In the kitchen Kim was, preparing to sort out her thoughts, still one idea kept coming back, she needed to talk to Shamus about last night and how easy she can let it down between them. It wasn't bad, but it was a bad reaction. It was so sudden, she can still remember that faint moment, there they were standing in the kitchen, where she stood, suddenly from out of nowhere her step-son, Alphonce collapse in front of them, not to make a scene she carries her sleepy child to his room and no sooner after they left the child's room, Shamus pulls her in to kiss her. Why didn't she resist? Why did he had to make a move? Was it the reason he wanted to talk about? That he wanted them to happen, even now Kim wish to go back, but strangely she didn't want to undo it. It was true, Shamus and her have been sharing a strange bond with each other, it felt familiar to her, but she just couldn't bring herself to go along with it. Ever since Murdoc's so called 'death' was declared it was hard for her to move on. Still she often thought over the idea if she should find a new partner, a new father for Alphonce, or to seek other options on how she and Alphonce were going to share together. It was always her personal belief that if she did married and if the universe was cruel to separate them so soon, she didn't think it was good to move on or even reconsider a second marriage, and think it might be best to live life however you want. Still, that solution was if she was too old or had other projects she can work on, but she was still fairly young and even with Alphonce, it didn't seem fair to just stop all together. Would Alphonce even want a new dad after facing a monster like Gregory?
Suddenly, Kim broke from her thoughts and hears the phone ringing. She answers it, a voice of a woman spoke to her, and asked for her.
'Yes, I'm looking for a Ms. Niccals. Is she there?' She asked.
'This is she, who may I ask is calling?' Kim asks back.
'I'm here calling on behalf of your position as legal guardian for the child you took, Alphonce Niccals.' The woman answers back.
'Excuse me, but I've already made my case last year and can be sure that Alphonce is better suited under my care.' Kim respond.
'Yes, well I took it as my mission to see it for myself.' The woman answers sharply.
'Excuse me, but who are you? Are you the social worker that's be sniffing around my friends, trying to find an excuse to see something wrong with us?' Kim strike back.
'I am Ms. Grose and I make it my business to look over and see that the child in question is suitable to be raise by any other suitable guardian and since you made it your mission to have the judge to force the boy out of his previous caretaker, you will be next to be examine whether the boy is safe under your care.' Ms. Grose answers coldly.
Kim gasped, 'I am a good mother. I'm way better than his last guardian. Gregory was...' She was interrupted by Ms. Grose, 'Well, Gregory was recently release and has claims he changed and wishes to take over as a responsible guardian for Alphonce. I'll be interviewing you and the boy, separately of course, to ensure whether you're even fit to even raise an active boy, alone.'
Kim tried to reasoned with Ms. Grose, 'Oh, please you must understand, the file I submitted should be enough to show that Gregory wasn't a good guardian and that Alphonce shouldn't be with him.'
Ms. Grose respond, 'Well that was then and this is now. A year has passed and based on Gregory's recent changes he's a new man. I'll see you in a few weeks, maybe sooner, Ms. Niccals and do your best to entertain, good-bye.' She hangs up before Kim could reason with her.
Kim was shocked, what was she going to do now? Her troubles were double, first her night with Shamus and now this mess. She almost forgotten Russel told her that someone was keeping a close watch on them, mainly her and Alphonce. This didn't settle well for Kim, what was she going to do, she wasn't looking so good now as she did last year. She was beginning to worry and was scare that she could end up losing two important things at once, her loyalty to always love Murdoc, even after his death, and losing one of his sons, breaking her promise to Murdoc, not to let anything bad happened to Alphonce. This was stressing her out, until the smell of something burning brought her back as she hurries into the kitchen to shut the stove off for a minute.
The door soon opens to reveal Shamus holding both boys' hands as they enter together, 'We're back! That's boys saw a petting zoo and just had to touch everything.'
'A llama spit at Mr. Shamus.' Alphonce giggled.
'Ugh, all I did was look at that ugly thing. It decide to come close to my crotch I had to tell it to back off. Then it spit at me.' Shamus corrected.
Stewart and Alphonce just laughed. Alphonce hurries to his mom and hugs her. He apologized for staying up. Kim smiled and patted his head, 'It's alright honey, you didn't do anything wrong, but you're still young and need lots of sleep. Okay? Also you were lucky you didn't ruin anything your brother Jacob was working on.'
Alphonce nodded his head and asked if Kim saw the new Cyborg. 'Big Brother Jacob said she's more human and thinks like one too. She even knew about the rash I had once.'
Kim giggled, 'Yes, I know and saw her, but for now could we please keep things a bit quiet. Why don't you boys go and play some games? Quietly please, your big brother Jacob is finally back asleep in his room, after working so hard it fair we keep the noise down.'
'Alright, mama.' Alphonce answered.
Stewart hurries to the living to start the game station, 'Hurry up I want to play the samurai this time.'
Alphonce ran to Stewart and joins him on the couch. While they were keeping themselves occupied, this left Kim the chance to talk things out with Shamus. He looked more happy as he walks to her. He leans in close to her, but Kim just look away.
