Okay, the fluffiness continues. Honestly shouldn't be too much longer til this is out of my system. I hope. :P
Grinning, thrilled that he was here, that he could stick around this time, Carrie pulled Brody into another kiss before he pulled back, hearing a high pitched squeal.
"NICK!"
Stepping aside as Farrah hurtled at him, Carrie smiled, watched them hug.
"Hey brat! Good seeing you."
"You visit? You stay?!"
"Well if you insist."
"Eeeee!"
Clapping her hands quickly she jumped up and down then hugged him again. Meanwhile Carrie frowned, sniffed as she looked to the stove.
"Um, Brody your pan here is..."
"Oh, damn it!"
Removing the charred beyond edibility slices from the pan, Brody dipped two more slices of bread in the batter than gave it another go.
"If you guys want to get started, the coffee's done and the fruit salad's in the fridge."
Nodding appreciatively, while Farrah ran to set the table Carrie opened the fridge. Grabbing the covered bowl before noticing a pitcher on the top shelf.
"You're kidding me.", she laughed in amazement.
"What?"
"You actually used that frozen OJ? That was in the back of the freezer the first time I brought you here! And probably ten years before that!"
"Are you kidding me? I chucked that thing first chance I got. If I had opened it we'd have seen white or green as opposed to orange.", Brody shrugged.
"Ugh! Okay stop."
"Just enjoy the fresh squeezed over there."
"I plan to. Farrah? You need any more plates or napkins for out there?"
"Fork!", Farrah yelled back, her pronunciation not very clear.
"Jesus!", Brody gasped. "Did she just say what I thought she...?"
"I'm sorry honey, what?"
"We need fork! And spoon."
"Fork. She said fork, you jerk! Get your head out of the forking gutter already.", Carrie smirked, getting some coffee for herself.
"No forking way."
Laughing, Brody followed her out of the kitchen with the french toast. Once everyone was served, seated picnic style on the floor with their plates, Carrie cut up Farrah's french toast then cut into her's. Taking a bite she nodded in approval.
"Really good, Brody. It beats oatmeal at least.", she teased.
"It better. Been slaving over that old stove all morning."
"You get here this morning?" Farrah asked between bites.
"Last night, actually. I had to bring her in out of the rain.", Brody smiled, nodding to Carrie who looked relieved to hear it.
"That explains it. Jesus, I didn't even hear you!"
"You didn't open your eyes either. Guess you needed your rest.", he said, trying to hide his concern at the still visible bags under her eyes. Reaching over he rubbed her shoulder, getting a look indicating thanks but that he should stop fucking worrying about her. As if he could.
"Anyway. Who wants to go to the waterfall with me after breakfast."
"Yes! Then I swim!", Farrah cheered, getting a sigh.
"Please?"
"Okay before I answer that. Let me just make sure I packed..."
Getting up she unzipped Farrah's backpack, looked through it and then swore under her breath.
"Carrie, what-"
"Farrah, honey I'm sorry. I think I forgot to pack your bathing suit."
"Oh.." Sadly the girl crossed her arms, bowed her head.
"Well hey, there's lots of other stuff we can do around here.", Brody reassured.
"The weekend's not totally lost.'
"And we'll come back soon so you can swim, Farrah. You have my word, okay?"
Nodding, Farrah finished her French toast then poked around at her fruit before getting up.
"I go get changed. Brush teeth."
"Okay, honey.", Carrie sighed, sadly watching her walk off before standing. Running a hand through her hair angrily.
"How could I forget her fucking suit? All she's talked about is swimming since she found out we were coming here."
"Hey, don't beat yourself up. We can always improvise something. Shit. If it gets any hotter out she can jump in the lake with her clothes on."
"Yeah, you're probably right.", she nodded, giving him a weak smile that didn't do much to counter the guilt in her eyes.
When she sat on the couch he stood up, joined her.
"You sure you're okay? You've been eating enough?"
"I cleaned my plate.", she snapped.
"Getting enough sleep?"
"Brody c'mon.""
"Hey, I'm allowed to ask. How have things been between you two after everything?", he asked, rubbing her shoulder before she gave in, leaned on his.
"Farrah called me Mom the other night. Before she went to sleep."
"What?! She did?"
Nodding, Carrie sat up and the surprised smile on Brody's face faded, seeing the look on her's.
"Well, look at it this way. There are plenty worse things she could've called you, aren't there?"
