A/N Real quick before AOHell kicks me out again,
Mari - What Maureen has isn't exactly relavent to the plot. I didn't want to take away from that with the details, so I purposely left that vague. Sorry. But now you can make up your own details to go along with it!
Becca - No, Collin is not HIV+. He's not really Roger's remeber? He's Cass's bastard step cousin's! I know, it's been a long, long time. (Almost 16 months!) But I love the fact that you are still with me!
I love the fact that everybody is still with me! I realized just before I left, I only have about three more chapters that need to be typed up. When I realized that I almost cried. I told my husband with tears in my eyes and he looked at me like I was nuts! Oh well, he just doens't understand what's gone into this. Plus what I've gotten out of it! Both from the writing and from all of you. Thank you guys so much. When this does end (and it is quickly approaching) it will be the end of some sort of personal era!
Kelby
Chapter 97
Roger kicked at the door while struggling to hold all the grocery bags.
"Hey." Jason said, taking some of the bags from him. "Thanks for picking some stuff up for us. Is this all for us?"
"No, some of it's for us too. I just got a little of everything." He set the bags down on the table. "Shopping isn't really my thing. It's more of Mark and Cass thing, so I don't know if I got what you wanted or not."
"Don't worry about it." Jason said, peering into bags.
"The kid okay?"
"Yeah he's been great. Collins is helping him with his homework." Jason handed him a soda from the fridge.
"Thanks." Roger leaned against the counter. He could hear Collin laughing in the bedroom as Jason moved around the kitchen. Watching him for a moment he suddenly realized how tired Jason looked. Tired. Worn down. Old. Yeah that was it. Jason suddenly was looking way older then he used to. Watching someone you love die will do that to you. "How's he doing?" He almost whispered as he nodded his head towards the bedroom.
As if on cue they could hear Collins' deep racking cough. A frown crossed Jason's face. "About as good as he sounds. He still won't go to the doctor. Says all they'll do is put him in the hospital and he's not ready to just sit in a hospital and rot away."
"Oh." Roger didn't know what to tell him. He understood Jason's feelings perfectly well. He went through the same thing with Mimi. All he wanted was to make her better. For her to get just the slightest better for a little bit longer. And he knew that wouldn't happen at home, only in the hospital. But at the same time, he understood Collins feelings completely too. The last thing he wanted to do was rot away in some hospital.
"Sorry I didn't mean to dump on you Rog." Jason said, turning away as he spoke.
"Don't worry about it. Listen if him coming down here is too much, just say so."
"Oh no, he's great. Collins loves it when he hangs out down here. I do too." He paused and looked first at the floor then at the ceiling. Everywhere but at Roger. "You know, for all that kid has had to deal with and knows, he's still a kid. He's still got that little kid innocence. He doesn't automatically ask how Collins is doing or if we need anything or the usual stuff like that. And I know everybody means well, and well that's an adult thing. It's just kind of nice to have somebody walk through that door everyday and the most important thing they have to tell you is the latest fart joke they heard in school." Finally he managed to look at Roger while he spoke. "He makes him laugh and he makes him happy. Which is good." He managed a small smile.
"Yeah, he's real good for that." Roger agreed, nodding more at the floor than Jason.
"And hey, who knew there were so many fart jokes?" He let out a little laugh.
Roger laughed a little as well. "Yeah, who knew. But like I said, just say something if he starts getting in the way." Roger walked in to the bedroom. Collins was sitting up on the bed with a bunch of pillows propping him up. As Roger stepped through the door another coughing fit seized Collins, who waved at him while trying to get his breath.
"Hey Daddy!" Collin looked up from where he sat on the bed.
"Hey Buddy. You bothering Uncle Collins?" Roger asked, looking at Collins who grinned and shook his head.
"No way! He's helping me with my homework."
"Helping you or doing it for you?" Roger teased, sitting on the bed.
"Do I look anything like you and Mark?" Collins joked. "I'm a teacher remember? I don't do his homework for him like you two suckers."
Roger laughed, picking up a piece of paper with everyone's name and birthday written on it. "What are you doing?"
"I gotta make a family tree."
"Oh that'll be interesting." Roger said sarcastically to Collins, who started to laugh, causing him to cough again.
"That's what I thought." He told him, taking a sip of water Roger handed him from the table.
"But I need help. It's not working like the one we looked at in school."
"Yeah, um I figured he should really have you help him with this."
"Great. Thanks a lot." He pulled Collin over into a headlock hug. "Okay, well get your stuff. I'll help you as soon as we get upstairs. Uncle Mark has an appointment and he doesn't want to leave Aunt Mo alone."
"She have chemo today?"
Roger nodded, helping Collin shove his papers in his book bag.
"Okay. Bye Uncle Collins." He gave him a hug before walking out to the living room to find Jason.
