia.
"That's not fair," Davis replied.
"What's not fair?" Jimmy asked as he approached the jeep.
"Julia's making dinner for Kim and Alex and she won't invite me along," said Davis.
"What are you making?" Jimmy asked.
"Spaghetti," Julia replied.
"Sounds good," said Jimmy.
"But you see guys this is a girls night, which means Alex and I are going to fill Julia in on all the gossip. And to do that, you two can't be there" Kim said.
"You are going to talk about us?" Ty asked.
"Yep, you guys showed be worried" said Julia as she put the car in gear and back out of the parking spot, said "See you guys tomorrow" and headed off.
"I think I am worried," said Jimmy to himself and then turned to Davis and asked, "You want to get a drink?"
"No man, I'm going to go visit my mother. See that she's doing okay and let her know that I'm still alive after another. And I think there is something that I have to talk to her about," Davis replied, "Maybe some other night?"
"Yeah, some other night" Jimmy said.
"See you tomorrow Jimmy" Davis said and walked away.
Jimmy turned around and was just about to head off when he heard his name being called. He turned around to see a couple of the firefighters and he walked over and talked to them.
On the way to Julia's apartment they stopped by Kim's mother's place and picked up Joey.
After Jason decided to let Michael stay with Julia, Julia decided that letting the boys have a sleepover might be a better idea than trying to find a babysitter. And Kim agreed with the idea.
Julia hadn't even pulled up to the curve when the door to her place opened and Michael came running out.
"Mommy" Michael cried.
"Hey buddy," Julia replied.
As soon as Julia turned off the engine, she was out of the car and hugging her son.
"How was your day?" Julia asked.
"Okay. Melissa took me to the park and then to the movie store. We rented a couple of movies and a couple of playstation games," Michael answered.
"Wow" Julia replied and then turned around. Placing him on the ground and said "Michael this is Joey. When Joey lives with his Dad, he lives right across the street."
"Do your parents live in separate houses too?" Michael asked.
"Yeah" Joey replied.
"So do mine," Michael replied and then totally changed the subject as only seven year olds can by saying "Do you like playing Playstation?"
"Yeah" Joey replied.
"let's go up to my room" Michael said and they disappeared inside.
"Looks like they hit if off" said a young women from the door.
Julia picked up her bag and headed inside followed by Alex and Kim.
"How do you think they will react when we tell them that they are going to the same school and will be spending time together outside of school" Kim said.
"They will be thrilled" Melissa said, picking up her school bag, "Everything is set to go. As Michael said we went to the movie store and got a couple of movies and a couple of games. I made sure everything was child friendly."
"Do I owe you anything?" Julia asked.
"No Ms. Fitzgerald. Mr. Matthews dropped by today. Gave me some money for them. Michael told him about the sleepover. He's been excited all day" Melissa answered, "And Mr. Matthews also said something about going away for a couple of days, but that he would stop by when he comes back."
"Thank You Melissa. And can you come for eight o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll be going for a run" Julia said.
" No problem, Ms. Fitzgerald. And Ms. Zambrano, it's fine if you want to leave Joey here tomorrow until after your shift" Melissa said.
"Thank You Melissa" Kim said.
"See you tomorrow" Melissa said and headed out the door.
It was around midnight when the boys finally fell asleep. Julia and Kim went about tucking them in to bed.
"I think they fell asleep protesting. They were having so much fun," Julia said.
"I think it was the right thing to agree to have Melissa take care of Joey. I think Mom needs to have a break. Besides it will give him someone to play with," Kim said.
"Two is always easier than one, or so my mom said," Julia said.
Alex was in the living room talking on her cell phone when Julia and Kim joined her.
"Can't spend a couple of hours away from him can you" said Julia.
"Must be true love," Kim said.
"Actually Ty was calling to tell me that my landlord has decided to sell the building to a company that want to make a parking lot. I have till the end of the month to vacate the building and fine somewhere else to live," said Alex.
"Why was Ty at your apartment?" asked Kim.
"Apparently Carlos has a girl over," said Alex "So I told him that he could go over to my place anytime. It's better than waiting outside his door for the noise to quiet down and the girl to leave."
"Carlos had a girl over?" Kim asked, "I thought he had sworn off women."
"So had I but I guess he changed his mind. Let's hope that's he's taking more protection this time" Alex replied.
"Someone care to fill me in?" Julia said.