'Look, Shamus, last night it's a one time thing.' She spoke to him.
Shamus looks confuse at her, 'What?'
'Yes, look, you're a nice guy, but Alphonce comes first and it's my belief that as a mother, I put him and Jacob first. Jacob is smart enough to take care of himself, but, he's still young and I still look after him. I'm smart enough to know that some needs have to be denied and well this, us, we can't let it happened.' She explains.
Shamus sound confused, but his tone show he was hurt, 'So, nothing change? Nothing, at all? Nothing's going to change anything between us.'
Kim explains more to him, 'It's better. I hope this doesn't interfere with Alphonce's lessons, but for us, nothing's going to change.'
'I don't understand, so nothing at all last night felt familiar? Nothing spark anything to you, nothing at all!?' Shamus was raising his voice to show his anger.
'It was slip, that's all.' Kim exclaim back. 'Shamus, it's not right between us. It's better just to let it slide.'
'I don't believe this! You don't want me?!' Shamus yelled.
'You don't understand, last night I wasn't thinking clearly. You surprise me. I just reacted in a wrong way.' Kim argued.
'So, that's it? The end of it all. You...you don't know anything at all.' He yelled back.
Alphonce could hear them from the living room, Stewart was too focus on the game to listen to anything, but Alphonce kept listening.
'Why are you getting upset? You knew I was married and I'm just not ready. Can we just let it be?' Kim asked.
'What?! I mean...no...not that I...I want to...say, but, you might get.' Shamus stammers. He sighs heavily, 'You know what. I think I should take some time for myself. Maybe I should leave.'
Alphonce gasped. Kim tries to reason with Shamus, 'What? Come on, it's not that bad to just leave. Look, we can't we just be like adults and think how we can settle this?'
Shamus was getting nervous, 'Ugh, last night...what was I thinking?' He mumbles. 'Look, I can't even look at you right now.'
'What is the matter Shamus?' Kim asks, 'Why are you acting so strange?'
'I'm not acting strange, you're acting strange.' He pointed out. 'Look, I need some space and that means I have to move out right now.'
Alphonce quickly got up and runs into the kitchen. 'No!' He clings to Shamus. 'Mama, don't let Mr. Shamus leave!' He looks at his step-mom, 'Mama, please why does Mr. Shamus want to leave here? Isn't he happy?'.
Kim didn't know what to say, but the only thing she could answer was, 'It's grown up stuff, but Shamus isn't that a bit harsh? What about Alphonce's lessons?'
'Mr. Shamus, are you mad?' Alphonce asked him next. 'I'm sorry for staying up and not listening to your rule. I just really want to become a great musician like my daddy. I miss him and playing his bass makes me happy. I like it when you play, it sounds just like daddy. Daddy would be there for me.'
'We, can still do that, but it's like your mommy said, it's just grown up stuff. It's difficult to explain right now.' Shamus answered.
'Are you mad at me?' Alphonce added.
'No, I would never be mad at you. Your mommy and I are just having difficulties, but I can understand in a way where she's coming from, it upsets her.' Shamus answered again.
Alphonce held onto Shamus. He felt that he was going to cry. He puts Alphonce away while he went to gather up the few pieces of clothes he brought, when he first moved in and stuffs them into a plastic garbage bag. He ties it and slung it over his back. Shamus looks at the sad boy, 'Listen, I'll be back soon. I'll just be in somewhere else for the moment.' He patted Alphonce's head and walks through the hall.
Kim tried one more time and said, 'Please, at least stay for dinner? Shamus, please?'
Shamus looks at her, sighs, and shakes his head, 'I can't. I'm sorry. It's not you, just me. Trust me, if I tell you, you'd just be angry at me.'
He was making his way to the door, but stops to look back at Alphonce who was staring hard at the wooden floor. He turns to his step-mom, his face was turning red and his eyes were wet with tears, 'I hate you, mommy! This is your fault!' He yelled at her.
'Now, just hold on a minute. This has nothing to do with your mommy. It's just me. Look I'll be back for your lessons.' Shamus told him.
Alphonce wasn't listening, his hair was spiking up, and his voice started to change distorted. Shamus hurries over to him, 'Alphonce, this is grown up stuff and sometimes these things are hard to explain to a child.'
'But, why?' Alphonce cried. 'I just don't understand. Why are you leaving me? You don't have to leave!' He screamed. 'I need you! Please, don't leave! Don't leave me!' The hallway was beginning to shake. Kim knew what was happening. 'Honey, please, relax. He's not leaving forever.' She told him. Alphonce turns away from her.
'No! Daddy left me! He isn't dead! He left me cause of the monster!' Alphonce shouted.
Shamus was shock. Kim was getting worry as she tried to get Alphonce to look at her, but he refused. Shamus and Kim looked at each other. 'Alright, Alphonce. I'll stay for you. I'll stay here if it makes you happy. I'm not going anywhere, not anymore. So, relax, please.'
Alphonce look up, 'Really?' He sniffed.