"It just didn't sound right, Brody. It didn't fit. I've always been Carrie to her. That's who we are. Carrie and Farrah. Before it was Miss Matthews and Farrah. I've gotten used to that. It just feels right."
"Not quite so formal, right? Not so official?"
"Yes, exactly." Leaning back into the couch cushions her hand swept through her hair again.
"Did you talk to her about it?"
"No. She said it when she was half asleep. And hasn't said it since."
"Well like I said, she could be calling you worse."
"Brody she's six, not sixteen. She doesn't know 'worse'."
"Well take it from someone who has heard worse. Just look past the label here. All Farrah did was let you know what deep down she thinks of you as. It just shows how strong your connection is, in spite of everything that's happened to you both. It's pretty fucking amazing if you ask me."
"You really think so?", Carrie asked, giving him a watery smile.
"Yeah, I do. Just don't forget her bathing suit again and I think you two will be fine."
Rolling her eyes, she swatted him on the arm, before they heard Farrah let out a yelp. Jumping up they both ran onto the porch where she was crouched down, giggling about something.
"Look! Look what I find!"
"You mean look at what you found?", Carrie corrected.
"Okay, I'll take a look."
Kneeling down next to her she gasped.
"He like Merriweather, see!"
"Yeah there's definitely a resemblance."
Laughing she rubbed the gray kitten gently behind the ears.
"Carrie what the..."
Sighing, Brody shook his head, rolled his eyes.
"That thing could have fleas, you know."
"I think I'd be able to tell."
"What if he's feral, rabid? His fur's all matted too."
"He was out in a rainstorm all night, Brody. Wouldn't you be a little disheveled looking too?"
Looking on dumbfounded, he laughed in disbelief.
"I had no idea you were such a sucker for fuzzy and cute."
Rolling her eyes, Carrie continued petting the kitten as Farrah giggled, went to pick him up.
"Nick, he purring!"
"Farrah make sure he doesn't scratch-"
"She's fine, Brody. If you're so worried why don't you give it a try?", she smirked.
"No, that's okay, really."
"Please Nick? He like you too?"
Looking between her and Carrie, knowing between the two of them there was no getting out of it, Brody sighed.
"Well if you're gonna double team me like this.."
Gently taking the cat from Farrah, when it softly sneezed, he rolled his eyes at the cooing that echoed it, looked down at the small gray fur bundle accusingly.
"Perfect timing. Now I'm triple teamed with cute."
Taking the cat back from him, Carrie shot him a look.
"Hey, I'll stay out of it. You want him, he's yours. Just don't come crying to me when he comes home with ticks or rabies or whatever."
"He won't come home with ticks or rabies. He'll be a cabin or a townhouse cat. Indoors. Otherwise the doberman next door to me will have a fuc-..freaking field day."
"We keep!", Farrah asked.
"Yes. We keep. But he's gonna be your responsibility, alright?"
"Yes. Okay.", she giggled, taking him back.
"So does he get a name?", Brody asked.
"Calvin."
"Calvin. Okay. Sounds like Marvin's got a new best friend."
"No, Marvin's a moose!"
"Fine, fine. I stand corrected.", he muttered as they brought the kitten inside, set him down to explore the living room.
"He likes it!", Farrah cheered, following him into the kitchen.
"Yeah. He certainly will when he gets his claws in all the furnit-"
"Brody.", Carrie cautioned.
"Look I'm going to run to the store, get Calvin some supplies. The two of you can get better acquainted."
"Hey it's okay, I can go. Just let me get my hat and some-"
"Um, no. Even if a hat were an adequate disguise, which it's not, you were just mugged by fucking Nazi's not ten miles from here. You're staying put."
"Carrie.."
Met with a look he knew better than to argue with, he sighed, gave her a nod that got him a kiss goodbye in return.
"Farrah, you want to come to the store with me?
"No, I stay here."
"Oh, okay."
Trying not to feel too rejected Carrie grabbed her purse, not catching Brody's smirk.
"Ready to reconsider taking the plunge, buying that litter box? You just lost out to a goddamn cat."
"Shut up."
After she walked out, Farrah left the kitchen and went onto the porch with her book.
"Hey, what gives. I thought you were keeping Calvin company."
"Carrie want me to read. She want you to like Calvin. It your turn with him.", the girl smirked, walking onto the porch as Brody rolled his eyes, plopped down on the couch right as Calvin meowed. Looked up at him with huge sad eyes.
"Oh. Don't you even start."