'Is there something troubling you honey?' Kim asked Alphonce, who was drooping over his cereal bowl. Alphonce rises his head, yawns, 'No. I'm fine.' He grabs his spoon but loses his grip and drops it into his bowl. Milk splashes on his face, but he kept smiling to show his step-mother that he was fine.
Later on Alphonce was struggling to stay awake as he was nodding off on the couch while playing a video game with Stewart and didn't noticed when he drop his controller. Stewart quickly picked it up and hands it over to him but Alphonce was already asleep. Stewart shook him and woke him up. He asks if he was okay.
'I'm fine.' Alphonce yawned as he stretches, 'I just haven't been sleeping so great.'
Stewart looks closer at Alphonce. 'Your eyes look darker than my daddy's. Did you hit yourself?'
'No, Stewart. Look, I've been having trouble sleeping. Maybe my bed's a little lumpy or my dreams are coming through okay. It's fine. I'm okay. Come on another round before my mom calls us for dinner.' Alphonce insisted, but noticed his hands were struggling with the controllers. His fingers were acting weird and his wrist hurt.
Alphonce looked at his hands, they jerked and twitched. Alphonce tried to hide it. When it was time for dinner Alphonce sat between Shamus and Kim. He carefully picks up his spoon. He handle it okay but a few minutes later he started to lose his grip. Alphonce tried to slurp his soup quickly before he drops it back into his bowl. He tried to keep his grip steady but when it was with food the added weight made it hard for him to get the food into his mouth. He slouch down to get the food into his mouth fast, but this didn't go unnoticed by his step-mother.
'Alphonce, look at you. You're making a mess.' Kim told him, wiping his mouth with her napkin. 'And why are you slouching so low, you look like a dog eating out of his bowl.'
'Sorry mommy, but it's okay.' Alphonce struggled to turn away from her.
'Sorry Alphonce, but it's my job a mom to make sure the food get into your mouth not everywhere around it.' She told him.
'Tell me about, luckily the soup was cool when it hit me.' Shamus pointed to his stained sleeve.
Alphonce apologizes to and promise his mother not to do it again. Kim finish wiping Alphonce's face clean. He gave an embarrassed smile. Shamus smiles back and patted Alphonce on head. 'A growing boy has to eat, guess it's now you do.'
Late that night at around 1:00 am, Alphonce sneaks out of his room, carrying his father's bass on his back as he carefully shuts the door behind him and looks around. He makes his way down the stairs and heads quickly towards the basement where Jacob was sleeping on his desk. It was messy and he left the desk lamp on, but still he slept. Alphonce crept pass his older brother as he found his usual corner in the cold basement floor. This was the reason Alphonce had been so tired. These last few days or night in this case, Alphonce has been sneaking in some extra practice for himself in private. Alphonce really wanted to become a successful bass player soon as possible, but he felt that the way Shamus was teaching him was too slow, so he sneak some time after everyone including his step-mother was asleep and hurried into the basement. Although Jacob was there, he was always asleep on his desk after working long hours on his secret project. Alphonce didn't understand what his big brother was doing or why he had Cyborg inside a strange glowing tube. Alphonce had to be careful not to bump into anything as he went to his little corner, large stacks of heavy boxes filled with some odd parts, scraps of paper were on the floor and some heavy tool were laying around. It was strange and confusing for Alphonce and it scared him being there alone even with his big brother sleeping nearby, still he sat and continued to practice. He was careful not to awaken Jacob, but he often check whenever Jacob started to move or began talking in his sleep. When it was already pass 3:00 am Alphonce lets out a big yawn, he was really tired that when he about to finish the final note he cut himself on the guitar string.
He let out a sharp cry but covered his mouth to muffled his scream. He looked at his finger to see there was a sharp deep cut on his finger that he could see some blood coming out. Alphonce started to cry a bit but he fought it back and stuck his cut finger into his mouth.
'Ow.' He whispered, looks at his finger as he climbs his way back up.
Alphonce opens the door but closes it quick to see his step-mother stepping into the kitchen. She yawns as she poured water into a kettle. She preps her cup as she waits for the water to boil to make her tea. Alphonce was nervous to see his step-mother was close by and he know he will get in big trouble for disobeying her for staying up pass his bedtime. He sighed but soon his troubles doubles.
'Hey, you're up too?' Another voice enters to show it was Shamus.
Kim turns to see Shamus standing by, 'Yeah, I got this headache, couldn't sleep it off and thought some tea would help me. Just need three hours of sleep before getting up again to make breakfast for everyone.'
Shamus smiled and laugh, 'You seem to do alot around here'. He moves closer her.
'Well, I know them, I once worked for them as an intern a while back. It wasn't a glamorous gig, but I got paid well, plus college credit.' She told him.
