Chapter Four: Boys Day Out

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Five Years, One Month After Mark Left

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mark laid in his bed sleeping, as was normal for the filmmaker on a Saturday morning. After a late night at work, sleep was all he needed. He rolled over to avoid the sunlight that was streaming into his room. Through his sleep he could hear a small giggle. Opening an eye he saw a pajama clad London sitting on the chair just watching the occupant on the bed.

"London? Go back to sleep..."

The little boy shook his head, "It Sadurday."

"Sadurday!" Another small weight came catapulting on to the bed.

Mark groaned as Shea began jumping on him. "Come on, Daddy. Let's go."

"Let Daddy get some sleep."

"No. You promised."

"Yeah. You promised." Came London's pout.

He had. Mark had been working overtime for the last couple of weeks to meet a deadline which could lead to a promotion at work, which took time away from when he could spend time with the boys. So he had promised that if they both behaved and let him do some work the day after the deadline they'd have one big day just the three of them.

"You promised." Shea pouted again, this time pulling on Mark's arm.

"Okay. Okay. I'm coming." Mark forced himself out of bed.

After a shorter than normal amount of time spent getting ready, the three left the apartment.

"Where do you want to go first?"

"Fishes!"

"Dinosaurs!"

Mark sighed; he should have known that was coming. For the most part the twins were as opposites as it was they just balanced each other out. But they only agreed on certain topics, and when it didn't really mattered if they agree...they never agreed when a decision needed to be made.

"Dinosaurs first, then fishes..."

London shook his head, "No, just fishes." giving into his brother's suggestion.

Mark smiled at the boy, that was London for you, already avoided conflict.

"You sure?"

The boy nodded.

"Shea, what do you say?"

"Yes!"

"No, to your brother."

"Thank you."

They made their way to the aquarium and began wondering around. Shea running ahead, while Mark kept up with London on his shoulders.

"Daddy, can I be whale?" Shea asked.

Mark laughed, "Why do you want be a whale?"

"Whales don't got to eat their vegetables.'Cos I want to swim...and swim..."

"Well, that sounds like fun."

"Me too. I wanna be a whale." London chimed in.

"But daddy if I was a whale, would you still be my daddy?" Shea asked grabbing a hold of Mark's hand.

"Probably not, buddy."

The boy thought a moment, "Then I don't wanna to be a whale."

"Me either."

Mark smiled, "I love you, guys."

"Love you, too, daddy."

"Me too."

The trio only lasted two hours in the aquarium before making their way to walk around the city. The boys had switched spots; London now walked hand-in-hand with his father while Shea sat on top of his shoulders.

"Daddy, I'm hungry." London announced.

"Me too." Shea agreed drumming on Mark's head.

"Sorry, no lunches today for five year olds."

Shea's drumming increased, "No, silly."

"No lunches for daddies." London jumped up and down.

"Okay, Okay. What do you guys want?"

"Hamburgers."

"Pizza."

He could hear Shea laughing, "Hey, Shea, since you picked the aquarium, how about we go get pizza?"

"Okay." The little boy sighed.

On their way to the pizza place Mark pointed out all the places, most of them they had already been to before, but the boys still got excited. They made their way to the pizza place.

"Look, Daddy, look. It the man from the movies." London pointed at the poster on the pizza parlor's window.

Mark looked, sure enough, it was Roger on the poster; it was an advertisement for a concert that night at the community center where the boys went to pre school. So, he was still alive, and doing well apparently...

"Daddy, can we go see him?" London asked.

"Yeah. Can we?"

Mark sighed, "Sure."

Later that night Mark led the boys into a row of seat in the relatively crowded theatre.

"Now when the show starts, you've got to be quiet and when I say it's time to go, it means it's time to go, understand?"

Both boys nodded from either side of him.

As the show started, as he listened to Roger sing, some songs he had heard in their earliest stages, he paid more attention to the reaction of the boys; he was too paranoid over what would happen if he looked. Shea would consistently bounce or get up and jump a little, London on the other side watched with fascination and very real smile plastered across his face.

"Did you like it?" Mark asked as they walked away from the community center, relieved they hadn't had a run in.

London just nodded, and Shea shouted his agreement.

"Daddy?" London asked as they walked into their apartment.

"Yeah, Dun?"

"Thank you."

"Uh-huh." Shea mumbled falling asleep against Mark's shoulder.

He laid Shea on the boy's bed and quickly changed the boy into his pajama's. He went over and helped London. As he left the room he told them, "Love you, Shea. Love you, London."

Both boys were too far into their dreams to reply.

xxxxxxxxxx

Okay, there we go guys. Chapter 4. Just a little cutesy chapter...the next few will definitely be a bit of both happy, cute, sad…etc. Since I've had a request I will give you a brief preview.

--First day of kindergarten.

--New York.

--Another ch. told from Roger's perspective.

xxxxxxxxxx

Until next time, this is me...signing out.