Hiya guys, this is the sequel to 'Wish upon a star'. Hope you like it. Just to say- Roan is 14, Annia is 8.

All is well in the Carter household. Or is it...?

"Mom, I'm home!" Roan yelled, slamming the front door and kicking off his sneakers.

"Roan, would you shut up please. Your sister is sick!" Abby's angry face appeared round the sitting room door, scowling. Roan rolled his eyes and purposely placed his bag on the floor so it didn't make a sound. "Stop being smart young man! I'm worn out and I don't feel like this tonight."

"Whatdidido?" He moaned, quietly but stopped when his mother's head reappeared and scowled fiercely. "When's dad home?"

"Around 6 he said."

"So he'll get home about 8ish then?" For once Abby stopped frowning and nodded.

"Will you get Anni a glass of juice please? I have to cook dinner, we're having cannelloni." Roan got two glasses and poured out some apple juice into each before grabbing the cookie jar and retreating to the living room. His sister was spread out on the couch, watching TV.

"I know you're faking Anni."

"Am not!" She squealed, rather too loud. "I do feel ill."

"Well here's your juice." He handed her the glass and began chewing on a cookie. He sensed her looking at him and turned. "What? I thought you were ill."

"Well, yeah I am but I'm hungry."

"Seems to me you have Fakeristis Influenzarara. No cookies for you I'm afraid. Just bread and water."

"Moooooooom! Roan's teasing me and I'm sick!"

"Squinny." He hissed under his breath, turning back to the cartoons on the TV set.

"Roan, I thought I told you; I do not need you and your sister fighting whilst I'm cooking dinner and trying to keep this place just above dysentery level." They responded with blank looks. "A bad disease- so just chill guys please." She returned to the kitchen and the kids kept their fighting below their mother's hearing.

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"Where's your father?" Abby picked up the phone for the 5th time in 10 minutes and looked at the screen.

"Dunno." Roan answered.

"Maybe he got caught in traffic."

"Maybe he's screwing a nurse."

"Don't you ever say that sort of thing about your father Roan!" Abby yelled.

"Why? It's true. We all know he's never home, he always late if he does come home. If his phone rings he jumps like someone bit him and do you remember that phone call at 10pm from some woman asking for John Carter. No one calls him John." Abby bit her lip as tears welled in her eyes. "Look I'm sorry mom but there all facts."

"I know. But I never thought he of all people would be the kind to cheat." She sniffed softly.

"Mommy, why are you crying?" Annia stepped out of the shadow of the doorway. She had been asleep for the last 2 hours but had got up for a drink and heard her mom talking. "Has daddy done something bad?"

"No sweetie, he hasn't."

"What's 'screwing'?" Abby looked at Roan with wide eyes.

"Nothing sweetie. It's nothing." Annia crept in the door and settled herself on her mother's lap, curling up her legs and yawning.

"Will daddy be home for my birthday party?"

"Yeah, he will sis." Roan said. "He knows it's at 4pm tomorrow and he even showed me the present he got you."

"Good. He missed your birthday, I don't want him to miss mine." Abby looked over her daughter's head motioned to Roan's cell phone.

"Text him." She mouthed. Roan shrugged and picked up the phone. Tapping the message out, he heard his mom stand up and quietly return Anni to her room.

"Hi dad, where are you? Just to remind you that Anni's party is at 4pm tomorrow. Be there, don't let her down like you did to me. Roan." Send.

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