August 2nd, 2003
Stefanie cradled Morgan in her arms. She was already getting so big. Morgan was laughing and smiling and holding her head up. Stefanie hated it when they grew up. She looked off of the deck at her other children. They were once Morgan's size.
"Hudson, don't ride Elijah please." Stefanie said to the twins. Hudson gave her a bad look but got off of his brother. Breckin threw a shovel full of sand and threw it at Chandler. Stefanie ignored it since Chandler didn't seem to notice.
"Stef?" Clark walked into the house.
"Daddy!!!" All four kids screamed. They all flung themselves at Clark when he stepped onto the deck. He smiled and kissed each one of them. He loved it when they got excited to see him. He walked over to Stefanie and kissed her head.
"How were the kids?" He leaned down and kissed Morgan's pudgy cheek. Stefanie chuckled.
"I'm ready for school." She said. Clark smiled sitting next to her, "How are the redneck criminals?" Clark was silent. That startled Stefanie. "Clark?"
"I quit." He said. Her eyes widened.
"Wh-What?" She stuttered, "You quiet when you need to feed a family of seven??"
"Yeah." He said.
"Why? Are you mentally challenged?" Stefanie gasped, "We can last for a few months on what we have but god! Are you brain damaged?"
"I'm scared to tell you what I have planned." Clark chuckled.
"Don't laugh." She said. "Tell me." Clark cleared his throat.
"I was thinking about opening my own practice. Don't say we can't afford it because we can...for now, Stefanie. I'm a damn good lawyer and I know I can make it work." Clark said, "But...I don't want to open it up in North Carolina."
"Oh God...Here we go." Stefanie closed her eyes.
"I want to move back to Oregon." He said. Stefanie groaned.
"Are you saying that because Mikey, Andy, Brandon, and Data moved back? Are you a sheep following the flock?" She asked.
"No, Stefanie. You know I've wanted to move back for the past few years but then Breckin and Morgan came and-"
"Don't blame it on Breck and Morgan, Clark." Stefanie said.
"I'm not. This is a perfect time to move back." He said. Stefanie shook her head.
"Clark...We're married. You should have discussed this before you quit your job so I had some say in it." Stefanie said, "This isn't about just you. We have five children to think of." Clark sighed softly.
"I know, Stef, but....But I had to do this." He said.
"When do we have to go?" She asked.
"A few weeks? I don't know." Clark said.
"I'll tell you something. I'm not driving cross-country with five kids. Yu can drive and we'll fly." Stefanie said. Clark smiled thinking about the vacation from his family for a few days.
"That's fine." He said to her, "you just wont have some things in the house until I get there." Stefanie shrugged.
"We can live from our suitcases for a few days." She said looking a him. "I suppose you already put a deposit on the house." Clark nodded. Stefanie laughed loudly, putting Morgan on her shoulder to burp her. "So basically I had no say in this."
"Yes you did...sort of." Clark said.
"What are you going to tell the kids?" Stefanie asked.
"They won't care. Chandler will be happy to be living near Isabella. She loved her." Clark said.
"Yeah." Stefanie whispered. She couldn't believe Clark did this with out running it by her first. Was this what their marriage meant to him? She didn't want to admit it but it'd be sort of cool to be living near Andy again.
August 16th, 2003
Mikey sat on th porch looking at all of Astoria. He had finally finished packing and tomorrow he would start his new job. The Archiology department of The University there found a site that they wanted him to look at. He glanced over to next door. Ethan was playing basketball by himself. Mikey smiled. It was nice to be living next to his brother. Elizabeth walked out onto the porch and sat next to her husband.
"Dylan is asleep and Evan is watching a movie." She said.
"Good. Is Dyl feeling better?" He asked. Lizzie nodded.
"Gracie is getting big." She stated. Mike looked at her.
"Huh?" He looked at her confused.
"Your neice. She's getting big." Lizzie said.
"Oh yeah. I suppose so." Mike said. Lizzie bit her lip edging her way closer tohim.
"I want a little girl." She said. Mile groaned. This conversation again, "Don't groan at me, Michael. I really do want a little girl."
"I know you do." He said.
"Evan is ten. Dylan is five. It's perfect time to start trying again." Lizzie said, "Perfect time."
"I don't know if I'm up for another baby yet, Liz." He said.
"Well, I am! My clock is ticking. I'm getting broody. I want another baby." She said.
"Well, Keep on wanting because youre not getting one any time soon." Mike said. Lizzie pulled back, her eyes were full of hurt.
"Fine." She whispered and stood up. Mikey sighed as she stomped back into the house.
"Elizabeth..." He called after her and groaned.
"Having troubles?" Brandon walked up the steps onto the porch. Mike groaned as his brother sat next to him.
"Thanks a lot for having Gracie." Mike said.
"What?" He looked at him confused.
"Lizzie is getting on me about having another baby." Mike said.
"Well, that's how you make babies." Brandon laughed.
"Shut up. I'm serious." Mike said, "She wants to hav a daughter, but I dont know if I'm up for that."
"Why not?" Brandon asked.
"The boys are finally at a stage where I like them. I can put up with them." He said, "I dont know if I can do the diaper thign again and all that crying."
"It's worth it though. Let me tell you, little girls are the best." Brandon smiled, "I'd have a dozen of them if I could."
"Really? Boys arent better?" Mike asked. Brandon shook his head.
"No. Little girls act like the need you, like they need you to protect them from everything. They put you up an a peddelstal." Brandon said.
"I'll still with my boys. I'm not Mouth." He said. Brandon chuckled.
"Thank god for that. You would have been dead long ago." Brandon patted his brother's leg, "I need to get back inside. If you need to talk more just give a yell."
"Talking is for wimps." Mike winked as he watched Brandon walk to the house. He told Ethan to get inside before he woke up the neighborhood. Mike sighed slightly and glanced into his house. He wasnt sure if he wanted to go in there and have the baby tlak *again*. He enjoyed the size of his family. Lizzie would just have to get used to it.
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