Chapter Three: What's Happening Here?

Why am I doing this? I can't do this, Manny thought to herself. But for some reason, she couldn't stop herself.

"I can't do this," Jimmy said, sitting up.

"I was thinking the same thing. I'm sorry Jimmy, I don't know why I…" she started to say.

"No, I should be the one apologizing. Oh man, I can't believe I did that, especially after Chris coming down here and…"

"Jimmy, calm down and stop rambling! It's okay; it's not your fault. I shouldn't have kissed you back, and besides, Chris won't find out, I promise," Manny explained. Right as she finished talking, she heard the door open and then close above them, and could hear the boys running into the kitchen. "Yeah, I think I should get dressed now that they're home," Manny said.

"Uh…yeah, that's probably a really good idea," Jimmy replied, a wave of embarrassment washing over him once again. "Where should I go?" he asked, looking around.

"You can either go in that room," she pointed at the door. "The closet, or just turn around."

"I think I'll go in the room," Jimmy said. As soon as he closed the door behind him, Manny began to get dressed.

"I'm done!" she yelled and he came out. "Let's go, I'm gonna take you home." She grabbed his hand and dragged him upstairs. "Heather, this is Jimmy. He'll be watching Lily and Lucas until you get home everyday. Emma has an environmental science club after school now," she said, introducing Jimmy to her.

"Nice to meet you Jimmy," Heather said, extending her hand, and he shook it.

"Do you think you can keep an eye on the twins until I get back? I have to take him home," she told Heather.

"Sure, that's fine, go ahead," she answered. Manny plopped the baby monitor on the kitchen counter and turned to leave, and Jimmy followed her.

"Thanks!" she yelled over her shoulder before running out the door. Once they got in the car, Manny turned to Jimmy. "Aren't your parents gonna wonder where you went after school?" she asked him. "It's 5:30," she pointed out.

"They wouldn't know because I don't live with them. They were never around and then decided to move and I didn't want to go with them. So I stayed here and I live in a condo. They pay for everything though," Jimmy explained.

"Wow, you're lucky. I guess I was lucky to have people like Heather and Jason to move in with. My parents just didn't really want me around anymore. My mother told me I was a disappointment to the family because of the way I dressed and acted. Then when I got pregnant, they wouldn't even talk to me. But I had already moved out by then. Chris and I are thinking about getting our own apartment because the Daniels' already have a lot to worry about with four kids of their own."

"Is it alright if I asked you what happened between you and Chris? After the babies were born, I mean. I heard a little from Paige and Marco, but I wanted to hear it from you. But you don't have to answer," he added. Manny sighed.

"I don't mind telling you. Well, the day Lily and Lucas were born, I was so overcome with joy that I didn't notice Chris getting more and more upset. He didn't know what to do because we weren't sure who their father was. He left me that same day. I found out a week later that he was the father, but I didn't know where he went, so I couldn't tell him. His mom told me that he wasn't home, and I knew he wasn't at Marco's. I think he went back to the states. Anyway, he didn't come back until a month after he had left. I was so angry with him, and I wasn't sure that I even wanted him back. We had a long talk that night, and decided it was best for the babies to stay together. I still loved him, ya know? I was just so mad at him," she explained. "But the relationship's been really rocky ever since he came back, and you're the only person I've told that to."

"Wow, I'm really sorry. I had no idea that all of that happened. I guess it's really none of my business, but I think you deserve better than that," he said. "Stop. That's it right there," he said, pointing to the condominiums on the left. He told her the number and she drove up to it.

"This is really nice. And by the way, you don't have to worry about me. I can deal with Chris," she said. Jimmy went to open the door but Manny leaned towards him. She kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for all your help, see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, I'll see ya," he said and got out of the truck. Manny waited until he got the door unlocked. Jimmy turned and waved to her to let her know that he was in and she waved back before driving away. The song "Scars" by Papa Roach was on the radio, so she turned it up louder and sang along with it.

