Craig fell back on his bed and pulled out the charm bracelet and touched each and every charm as if they weren't silver anymore, as if they were porcelain. He smiled.
"Craig?" Angie asked, running into his room and jumping up on the bed
"What?" he asked.
"When the baby is born will I be the aunt?" Angie replied.
"Yeah."
"Cool."
Angela grinned and jumped up off of the bed. Caitlin walked in.
Craig shrugged. He laid back down and clutched the tiny bracelet in his hand on his chest. "I'm not going to try to take the place of your mother, Craig," she said. "Just like Joey isn't going to take the place of your dad."
"I'm not arguing," Craig replied. He rolled over onto his side and looked at Caitlin. "I wish he had been my dad."
Caitlin smiled and nodded. "I know, sweetie," she said.
Craig had first met her at Spike and Snake's wedding and he wanted her to be his mom, or step mom, whichever. He saw how much she and Joey loved each other but there was something from their past keeping them apart. But Craig wasn't going to pry.
"Is that what you're scared about? You'll turn into your dad?" Caitlin asked.
Craig looked at her. He had never thought about it before, he was scared to think about it before. They say that kids who grow up in an abusive family will grow up to be abusive themselves. "I don't know," Craig whispered so low he almost mouthed it.
"You won't. Don't worry, Craig," she said. She stood up and turned and left the room. Craig blinked and stared at the wall.
He wouldn't turn into his dad. He witnessed how much it hurt him to be hit and he didn't think he would ever hit his little girl or anybody else for that matter.