"We'll see you later tonight. You need anything?"
"No." He coughed. "I'm fine." He tried to smile.
"Right." Roger understood what he meant. "Okay, well I gotta figure out how to explain a very twisted family tree."
"Have fun!"
"Whatever." Roger took Collin upstairs. Once they checked on Maureen and Mark left, he sat down at the table. "Okay, let's finish your homework before Mommy gets home."
"Where is Mommy?" He asked, pulling out his papers.
"She's got a new client, so sometimes she has to go work at his company for awhile. Now what's wrong with your homework?"
"It doesn't work like the one in school."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," he looked at his paper, "Uncle Patrick's your brother right?"
"Yeah, he's my older brother and Uncle Mickey's my little brother."
"Right, but what about Uncle Mark? Where does he fit in?"
"Um, he sorta doesn't. He's not really your uncle Collin."
"Yes he is." Collin stated matter a factly.
"Well, yeah, he's your uncle, but he's not really related to you."
"But he's still our family. Mommy says he's our family."
Roger just listened to him. He couldn't get over how honest he sounded. And how innocent and naïve and young at the same time. He knew he needed to be reassured of all that, especially with everything going on right now. "Yes. You're right. Uncle Mark is family."
"Well what about Aunt Mo? And Uncle Collins and Uncle Jason? And Aunt Jen and Uncle Rich?"
"Yeah, they're all your family. Go ahead and put them on your tree. We'll figure it out. Okay?"
"Uh huh." Collin wrote some stuff down.
"Okay, what else?"
"Well, if Grandma and Grandpa are your parents why do they have a different last name then us?"
Roger had to think for a second. It never occurred to him that Collin didn't realize Larry was actually his stepfather. "Well, that's because Grandpa Larry isn't really my dad. He's my stepdad. He married Grandma when I was in high school."
"Oh." Collin excepted this without question. That he understood. Lot's of kids at school had stepparents. It was a lot more common than the strange extended family he had. "So if Grandpa Larry's not your dad, who is?"
Ewww. Roger thought. How did he know that question was coming? "Well, his name's Jack. He wasn't a very nice guy. Not to me, or Uncle Mickey or Uncle Patrick. Especially not to Grandma."
"So what happened to him? Doesn't anybody ever see him?"
"I haven't see him since before you were born. I don't know about Uncle Patrick or Uncle Mickey, but I know it's been a long time."
"Why?"
The never ending questions that only Collin could ask. "Because he's just not a nice person and I didn't want him around you or Mommy. That's why we don't see him or talk to him."
"Oh."
Good. Saved. End of Jack questions he hoped. "Anything else?"
"No." Collin kept writing. "Oh wait, yeah." He looked up at Roger. "What happened to Mommy's mom and dad?"
Roger rested his chin on his hand. He should have know that was too easy. "Mommy's mom died a long time ago. When she was little. Younger than you."
"So who took care of Mommy? Her dad?"
"Yes, sort of."
"So where is here dad?"
"He's either in California or Europe."
"Doesn't Mommy ever see him?"
"No not really. She talks to him on the computer sometimes."
"Doesn't she want to see him?"
"No, I don't think she does. It's easier for them if they just stay away from each other. They didn't always get along real well. Lots of stuff happened."
"Like what?"
Uh oh. "Um, just stuff. Mommy didn't have the easiest time growing up. Her dad was gone a lot and she was stuck all alone." Close enough to the truth.
"Does she miss her mom?"
"Yes, I think she does."
"What about her dad?"
"I don't know. Maybe sometimes."
"Do you miss your dad?"
"No, I don't."
"Not at all?"
"No, like I said, he wasn't very nice and I wouldn't want him around you."
"Oh." Collin thought about all this for a second. "Daddy?"
"What kiddo?"
"I'm glad you and Mommy are here."
"What do you mean?" Roger asked.
"I'd just be real sad if you weren't. Like Mommy. Or like you an your dad. I'm glad you're here. And Uncle Mark and everybody."
"Me too Buddy." He pulled him over onto his lap, hugging him. "Me too. Now lets finish your homework before Mommy comes home."
*****************
Roger opened the front door letting Collin in. Silently they started up the stairs toward the loft. When they reached the third floor Collin finally spoke.
"Mommy's gonna be pissed, isn't she?"
"Don't say 'pissed'." Roger told him, continuing up the stairs.
"But she's gonna be, right?"
"Well, yeah, but she'll be more pissed if she hears you saying 'pissed'."
"Oh."
Roger unlocked the loft door. "Look, you're still in trouble, but don't worry about Mommy. Okay?"
"What kind of trouble?" Collin asked with big, pathetic eyes.
"I don't know. I gotta talk to Mommy. Just go hang out in your room for awhile."
