AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. This little chapter is sort of through the eyes of Toby.

The Other Side Of Never

Chapter Eleven

July 4th 2010

Toby sat in his room playing with his action figures; Spiderman was his favourite of which he had a couple. They were fighting the enemy forces, which today happened to be three of Elise's old Barbie's, as he couldn't find his other figures. He vaguely recalled leaving them in the back yard at Grandma's house. The game didn't work so well with Barbie's, which he thought were really dumb girls toys.

'Toby' Carter yelled up the stairs

Toby ignored him he was much more interested in his game.

Carter stuck his head round the door 'We're leaving, are you ready to go buddy?'

Toby looked up and sighed.

'You can bring Spiderman along, if you leave him in the car, otherwise he'll get lost'

'Okay' he nodded

'Oh and Mom said go to the bathroom before we go okay' Carter added before heading into his and Abby's bedroom to get something.

Toby nodded, he didn't actually need the bathroom so instead of going there he went into Carter's old room, which was in the middle of being decorated and poked about a bit.

Carter on his way downstairs noticed the door was open 'You ready?' he asked Toby, who jumped with shock, kicking the paint tin, luckily the lid was on.

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He sat in his own little world as the drove to the picnic site on the outskirts of town, except not their side so it was a fairly long journey for the little boy on a hot sultry day.

Mom and Carter both had a holiday today, Toby was not to know however that Carter had agreed to work two nights to have the day off.

When they arrived, parked and unloaded they met up with the remainder of the Dirkiss clan, who were meeting together again. They had chosen a spot half in the sun and half in the shade.

Toby thought 'Oh no I need to pee' He started to jump about a bit, but that felt worse, so he stood still, watching everyone and trying to catch his mom's eye.

'What up with you?' asked Elise

'I need to pee' he said

'Already'

Toby could only nod.

'Mom' she shouted

Abby looked over to them noticing the familiar look on Toby's face.

'I told you to go before we left' she said taking him to the nearest discreet tree.

'I forgot' he replied.

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Elise and Toby sat together watching some older kids play when their cousin Rory who was a little older than Elise came up to them with a school friend. They sat down with them.

'This is Josh' he said introducing his friend

'Hi' they all said

'What'ya doing?'

'Nothing' said Elise

'Who's that with your Mom, Josh?' Rory asked pointing to a woman and man at a nearby table

'That's my new Dad'

Toby looked up, interested that you could get new dads.

'You remember my Mom got married again last year'

'What's married?' asked Toby wondering

'Well my Mom and Jeff that's my new Dad went to church with me and some people in my family and some other grown ups. The my Mom and Jeff said that they loved each other and made some promises and stuff. Then there was the yukky bit where they got to kiss, then we had a sort of party' Josh told him 'It was quite good fun, except I had to dress real smart and not get dirty'

'Sounds okay' thought Toby looking at his Mom and Carter who were talking with his grandmother and Aunty Claire. 'Not too hard, be good for a day, dress smart for a day, um I could do that'

By the time he had stopped thinking about it he had missed part of the conversation and caught Elise asking 'Is he nice?'

'He's okay I guess' Josh replied

'Who does the baby belong to?' Rory asked

'That's my baby brother, you've seen him before'

'Oh yeah I forgot' Rory said

'He looks cute' Elise said

'He's okay I guess, when he's not crying'

'Babies cry, that's what they do' Elise told them 'Don't you think he's cute?'

'You're a girl, girls think babies are cute'

Elise looked offended and then to prove that she wasn't all girly girl she said 'You want to play soccer?'

'Yeah come on' the two boys said

'Me too' said Toby wanting to join in

'Sorry' said Elise 'You have to be four to play this game' knowing full well he was not quite three and a half.

He frowned at her and his shoulders slumped.

'Yeah' added Rory and Josh 'we don't want no babies messin' up our game'

Defeated Toby turned round feeling rather glum and wishing he'd stayed home.

The first person he encountered was his grandfather, who was sitting in a sun chair in the shade. Toby went up to him.

'What's up Toby?' he asked lifting the little chap on to his lap.

'They won't let me play' he told Bill

'Oh' Bill replied

Bill and Toby sat there watching Elise, Rory and Josh who had already moved on from the game of soccer to some make believe thing.

'Can you get new Dad's?' Toby asked Bill suddenly

'What do you mean?'

'Josh has a new dad and a baby bro...brof..'

'Brother?' Bill suggested

Toby nodded

'Oh' said Bill 'Well yes you can'

'Mmmm' Toby replied 'me and 'Lise could get a new dad' he added looking in the direction of Carter.

'I see you've chosen one' Bill said amused

Toby smiled at his Grandfather 'I like him'

'Yeah he's a good guy' Bill replied

'He'd have'ta marry Mom so we can get a baby?'

'Er yes that would probably be the best way to go. But you can't make it happen Toby, things just have to happen on their own'

'I can wish'

'Yes you can wish'

Toby looked over to Carter again who was lounging with Abby on a rug; they were talking quietly together.

'Why don't you ask him to play kick the ball around with you?'

Bill whispered softly into Toby ear.

Toby smiled again, slid off his Grandfather's lap and went to ask.

He was really elated when Mom said she'd play too and he had far more fun with Carter and his Mom than playing with Elise and her stupid game until it was time for lunch.

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The rest of the day he had a great time, his other cousins of whom he had quite a few included him in their games. He spent at lot of time watching his Mom and Carter; they kissed a lot, which he thought was a good sign. When it was time to go home he found he didn't want the day to end. But Mom and Carter insisted, they also insisted that he went to the bathroom before leaving. To make sure Carter took him himself.

There was a happy silence in the car as they rode back home. The next thing Toby knew was Elise talking. He felt sleepy and couldn't be bothered to open his eyes when she said.

'He really is asleep Mom'

The car door opened and he felt himself being lifted out 'I'll take him in' Carter offered, taking Toby from Abby. 'He's getting really heavy'

Toby wasn't really aware of any more as Carter carried him upstairs and put him to bed.

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