'Yes, I won't leave you. I promise.' He ran his fingers over Alphonce's hair, it felt rough, but soon began to soften under his touch. Alphonce was calming down. Kim was relieved to see her son was under control. Shamus looks over to Kim, he held his bag and said, 'So I'll get things and put them away on the couch. Alphonce, we'll get started on your lessons until your mommy have dinner ready for us.'
'Why not leave them in mommy's room?' Alphonce innocently spoke. Shamus and Kim looked at him in shock. Alphonce added, 'Well, I use to sleep with her a few times, so why not you sleep with her Mr. Shamus?' Kim was starting to blush, hearing what her step-son just suggested. 'It's okay with me. I don't get any nightmares no more.' Alphonce smiled.
Kim, still blushing, said, 'Um, honey, just because mommy lets you sleep with her whenever you have a nightmare, it's different for grown ups.'
Alphonce looks at her and asked, 'Why is it different? He's just sleeping with you. What can happened?'
It was Shamus turn to jump into the conversation, 'Well what your mommy means is that it was would be rude for a guest to sleep with someone he may not know that well, so it might be best for her and me that I stay on the couch.'
Alphonce looks at Shamus and then at his step-mother, he was okay with the answer and grabs Shamus' bag. 'I'll leave these by the couch then.' He smiled taking the bag back to the living where Stewart was still playing the game. Kim and Shamus both sighed with relief.
'I am so sorry so sorry about what happened. My son's very special and when he gets upset he can throw a bit of a tantrum.' Kim apologizes to him.
Shamus only smiled and he walks up closer to Kim. She stops to stare at him. 'Why is it whenever you're near me, I feel so scare, but at the same time comforted.'
'Maybe, you don't want things to end.' He told her.
Kim sighed, but shook her head, 'No, look we can't...I've got too much on my plate right now.'
Shamus didn't move and held one hand to her face. Kim flinches from his gentle touch. She sighs longingly as she looks Shamus into his unusual eyes. Meanwhile Alphonce and Stewart, who was listening to the conversation asked Alphonce a question, 'I'm surprise you'd want someone near your mommy.'
'Sure, mommy is nice and Mr. Shamus is nice. Why wouldn't it be okay?' Alphonce questions back.
'Well, if your mommy gets close to him then wouldn't it make sense if they end up getting married?' Stewart pointed out.
'What? No, our real mom got married and that wasn't good.' Alphonce added.
'Well, wouldn't it make sense of your other mom gets married too? I mean, our mom did and that's how you got Gregory. What if it happens again with your other mommy? What if he's acting nice to get her to marry him and he starts acting mean too. Just like the fairy tales, I mean I know those were step-moms, but your mommy is so nice like a real mom, but what if changes for step-dads.' Stewart questions him.
Alphonce didn't think much of his step-mom getting married to another man. All he knew was that she was married to his real dad, but his real dad, Murdoc, wasn't here, so does it mean it could be possible for her to get marry again and that would mean he would have another step-father to face. That, what if, Shamus was just acting nice the whole time around him and his step-mother so that he could get whatever he wanted. This was unsettling for Alphonce as he gets up from the couch again and runs back into the kitchen to see them kissing.
'Get away from her!' Alphonce shouts.
Alphonce runs towards them and stuck himself between. He clings to Kim this time and glares at Shamus. This made things awkward again.
'Hey, we were just having a little fun.' Shamus told him.
'That's not fun. You were kissing her. Only daddy can kiss her.' Alphonce told him back.
'Is that right?' Shamus questioned.
'Yes! You're not my daddy and you're not allow to kiss my mommy. I don't need another daddy. I have my daddy and when he comes home, he'll beat you up and you'll have to move out.' Alphonce exclaimed.
'Now just a minute you were okay with me staying in her room.' Shamus pointed out.
'I changed my mind. Only I can sleep with my mommy.' Alphonce quickly answered.
Shamus just chuckled and ran his fingers through Alphonce's hair. 'Well, that's a change. Guess you're being a man and protecting someone you care about.'
'Mommy, please don't kiss him ever again. Please!' Alphonce pleaded to his mom.
Kim just blushed, but smiled as she nodded, 'Okay. I promise.'
'Hey, I thought we were going to talk about the 'thing'?' Shamus reminds her.
'Well, I guess it'll be later. In private,' she whispers the last part to Shamus, 'So how about now you give Alphonce's his lessons?'
Alphonce ask, 'Can it be later? I think I just want to play with Stewart for a while.'
Shamus was hurt by that comment. He asks Alphonce, 'You sure? What about playing until you can fill in for your daddy?'
Alphonce answered, 'I will, but I can never fill his place. He's coming home soon.'
Kim looked worried, 'Sweetie I thought you understood about what happened to your dad.'
'I only said that because no one would believe me, but mommy please don't find me another daddy. I want my daddy. He's going to come home, I know he will.' He looks at her ready to beg.
Kim wasn't smiling this time. She felt distressed by Alphonce's suggestion and didn't know what to do or say nothing. Finally she decided, 'Okay. If you believe that, then I promise, I won't find a new daddy for you.'