"Okay." He sat his backpack down on the table, looking towards Mark and Maureen's room. "Can I go see Aunt Mo instead?"
Roger looked up and realized the TV was on in their room. "Yeah. But if she's sleeping, don't wake her up."
"Okay."
Roger threw down his keys and headed toward his room, dropping his jacket on the bed. The shower was running and he called into the bathroom. "Hey Baby, we're home." He kicked off his boots. "I hope you had a better day than I did, cause I gotta talk to you."
He pulled off his shirt, throwing it on the floor next to the hamper. As he pulled off his jeans he heard the shower turn off. "Hey Baby leave the water on. I gotta take a shower, don't you want some company?" He asked her mischievously.
"Not from you loser!" Mark laughed, ripping the shower curtain open as he stepped out in a towel.
"Jackass! What the hell are you doing in here?" Roger fell back on the bed in his boxers and threw a pillow at him, while cracking a grin.
"Cass hung some of Mo's laundry to dry in our shower." He laughed, pulling on his boxers.
"Great." Roger rolled his eyes. "Where is Cass?"
"She went for a run. So what happened? He following in your footsteps? Already suspended in the third grade?" Mark asked, flopping next to him on the bed.
"How'd you know about that?"
"Apparently, when the fight broke out, Mattie was near Krystal, who grabbed him, just before he could jump in to help Collin. She called Cass. Especially after Collin begged the principle to call you instead of her."
"Ratted out by his best friend's mom. Ouch. But at the same time, it seems strangely familiar." Roger laughed.
"Yeah, a little bit." Mark laughed. "Of course Krystal teaching there now makes it a little different. I mean, it's part of her job."
"As opposed to just being a pain in the ass busy body simply as a hobby like someone else?" Roger teased him.
"Yeah well." Mark grinned, thinking back to his mom when they were younger. "So what did his principal say? He suspended?"
"Not exactly. After talking to me she decide instead of suspending him he's got to write her a letter explaining why he got into the fight and how he could have handled the situation better. And he's gonna stay home with me tomorrow. She called it a mental health day."
"Impressive. So his permanent record won't be scarred." Mark said sarcastically. "So what did you tell her that kept him from getting suspended?"
"She said he seemed overly sensitive for him lately and wanted to know if anything different was gong on at home." He answered dryly.
"Oh." His eyes dropped to the comforter. "So what did you tell her?"
Roger sighed, throwing his arm over his face. "That there was nothing big going on. Just the usual you know. You and Mo moved back in with us. That Mo's sick, and all her hair fell out, which freaked him out. That Collins is in the hospital dying. Oh and that he spends his Wednesday nights at little kid Life Support meetings."
"Oh." Mark could hear the pain in Roger's voice. He didn't know how to make him feel better. He didn't know how to make either of them feel better about all that. "So what was he fighting about anyway?"
"I don't know exactly. He wouldn't really say and I didn't push him on it yet. I figured I'd ask him again tomorrow. Something with some snot nose, pain in the ass fifth grader."
Mark cracked a grin. He did hear that though, and he knew which buttons to push. "Bummer. Good thing the fight got broken up before Collin got hurt."
"What are you talking about?" Roger rolled over on his elbow.
"Well you know, I mean nobody wants Collin getting beat up by some snot nose, pain in the ass fifth grader."
"He wasn't getting beat up!" Roger got defensive, jumping up to a sitting position. "He popped that kid right upside the head."
"Oh come on Rog, he's only in third grade. No way he could take on a fifth grader, unless of course it's some scrawny girl or something."
"So what are you saying? My kid's a whimp?"
"No, of course not, it's just that he's well a little kid."
"Uh huh." Roger eyed him.
"Who's maybe a little, well, over protected by the numerous parental types that surround him."
"Loser!" Roger laughed, diving at Mark. "He got Mark in a head lock and started rubbing his knuckles back and forth on Mark's head. "He's not some whimpy little four eyed, momma's boy who needed his best friend to get him out of trouble all the time!"
"You guys do realize it's scenes like this, when people find you wrestling on a bed in your underwear that makes people wonder about the two of you." Cass laughed from the doorway.
"Ha ha." Mark tried to laugh, but couldn't get quit enough air due to Roger's headlock and the fact that he was leaning on his chest. "Tell him to get off me!" He gasp.
"Roger let him go, you're gonna hurt him."
"Okay." He climbed off of Mark and reached a hand out to her, pulling her onto the bed, half on his lap, half between him and Mark. "Hey Baby." He kissed her.
"Hey. I'm all sweaty. I just got done running."
"I like you when you're all hot and sweaty." He grinned.
"Oh please!" Mark rolled his eyes. "Try and remember there is a third person in the room!"