"Carlos got a girl pregnant and she died in childbirth. Carlos found out but refused to do anything for the girl except pay for the abortion. She refused the abortion so he claimed it was now her responsibility to care for the child and not to come looking to him for money. A couple months after the birth, the baby showed up in one of the bus while parked at the house and Carlos said it was his. Blood work supported his claim. There was a couple of rough times about a year ago and he at one point decided he was going to keep the child. But now the baby is being placed with another family. A good one, if Carlos decided they were better for the child than him" Kim said.
"Wow" said Julia.
"He's not very respectful towards women, but maybe with a kid. He's changed his way," said Alex.
"We could only hope" Kim replied.
"Speaking of love lives, why didn't you tell me about yours with Davis?" Julia asked.
"What are you talking about?" Alex asked, "I told you about him."
"No Al, you didn't" Julia said.
"I'm so sorry Jules, I thought I had," Alex said.
"Jimmy said it was about 8 months ago that you guys started dating," Julia said.
"yeah. We started just after they found my father. After 9-11 Ty told me that if I wanted to talk about it that he was there for me to talk to. I rebelled not possibly thinking that he could understand what I was feeling. And then they found my dad and I was decided to take him up on it. And I was surprised to find that he did known and that we had a lot in common" Alex said.
"Al I'm sorry I couldn't be here for you" Julia said and suddenly got an idea.
"Don't worry about it Jules. You were there, how many times did I call up and we just sat there is silence, or you let me talk about anything that was on my mind no matter how stupid it was," Alex replied and then she saw the look in Julia's eyes. "What?" she asked.
"I have the perfect solution about your living troubles," said Julia.
"Jules, I can't move in with you," said Alex immediately.
"Don't worry, I could never ask you to move in with a seven year old boy," Julia responded, "But I do know of an apartment that is available for rent."
"What here on the block?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, remember when I was in high school, and I asked my parents to make me my own apartment so that I had space?" Julia said and then without waiting for an answer said, "I was planning on renting it out anyway, so have a look at it and if you want it it's yours."
"Let's take a look at it then," Alex said.
Julia instantly headed towards the door leading to the basement and Kim and Alex followed.
Julia's parents had agreed to Julia's request and turned the basement into an apartment. And because they knew that their loving daughter wouldn't always be living there, they made it to rent out to other people after Julia left home. The apartment took up most of the basement leaving room for a little storage and a freezer at the bottom of the stairs.
The apartment was a good size, with two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. With a 3 piece bathroom (bath/shower, toilet and sink). It had it's own cable hook-up; phone hook-up, it even had a cable Internet hook-up. There was a door connecting the apartment with the rest of the house that could be locked by the person in the apartment, and it had a separate entrance to the world outside.
"Would it be a problem if Ty was to
stay over?" Alex asked.
"Separate Entrance means that
hopefully unless invited he wouldn't be walking through the house," Julia said,
try to protect her son.
"We would call each other before using the connecting door?" Alex asked.
"Of course," Julia replied.
"I insist on paying rent, how much would you ask?" Alex asked.
"$200/month less than whatever you are paying now," Julia said.
"Sounds like the perfect solution. Go ahead and draw up the lease, I'll sign. Do you think we could commandeer the FDNY to help me move?" Alex said.
"Of course, and I'll offer beer and pizza afterwards," Julia said.
"This is great, thanks Jules," Alex said.
"You welcome" Julia replied.
"I feel so left out now," Kim said.
"I'll just have to remember you the next time an apartment comes up," Julia said.
"I'm sure you will," Kim replied.
"Of course it probably won't be too much longer before she's engaged," said Alex.
"Alex!!!!" Kim cried.
"Are you seeing somebody?" Julia asked.
"We only started dating" Kim said, "so don't read anything into it."
"I won't tell a soul" Julia said, "So who is he?"
"David Blake" Kim replied.
"The paramedic from the 1st watch?" Julia asked.
"That's him" Kim answered.
"Good fo you Kim. I know how hard it is to date when you have a child at home, especially when the child is young" said Julia as she led them out of the basement.
"After everything that happened with Jimmy. I'm not ready to jump to conclusions about our relations and I'm letting him set the pace. He wants to meet Joey so on Sunday I'm taking the day off and we're going to take him to Coney Island" said Kim.
"That's wonderful," said Alex.
"Really wonderful" Julia agreed, "Kim, I know you haven't known me very long but if you ever want to talk you can always come to me."
"You too Julia," Kim answered.
"It's Jules" Julia said with a smile and then changed the subject, "Alright I want to know all about the five-five. All the gossip! And let's start with Doherty."
They settled into seats and started to talk about all the people. It was 3 a.m. before Alex and Kim left for their own places ad she knew without a word being said that they had people waiting for them.
Julia locked up the place and after
checking on the boys crawled into her own bed and fell asleep felling lonely.