It's So Hard
Chapter One: The Hectic McGinnis Household
"Terry bear," Rachel McGinnis gasped, clutching the sheet to her breasts.
"Mmm?" Terry questioned, nibbling her earlobe affectionately.
"I missed you last night," Rachel pouted, pulling him close to rest her head against his shoulder. "But Bruce and Terrance will come barging in any minute, demanding food."
"Kids these days," Terry grumbled, sitting up. Rachel climbed into his lap.
"Always wanting something ridiculous like nourishment," Rachel agreed. "Why is it out job to keep them fed and clothed, huh?"
Terry grinned and kissed her, lips planted over hers firmly. Rachel bit back a moan as her husband's mouth left hers and traveled up her face, stopping to plant a kiss at the end of her nose. He then brushed his lips lightly to the side of her face, giving gentle nips along her jaw.
It was early morning; one of the few opportunities they had to be alone. They were merely showing each other a bit of affection, as was their morning routine, and whoever woke first was in charge. And they reasoned they deserved it; Terry usually fell into bed exhausted and Rachel was constantly worn out by the kids.
"Don't think about them now, baby," Terry demanded, guessing her thoughts. "Enjoy our alone time while we have it."
Rachel smiled and reached up to wrap her arms around his neck.
He met her halfway, kissing her gently.
"Come home early tonight," she murmured. "I want to talk to you."
"I promise," Terry agreed. "The cops can handle one night without Batman."
"Good," Rachel replied. "What do you want for dinner?"
"Whatever you feel like making," Terry answered. "It's seven; time to get going."
Rachel stole another kiss before rolling off of him and out of bed. Humming softly, she took a purple bath robe from its hanger and wrapped it around her. After securing her obsidian locks in a loose, messy ponytail, she padded barefoot down the hall to Robin's room.
"Robin," Rachel called softly, knocking on the door. "Time to get up."
"Mom," she heard her daughter groan. "I don't want to."
"Up," Mrs. McGinnis said firmly.
Robin groaned again, but she got out of bed and ran to give her mother a hug.
"Good morning, Mom," she squealed. "How do you feel this morning?"
"I feel fine, sweetheart. Now go get ready for school," Rachel ordered, turning Robin around by the shoulders. "I have to get the boys ready."
Robin marched back into her own room and stood in front of your dresser, dutifully picking out an outfit.
Rachel smiled before continuing to the room at the end of the hall. "Bruce, Terrance, Mommy is making breakfast now," Rachel informed her sons, opening the door to their room.
The twins were already awake and were busy building a tower with wooden blocks.
"Mommy!" Terrance cried, running to his mother. Rachel picked him up and kissed the top of his head. "I love you Mommy."
"I love Mommy more," Bruce insisted from the floor, adding another block to the dangerously high stack. It swayed but remained upright.
"No you don't," Terrance wailed, burying his face in Rachel's chest. "I do."
"Shh Terrance," Rachel soothed. "Bruce, don't start trouble," she added. "We're a family. We all love each other."
Terrance resurfaced from Rachel's robe. "Kay, Mommy. Can I play now?"
"As long as you play nicely together," Rachel said firmly. "What do you want for breakfast?"
"Poptarts!" Bruce shouted gleefully. "Want Poptarts!"
"OK, Bruce. What do you want, Terrance?" Rachel asked kindly, wrapping an arm around her son's shoulders.
"Poptarts," he whispered solemnly.
"Copier!" Bruce proclaimed, pointing a finger still chubby with baby fat at his twin.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Boys, boys, what's the problem? Terrance can have Poptarts for breakfast. We can all have Poptarts for breakfast," Terry intervened, coming boldly to Rachel's aid.
"He's a copier," Bruce repeated.
Terrance started crying, tugging at Rachel's hand.
"It's OK, hon," she whispered, gathering him in her arms again.
"Not a copier," he echoed. "Not."
"I'm going to get him dressed and then he can help with breakfast," Rachel told Terry. "You get Bruce ready to roll, alright?"
Terry nodded. "Sounds good to me."
Rachel wiped the child's face and took him out of his pajamas.
"I can do it," he insisted.
Rachel smiled at him. "OK, Terrance. Mommy can help if you need it, alright?"
Terrance nodded and than began pulling his clothing on.
"Mommy's big boy," she cooed, taking his hand. She led him out of the boys' room and stopped in front of Robin's door. "Almost done, Princess?"
Robin emerged, fully dressed with her backpack slung over one shoulder. "Yep."
"Get your hairbrush and a ponytail holder. Breakfast is Poptarts this morning."
"Great," Robin concurred.
"Come on Terrance," Rachel urged. "Mommy needs help getting breakfast ready."
Terrance smiled up at his mother. "Kay Mommy."
The other members of the family arrived a few minutes later and by then Terrance was busy pulling paper towels apart.
"All better Champ?" Terry asked, ruffling Terrance's spiky hair.
"Better Daddy," Terrance agreed. "Hug?"
Terry scooped up his son and tickled him. Bruce scowled at his father and brother.
"Daddy," he whined. "I want a hug too."
"Of course," Terry replied, bending down to pick Bruce up as well. "My boys," Terry murmured into their spiky ebony hair. "My boys."
"And me," Robin added, returning to the kitchen with her shiny black tresses pulled into a bouncy ponytail.
"You're my princess," he assured her.
"Thank you Daddy," Robin giggled.
"Breakfast!" Rachel announced, shoving a Poptart wrapped in a paper towel into each member of her family's hands.
"Thanks Mom," Robin squeaked, flopping into a chair. Bruce and Terrance joined her.
"Yeah, thanks Rach," Terry grinned. Rachel reached up to wrap her arms around his neck.
"Ew!" the twins exclaimed in together as their parents started kissing.
Terry smiled down at her. "Never mind boys. This is just Daddy telling Mommy he loves her."
"Yuck," Bruce persisted.
Robin rolled her eyes. "I think we're lucky to have parents like Mom and Daddy. Some people get divorced and it's not nice."
"Thanks Robin," Rachel responded. "Now, if you're all finished eating, Daddy has to take you to school."
Robin and the boys promptly began arguing over who got to sit in front as Terry sent them upstairs to brush their teeth.
Rachel sighed after them; they were sweet kids most of the time, just a real handful.
She hastily threw a sandwich and a few snacks together for Robin's lunch and was glad the boys were still in preschool where the lunches were provided.
She hardly believed how fast they were growing up; Robin was eight, the twins a little over three and a half.
"Rach?"
Rachel turned to see Terry standing behind her. "You OK? You seem kinda quiet…"
"I'm fine, baby," Rachel assured him, hugging him yet again. "I promise."
"Alright…I gotta get those little monsters of ours off to school."
"Be safe out there, Detective McGinnis," she cooed, giving him another kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."
The kids filed past, each stopping for a hug and kiss from their mother.
"Don't eat any glue today, Bruce!" she yelled after him. "And Terrance, don't eat the raw macaroni!"
"They'll be fine," Terry assured her. "I'm going to be late if I don't leave now."
"OK. I'll see you tonight."
Rachel absentmindedly placed a hand on her belly. "We have to talk about this little girl or guy."
Dun dun dun…
I have absolutely no idea why I wrote that…
Review, please!
PS...If you have ever watched The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Terrance is kinda like Cody and Bruce is kinda like Zack...