"You could leave you know?" Roger told him pulling Cass close and kissing her neck.
"Or you could tell me all about your meeting with the principal."
"No big deal Babe, really."
"Uh huh." She looked over her shoulder at him. "And you don't have to act so proud of him for beating up a fifth grader."
"Ewww, busted." Mark laughed.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'll tell you all about it later."
"Uncle Mark?" Collin called from the other room.
"In here."
"Uncle Mark, Aunt Mo wants to lay in the living room and she needs you to help her get up." He told them from the doorway.
"Okay, I'm coming." Mark said, getting off the bed and heading to Maureen.
"Am I in big trouble?" Collin asked from the doorway.
"Not yet." Roger said at the same time Cass said "Yes."
She gave Roger a look. "We'll talk about it later."
"Okay. Can I play my guitar?"
"Yes, go ahead." Cass told him before turning back to Roger as Collin left. "I need to go take a shower." She said standing up.
"Well now that I know you're not Mark, do you want some company?"
"What?" Cass asked, thoroughly confused.
"Nevermind." Roger laughed, wrapping his arms around her waist, lifting her up as he carried her, laughing into the bathroom. By the time Cass finished getting dressed, Roger was already in the living room with Mark and Maureen.
"Okay, I'm ready. Are we going to grab something to eat on the way to the hospital?"
"Yeah. Collin you want pizza or tacos?"
The guitar playing stopped. "Um, pizza."
Cass looked past the kitchen and dining room area to where the old metal table sat against the wall. "Collin get off that table."
"But I'm practicing."
"Well practice off the table!"
"But Daddy sits up here."
With her hands on her hips she gave Roger a look.
"Collin get off the table!" Roger yelled at him while pulling Cass onto his lap.
"I swear that boy." Cass started.
"The big one or the little one?" Maureen asked.
"Both!"
"Ha ha." Roger squeezed her tight.
"Mo are you coming to the hospital with us?"
"We're gonna try and go later. You guys go ahead and eat. We'll meet you there." She pushed her bandana on her head back some.
"Okay. You feel better?"
"Some. For today at least." Maureen reached up and pulled off the bandana, exposing her bald scalp. "Pookie fix this for me." She handed it to Mark who silently re-tied it.
"Dad this doesn't sound right."
"Play it again."
Collin played the chords again as everyone listened. "See it doesn't sound right."
"It sounds fine." Roger called back to him while playing with Cass' fingers.
"But it doesn't sound like when you do it."
"That's because it's not an electric guitar. That part won't sound the same on an acoustic guitar."
"Oh. So it'll never sound right because I don't have an electric guitar."
"Just keep practicing." Roger called back to him, rolling his eyes.
"Was that a hint for an electric guitar?" Maureen asked, grinning.
"You better believe it." Cass told her.
"Guess he learned his subtlety from you Mo." Mark teased her as he rubbed her neck.
"Very funny. But definitely ballsy on his part."
"What do you mean?" Roger asked.
"Just the fact that he's hitting you up for an electric guitar on the same day he almost gets suspended from school for fighting."
"Guess he learned his timing from you too Mo." Mark laughed, joined by Roger just as the phone started ringing.
"I'll get it." Collin yelled, running for the phone. "Hello? Yeah hold on." He said into the phone before turning towards the living room. "Uncle Mark, the yuppie scum is on the phone."
Both Mark and Cass gave Roger an evil look as Maureen started laughing. Mark walked over and took the phone from Collin.
"Collin get over here!" Roger yelled at him.
"Hey Benny." Mark said meekly. "Yeah well, you know kids. No, no, I know he promised not to call you that anymore, but it wasn't him, it's well like I said, you know kids." Mark shot Roger another look that basically said he owed him for this as he walked with the phone towards his office.
Roger turned back to Collin who was standing next to him now. "Collin are you just looking for trouble today?"
"No."
"Well, what are you doing? You know better than to call Benny that when he can hear you."
"Roger." Cass said to him as Maureen was cracking up.
"Oh yeah, sorry." He told Cass. "Or when you mom or Uncle Mark can hear you."
"Roger!"
"What? Alright, alright. Collin don't call him that anymore."
"But you said--"
Cass cut him off. "It doesn't matter what your father said before, he's telling you now not to do it again!"
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"Just go get your shoes and jacket. We're leaving to go see your Uncle Collins in a few minutes."
"Okay. I'm sorry." He walked off to his room.
She turned back to Roger. "You are such a bad influence!"
"But you love me for it!" Roger laughed as he started tickling her as Maureen laughed.
"I'm ready." Collin told them walking back in as he pulled on his jacket.
"Okay, let's go." She said, pulling away from Roger and trying to catch her breath. "We'll see you in awhile Mo."
"Okay. Bye guys. Tell Collins and Jason we'll be there soon."