I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

Drunk and I'm feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
I'm pissed cause you came around
Why don't you just go home
Cause you channel all your pain
And I can't help you fix yourself
You're making me insane
All I can say is

I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

I tried to help you once
Against my own advice
I saw you going down
But you never realized
That you're drowning in the water
So I offered you my hand
Compassions in my nature
Tonight is our last stand…

When the song was over, Manny realized she was sitting in the driveway at home, and saw Chris sitting on the steps waiting for her. It was 6:30 and he was home three hours early. Great, here it goes, she thought. She turned the car off and jumped out.

"Why are you home from work so early?" Manny asked Chris as she approached him.

"We need to talk," he replied. "Let's go inside." Manny followed Chris down to their room where Lily and Lucas were still asleep. "Why was Jimmy really here Manny?" he asked her when she sat down on the couch.

"I already told you Chris. He is going to watch them when I go to work," she said angrily. She was talking fairly quietly because she didn't want to wake the babies.

"Why was he watching you feed them? Just so he could stare at your chest?" He was getting madder by the minute.

"Why does it bother you that he saw me feeding our children? You don't care when Marco, Paige, Emma, Heather, or even Jason does! So why should it be any different with Jimmy?"

"Because it is! Marco's gay, Jason is like a father to you, and all the rest of them are girls! Besides, why isn't Emma watching the twins?" he spat.

"That doesn't matter! If I am sitting in a room full of guys, and the babies are hungry, I'm going to feed them! I'm not ashamed to take care of my children in front of people. And Emma has a club after school," Manny hissed. Chris was pacing around the room. He walked over to the cribs and looked down at Lily and Lucas. He watched them sleep for a minute and then noticed something on his left. He went over to the babies' clothes hamper and pulled out a shirt.

"What the hell is this?" he yelled. "Why did Jimmy take off his shirt? I knew you were lying to me!" At this point, both Lucas and Lily woke up crying.

"Thank you so much Chris! You just fucking woke them up! And I wasn't lying to you. Lily pissed on Jimmy's shirt, so I told him I would wash it. I wasn't going to make him wear it like that! I don't really see why you're getting so jealous because you know what? I should be the one mad at you! You left for a month and left me to take care of the twins by myself. I still don't know where you went, or what happened. You didn't call, and I just took you back the minute you reappeared. You're the one that left me Chris. YOU left, not ME!" Manny finished yelling at him and just cried. "If you're so unhappy here, then maybe you shouldn't have come back!" The babies were still crying, but neither Chris nor Manny made a move to pick them up.

"Manny, I…" he began to say.

"Let me guess. You're sorry, right? Is that all you can ever say?" Manny said. Chris walked over and sat on the couch next to her.

"Yeah Manny, I am sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you and I definitely shouldn't have left. I just didn't know what to do," he whispered to her.

"You've already told me that. I didn't know what to do either, but I stayed by my children's sides. I didn't leave."

"I hope you can forgive me, because it's something I can't take back. If I could go back and fix it, you know I would. And I'm sorry for being rude to Jimmy. If you want him to watch the twins while we're at work, I'm fine with that. I love you so much Manny, and I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you," Chris told her.

"I love you too. I know that you're sorry, and of course I can forgive you. I did the day you came back, it's just that when you act this way, it makes me feel like you didn't really want to come back, and you'd be better of staying where you were," she explained.

"Don't say that. The only place I want to be is with you. I will always love you as long as I live," he said as he stood up. He kneeled down in front of her and pulled something out of his pocket. "Manuela Santos, will you marry me?" he asked, holding a ring out to her.

"Oh Chris…" she said and started to cry again. "Yes, I'll marry you," she said and he put the ring on her finger. "On one condition though," she added.

"Anything," Chris told her.

"We wait until we graduate high school."

"Of course. I'd wait forever for you," he said and kissed her.

A/N: To answer grumpybear62684's questions, Manny and Chris got back together that day he came back at the end of Changes…I believe she says this during this chapter…and yes, Chris is the biological father of the twins…that is stated in chapter 23 of Changes.