Shamus smiled looking at her. Kim didn't noticed it as she pours the hot water into her cup. She offers one for Shamus, but he declined. While they stood, Alphonce continued to watch, hoping they leave the kitchen and enter another room to give him a chance to slip pass them. He soon pay attention to them when he heard his name being mentioned.
'Is Alphonce doing okay with his lessons? He's not being difficult when learning something new?' Kim asked.
'Well, he might have gotten upset with my lesson plans. I know he wants to keep playing but he's still a boy. I don't want him to overdo.' Shamus tells her. 'I think he's disappointed that I won't let him play his father's songs. He must really misses him.'
'Well maybe you could let him, because he really wants to be a good musician like his dad and in a way it connects Alphonce to his father. He really does misses him, so does everyone here, and we're all trying to cope. I know it's been a few years but still we all thought Murdoc was really immortal as he often claimed. They're trying so hard to clear up some old debts, they're really setting some roots here and since Murdoc's death the band hasn't been getting any big gigs to pay the bills.' She explained.
'They had to take some other jobs too. Really it's been a big adjustment especially for Stuart since he has to work doubles now that he has Stewart, thanks to Paula for not telling him, but he happily took him in and Alphonce's is happy to have another brother, well a half-brother, but still a brother.' She added.
Alphonce watch to see Shamus come close to Kim. He put one of his hands on her shoulder. Kim shrugged it off.
'Come on, I'm just helping you relax.' He whispered to her.
'Look, I'm already relax. I have my tea and that's all...I need. Yes, yes that's true.' She answered in a calm tone.
Kim grabs Shamus' hand. It was rough and has a lot of faint scratches all over. His nails were a bit long and cracked. 'Your hand,' she describes, 'It almost feel like my...'
Shamus pulled his hands away, 'Ah, Kim, I need to talk to you. I've been trying to talk to you about something really important.' He interrupts her and places both his hands on Kim's shoulder. He leans in close to her. Kim sense he was nervous as he begins to talk to her.
'Look, I've been meaning to say something for a long time but what if...' He looks at her in the eyes and bit his lips. 'I mean if you really had wished for it. I mean it would really be confusing, but if it's possible let's say...what if?' Shamus stalled himself.
He stared into her eyes. His expression read he was longing for something. He pulled himself closer to Kim. Their bodies so close to touching. Shamus just froze being near her.
'What if...what?' Kim chimes in.
Shamus only blinked and answers back, 'What?'
'You were going to say something. You were going to say something important. What if?' She reminds him.
Shamus thought for a minute and soon remembers, 'Oh! Um, too much playing on his bass and he could cut himself.' He blurted out, disappointed.
'What?' Kim asked confused.
'The strings on the bass. If Alphonce plays too much in one spot he could end up cutting his fingers and I don't wan that to happen. He needs to build a good resistance when he starts to play something more complicated and fast.' He explained to Kim in a bland tone. He pulls himself away from Kim, leaving her confuse and a little disappointed. Shamus ran his finger through his shaggy hair and kicked his foot around.
'Oh, yeah? That could happen, I guess it's possible. Then that must be why you didn't want Alphonce to play too long.' She pointed out.
'Yeah! I'm just looking out for him. I mean, a single mom like yourself and I don't want you to worry about your son getting a cut.' Shamus looked away trying to hide his frustration.
He clenches his teeth and turns to Kim, sipping her tea, 'Also if you...would...like to.' He stalls again.
Kim stares at him waiting to hear what else Shamus had to say. He bit his lips again and blurted out, 'Are you still in mourning?' He tightens his hand into a fist.
'Um, are you trying to ask me out?' She asks him back.
'Yeah. I mean would you choose to stay single?' Shamus sighed.
It was Kim's turn to be choke on her words as she bit her lip thinking of an answer. 'Well, I...I mean...I know that Alphonce needs me and it might be nice. Well Shamus you are a nice man, but it's just that. It's not because you were a seaman. I'm not that judgmental but that I never really see myself going out. I mean Alphonce and I are happy, but you make him happy and...well. You just remind me so much of my husband.' Before she could finish her sentence they heard a thud and sees the basement door opens wide to show Alphonce passed out on the floor with his bass strapped to his back.
They checked him to see Alphonce was in a deep sleep. Kim sighed and didn't say anything to awaken her son. She picked him up and handed Shamus the bass guitar. He held it by the neck as he follows Kim upstairs carrying Alphonce to his room. She placed him into bed while Shamus place the bass next to Alphonce's bed. She kisses Alphonce on the forehead as they left the room. In the hallway in silence, Kim and Shamus looked at each other. It seems clear to them to what was going to happen next.