Mari - What Maureen has isn't exactly relavent to the plot. I didn't want to take away from that with the details, so I purposely left that vague. Sorry. But now you can make up your own details to go along with it!
Becca - No, Collin is not HIV+. He's not really Roger's remeber? He's Cass's bastard step cousin's! I know, it's been a long, long time. (Almost 16 months!) But I love the fact that you are still with me!
I love the fact that everybody is still with me! I realized just before I left, I only have about three more chapters that need to be typed up. When I realized that I almost cried. I told my husband with tears in my eyes and he looked at me like I was nuts! Oh well, he just doens't understand what's gone into this. Plus what I've gotten out of it! Both from the writing and from all of you. Thank you guys so much. When this does end (and it is quickly approaching) it will be the end of some sort of personal era!
Kelby
Chapter 97
Roger kicked at the door while struggling to hold all the grocery bags.
"Hey." Jason said, taking some of the bags from him. "Thanks for picking some stuff up for us. Is this all for us?"
"No, some of it's for us too. I just got a little of everything." He set the bags down on the table. "Shopping isn't really my thing. It's more of Mark and Cass thing, so I don't know if I got what you wanted or not."
"Don't worry about it." Jason said, peering into bags.
"The kid okay?"
"Yeah he's been great. Collins is helping him with his homework." Jason handed him a soda from the fridge.
"Thanks." Roger leaned against the counter. He could hear Collin laughing in the bedroom as Jason moved around the kitchen. Watching him for a moment he suddenly realized how tired Jason looked. Tired. Worn down. Old. Yeah that was it. Jason suddenly was looking way older then he used to. Watching someone you love die will do that to you. "How's he doing?" He almost whispered as he nodded his head towards the bedroom.
As if on cue they could hear Collins' deep racking cough. A frown crossed Jason's face. "About as good as he sounds. He still won't go to the doctor. Says all they'll do is put him in the hospital and he's not ready to just sit in a hospital and rot away."
"Oh." Roger didn't know what to tell him. He understood Jason's feelings perfectly well. He went through the same thing with Mimi. All he wanted was to make her better. For her to get just the slightest better for a little bit longer. And he knew that wouldn't happen at home, only in the hospital. But at the same time, he understood Collins feelings completely too. The last thing he wanted to do was rot away in some hospital.
"Sorry I didn't mean to dump on you Rog." Jason said, turning away as he spoke.
"Don't worry about it. Listen if him coming down here is too much, just say so."
"Oh no, he's great. Collins loves it when he hangs out down here. I do too." He paused and looked first at the floor then at the ceiling. Everywhere but at Roger. "You know, for all that kid has had to deal with and knows, he's still a kid. He's still got that little kid innocence. He doesn't automatically ask how Collins is doing or if we need anything or the usual stuff like that. And I know everybody means well, and well that's an adult thing. It's just kind of nice to have somebody walk through that door everyday and the most important thing they have to tell you is the latest fart joke they heard in school." Finally he managed to look at Roger while he spoke. "He makes him laugh and he makes him happy. Which is good." He managed a small smile.
"Yeah, he's real good for that." Roger agreed, nodding more at the floor than Jason.
"And hey, who knew there were so many fart jokes?" He let out a little laugh.
Roger laughed a little as well. "Yeah, who knew. But like I said, just say something if he starts getting in the way." Roger walked in to the bedroom. Collins was sitting up on the bed with a bunch of pillows propping him up. As Roger stepped through the door another coughing fit seized Collins, who waved at him while trying to get his breath.
"Hey Daddy!" Collin looked up from where he sat on the bed.
"Hey Buddy. You bothering Uncle Collins?" Roger asked, looking at Collins who grinned and shook his head.
"No way! He's helping me with my homework."
"Helping you or doing it for you?" Roger teased, sitting on the bed.
"Do I look anything like you and Mark?" Collins joked. "I'm a teacher remember? I don't do his homework for him like you two suckers."
Roger laughed, picking up a piece of paper with everyone's name and birthday written on it. "What are you doing?"
"I gotta make a family tree."
"Oh that'll be interesting." Roger said sarcastically to Collins, who started to laugh, causing him to cough again.
"That's what I thought." He told him, taking a sip of water Roger handed him from the table.
"But I need help. It's not working like the one we looked at in school."
"Yeah, um I figured he should really have you help him with this."
"Great. Thanks a lot." He pulled Collin over into a headlock hug. "Okay, well get your stuff. I'll help you as soon as we get upstairs. Uncle Mark has an appointment and he doesn't want to leave Aunt Mo alone."
"She have chemo today?"
Roger nodded, helping Collin shove his papers in his book bag.
"Okay. Bye Uncle Collins." He gave him a hug before walking out to the living room to find Jason.
"We'll see you later tonight. You need anything?"
"No." He coughed. "I'm fine." He tried to smile.
"Right." Roger understood what he meant. "Okay, well I gotta figure out how to explain a very twisted family tree."
"Have fun!"
"Whatever." Roger took Collin upstairs. Once they checked on Maureen and Mark left, he sat down at the table. "Okay, let's finish your homework before Mommy gets home."
"Where is Mommy?" He asked, pulling out his papers.
"She's got a new client, so sometimes she has to go work at his company for awhile. Now what's wrong with your homework?"
"It doesn't work like the one in school."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," he looked at his paper, "Uncle Patrick's your brother right?"
"Yeah, he's my older brother and Uncle Mickey's my little brother."
"Right, but what about Uncle Mark? Where does he fit in?"
"Um, he sorta doesn't. He's not really your uncle Collin."
"Yes he is." Collin stated matter a factly.
"Well, yeah, he's your uncle, but he's not really related to you."
"But he's still our family. Mommy says he's our family."
Roger just listened to him. He couldn't get over how honest he sounded. And how innocent and naïve and young at the same time. He knew he needed to be reassured of all that, especially with everything going on right now. "Yes. You're right. Uncle Mark is family."
"Well what about Aunt Mo? And Uncle Collins and Uncle Jason? And Aunt Jen and Uncle Rich?"
"Yeah, they're all your family. Go ahead and put them on your tree. We'll figure it out. Okay?"
"Uh huh." Collin wrote some stuff down.
"Okay, what else?"
"Well, if Grandma and Grandpa are your parents why do they have a different last name then us?"
Roger had to think for a second. It never occurred to him that Collin didn't realize Larry was actually his stepfather. "Well, that's because Grandpa Larry isn't really my dad. He's my stepdad. He married Grandma when I was in high school."
"Oh." Collin excepted this without question. That he understood. Lot's of kids at school had stepparents. It was a lot more common than the strange extended family he had. "So if Grandpa Larry's not your dad, who is?"
Ewww. Roger thought. How did he know that question was coming? "Well, his name's Jack. He wasn't a very nice guy. Not to me, or Uncle Mickey or Uncle Patrick. Especially not to Grandma."
"So what happened to him? Doesn't anybody ever see him?"
"I haven't see him since before you were born. I don't know about Uncle Patrick or Uncle Mickey, but I know it's been a long time."
"Why?"
The never ending questions that only Collin could ask. "Because he's just not a nice person and I didn't want him around you or Mommy. That's why we don't see him or talk to him."
"Oh."
Good. Saved. End of Jack questions he hoped. "Anything else?"
"No." Collin kept writing. "Oh wait, yeah." He looked up at Roger. "What happened to Mommy's mom and dad?"
Roger rested his chin on his hand. He should have know that was too easy. "Mommy's mom died a long time ago. When she was little. Younger than you."
"So who took care of Mommy? Her dad?"
"Yes, sort of."
"So where is here dad?"
"He's either in California or Europe."
"Doesn't Mommy ever see him?"
"No not really. She talks to him on the computer sometimes."
"Doesn't she want to see him?"
"No, I don't think she does. It's easier for them if they just stay away from each other. They didn't always get along real well. Lots of stuff happened."
"Like what?"
Uh oh. "Um, just stuff. Mommy didn't have the easiest time growing up. Her dad was gone a lot and she was stuck all alone." Close enough to the truth.
"Does she miss her mom?"
"Yes, I think she does."
"What about her dad?"
"I don't know. Maybe sometimes."
"Do you miss your dad?"
"No, I don't."
"Not at all?"
"No, like I said, he wasn't very nice and I wouldn't want him around you."
"Oh." Collin thought about all this for a second. "Daddy?"
"What kiddo?"
"I'm glad you and Mommy are here."
"What do you mean?" Roger asked.
"I'd just be real sad if you weren't. Like Mommy. Or like you an your dad. I'm glad you're here. And Uncle Mark and everybody."
"Me too Buddy." He pulled him over onto his lap, hugging him. "Me too. Now lets finish your homework before Mommy comes home."
*****************
Roger opened the front door letting Collin in. Silently they started up the stairs toward the loft. When they reached the third floor Collin finally spoke.
"Mommy's gonna be pissed, isn't she?"
"Don't say 'pissed'." Roger told him, continuing up the stairs.
"But she's gonna be, right?"
"Well, yeah, but she'll be more pissed if she hears you saying 'pissed'."
"Oh."
Roger unlocked the loft door. "Look, you're still in trouble, but don't worry about Mommy. Okay?"
"What kind of trouble?" Collin asked with big, pathetic eyes.
"I don't know. I gotta talk to Mommy. Just go hang out in your room for awhile."
"Okay." He sat his backpack down on the table, looking towards Mark and Maureen's room. "Can I go see Aunt Mo instead?"
Roger looked up and realized the TV was on in their room. "Yeah. But if she's sleeping, don't wake her up."
"Okay."
Roger threw down his keys and headed toward his room, dropping his jacket on the bed. The shower was running and he called into the bathroom. "Hey Baby, we're home." He kicked off his boots. "I hope you had a better day than I did, cause I gotta talk to you."
He pulled off his shirt, throwing it on the floor next to the hamper. As he pulled off his jeans he heard the shower turn off. "Hey Baby leave the water on. I gotta take a shower, don't you want some company?" He asked her mischievously.
"Not from you loser!" Mark laughed, ripping the shower curtain open as he stepped out in a towel.
"Jackass! What the hell are you doing in here?" Roger fell back on the bed in his boxers and threw a pillow at him, while cracking a grin.
"Cass hung some of Mo's laundry to dry in our shower." He laughed, pulling on his boxers.
"Great." Roger rolled his eyes. "Where is Cass?"
"She went for a run. So what happened? He following in your footsteps? Already suspended in the third grade?" Mark asked, flopping next to him on the bed.
"How'd you know about that?"
"Apparently, when the fight broke out, Mattie was near Krystal, who grabbed him, just before he could jump in to help Collin. She called Cass. Especially after Collin begged the principle to call you instead of her."
"Ratted out by his best friend's mom. Ouch. But at the same time, it seems strangely familiar." Roger laughed.
"Yeah, a little bit." Mark laughed. "Of course Krystal teaching there now makes it a little different. I mean, it's part of her job."
"As opposed to just being a pain in the ass busy body simply as a hobby like someone else?" Roger teased him.
"Yeah well." Mark grinned, thinking back to his mom when they were younger. "So what did his principal say? He suspended?"
"Not exactly. After talking to me she decide instead of suspending him he's got to write her a letter explaining why he got into the fight and how he could have handled the situation better. And he's gonna stay home with me tomorrow. She called it a mental health day."
"Impressive. So his permanent record won't be scarred." Mark said sarcastically. "So what did you tell her that kept him from getting suspended?"
"She said he seemed overly sensitive for him lately and wanted to know if anything different was gong on at home." He answered dryly.
"Oh." His eyes dropped to the comforter. "So what did you tell her?"
Roger sighed, throwing his arm over his face. "That there was nothing big going on. Just the usual you know. You and Mo moved back in with us. That Mo's sick, and all her hair fell out, which freaked him out. That Collins is in the hospital dying. Oh and that he spends his Wednesday nights at little kid Life Support meetings."
"Oh." Mark could hear the pain in Roger's voice. He didn't know how to make him feel better. He didn't know how to make either of them feel better about all that. "So what was he fighting about anyway?"
"I don't know exactly. He wouldn't really say and I didn't push him on it yet. I figured I'd ask him again tomorrow. Something with some snot nose, pain in the ass fifth grader."
Mark cracked a grin. He did hear that though, and he knew which buttons to push. "Bummer. Good thing the fight got broken up before Collin got hurt."
"What are you talking about?" Roger rolled over on his elbow.
"Well you know, I mean nobody wants Collin getting beat up by some snot nose, pain in the ass fifth grader."
"He wasn't getting beat up!" Roger got defensive, jumping up to a sitting position. "He popped that kid right upside the head."
"Oh come on Rog, he's only in third grade. No way he could take on a fifth grader, unless of course it's some scrawny girl or something."
"So what are you saying? My kid's a whimp?"
"No, of course not, it's just that he's well a little kid."
"Uh huh." Roger eyed him.
"Who's maybe a little, well, over protected by the numerous parental types that surround him."
"Loser!" Roger laughed, diving at Mark. "He got Mark in a head lock and started rubbing his knuckles back and forth on Mark's head. "He's not some whimpy little four eyed, momma's boy who needed his best friend to get him out of trouble all the time!"
"You guys do realize it's scenes like this, when people find you wrestling on a bed in your underwear that makes people wonder about the two of you." Cass laughed from the doorway.
"Ha ha." Mark tried to laugh, but couldn't get quit enough air due to Roger's headlock and the fact that he was leaning on his chest. "Tell him to get off me!" He gasp.
"Roger let him go, you're gonna hurt him."
"Okay." He climbed off of Mark and reached a hand out to her, pulling her onto the bed, half on his lap, half between him and Mark. "Hey Baby." He kissed her.
"Hey. I'm all sweaty. I just got done running."
"I like you when you're all hot and sweaty." He grinned.
"Oh please!" Mark rolled his eyes. "Try and remember there is a third person in the room!"
"You could leave you know?" Roger told him pulling Cass close and kissing her neck.
"Or you could tell me all about your meeting with the principal."
"No big deal Babe, really."
"Uh huh." She looked over her shoulder at him. "And you don't have to act so proud of him for beating up a fifth grader."
"Ewww, busted." Mark laughed.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'll tell you all about it later."
"Uncle Mark?" Collin called from the other room.
"In here."
"Uncle Mark, Aunt Mo wants to lay in the living room and she needs you to help her get up." He told them from the doorway.
"Okay, I'm coming." Mark said, getting off the bed and heading to Maureen.
"Am I in big trouble?" Collin asked from the doorway.
"Not yet." Roger said at the same time Cass said "Yes."
She gave Roger a look. "We'll talk about it later."
"Okay. Can I play my guitar?"
"Yes, go ahead." Cass told him before turning back to Roger as Collin left. "I need to go take a shower." She said standing up.
"Well now that I know you're not Mark, do you want some company?"
"What?" Cass asked, thoroughly confused.
"Nevermind." Roger laughed, wrapping his arms around her waist, lifting her up as he carried her, laughing into the bathroom. By the time Cass finished getting dressed, Roger was already in the living room with Mark and Maureen.
"Okay, I'm ready. Are we going to grab something to eat on the way to the hospital?"
"Yeah. Collin you want pizza or tacos?"
The guitar playing stopped. "Um, pizza."
Cass looked past the kitchen and dining room area to where the old metal table sat against the wall. "Collin get off that table."
"But I'm practicing."
"Well practice off the table!"
"But Daddy sits up here."
With her hands on her hips she gave Roger a look.
"Collin get off the table!" Roger yelled at him while pulling Cass onto his lap.
"I swear that boy." Cass started.
"The big one or the little one?" Maureen asked.
"Both!"
"Ha ha." Roger squeezed her tight.
"Mo are you coming to the hospital with us?"
"We're gonna try and go later. You guys go ahead and eat. We'll meet you there." She pushed her bandana on her head back some.
"Okay. You feel better?"
"Some. For today at least." Maureen reached up and pulled off the bandana, exposing her bald scalp. "Pookie fix this for me." She handed it to Mark who silently re-tied it.
"Dad this doesn't sound right."
"Play it again."
Collin played the chords again as everyone listened. "See it doesn't sound right."
"It sounds fine." Roger called back to him while playing with Cass' fingers.
"But it doesn't sound like when you do it."
"That's because it's not an electric guitar. That part won't sound the same on an acoustic guitar."
"Oh. So it'll never sound right because I don't have an electric guitar."
"Just keep practicing." Roger called back to him, rolling his eyes.
"Was that a hint for an electric guitar?" Maureen asked, grinning.
"You better believe it." Cass told her.
"Guess he learned his subtlety from you Mo." Mark teased her as he rubbed her neck.
"Very funny. But definitely ballsy on his part."
"What do you mean?" Roger asked.
"Just the fact that he's hitting you up for an electric guitar on the same day he almost gets suspended from school for fighting."
"Guess he learned his timing from you too Mo." Mark laughed, joined by Roger just as the phone started ringing.
"I'll get it." Collin yelled, running for the phone. "Hello? Yeah hold on." He said into the phone before turning towards the living room. "Uncle Mark, the yuppie scum is on the phone."
Both Mark and Cass gave Roger an evil look as Maureen started laughing. Mark walked over and took the phone from Collin.
"Collin get over here!" Roger yelled at him.
"Hey Benny." Mark said meekly. "Yeah well, you know kids. No, no, I know he promised not to call you that anymore, but it wasn't him, it's well like I said, you know kids." Mark shot Roger another look that basically said he owed him for this as he walked with the phone towards his office.
Roger turned back to Collin who was standing next to him now. "Collin are you just looking for trouble today?"
"No."
"Well, what are you doing? You know better than to call Benny that when he can hear you."
"Roger." Cass said to him as Maureen was cracking up.
"Oh yeah, sorry." He told Cass. "Or when you mom or Uncle Mark can hear you."
"Roger!"
"What? Alright, alright. Collin don't call him that anymore."
"But you said--"
Cass cut him off. "It doesn't matter what your father said before, he's telling you now not to do it again!"
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"Just go get your shoes and jacket. We're leaving to go see your Uncle Collins in a few minutes."
"Okay. I'm sorry." He walked off to his room.
She turned back to Roger. "You are such a bad influence!"
"But you love me for it!" Roger laughed as he started tickling her as Maureen laughed.
"I'm ready." Collin told them walking back in as he pulled on his jacket.
"Okay, let's go." She said, pulling away from Roger and trying to catch her breath. "We'll see you in awhile Mo."
"Okay. Bye guys. Tell Collins and Jason we'll be there soon."