Gilbert comes in the apartment, After a very long morning at work.
He was tired and hungry, He could also really use a shower.
Jeffrey was still asleep.
Gilbert goes to the fridge, He grabs himself a beer and pops open the top.
He puts it to his mouth but before he can drink any, The phone rings.
He sets the beer down and walks the few feet over towards the phone.
He picks it up.
"Hello."
"Yes, Gilbert."
"...Sarah.." Gilbert whispers
"Yes, Gilbert."
Gilbert grabs the phone in his hands and heads to his bedroom.
"Gilbert?, Are you still here?."
"Yes, Sarah. I'm still here, I was looking for you during lunch." Gilbert replies.
"I'm sorry, I had a late appointment, One that I had forgotten about. We can still meet, I have nothing to do tonight." She stats.
"That sounds really wonderful but I have to stay home, Got the kids to take care of." Gilbert announces.
"They can come too, I don't mind. I've got kids myself as you know." Sarah responds.
Gilbert shyly smiles "That's very nice of you, But these kids ain't as well mannered as yours."
"Their young Gilbert, Weren't you like them at their age." She asks.
"Never!, I was never like that."
"Okay...Well Matt's an adult, Get him to look after Jeffrey then,... I really wanna see you tonight." Sarah whispers.
Gilbert thinks about it some "I really wanna see you tonight too. Just give me a couple hours, I'll be over there after I get cleaned up and once Matt comes back home, He ran off earlier this morning, That kid... He runs off all the time, I remember when he was younger, He always ran off from home, I'd be calling him, Driving around and everything and I still wouldn't beable to find the damn kid.
"Sometimes kids just need time to themselves Gilbert." Sarah says
"And sometimes kids just need a swift kick." Gilbert scowls
"... Don't say that Gilbert." Sarah whispers
"Sorry, ...Well I'll see you later okay." Gilbert hangs up before she even gets to her goodbyes.
Gilbert regrets that last sentence, He wanted to make a good impression on her but he couldn't seem to fight off the urge to say something hateful around her, It was who he was, He just couldn't subdue it.
How he felt something powerful for her, She reminded him so much of His late wife, She was so much like her, Even looked a little bit like her. He sometimes drifted off in thoughts, Thoughts of love, that would catch him off-guard but He liked it, He hadn't had anyone since his sweet-heart passed on, How He was tired of living life alone, He wanted that young love in his grasp once again but He can't help but think that she will come to hate him, like his kids do, Like his late wife used too.
They were happy once, Gilbert and his wife, Their kids.
Matthew was Gilbert's pride and joy, When He was born, Gilbert had something to show of his life, He had a loving, devoted, Beautiful wife and a son. What more could a young couple ask for, They soon got the American dream, Themselves a house to make into a home of their own, It needed some work but Gilbert was good at fixing things, He had that house in tip-top shape once Jeffrey came along, Another member added to their family. Everyone was overjoyed by Jeff's birth.
They had everything you could ask of, But things change, Time changes things.
Gilbert put alot of money in fixing up the house, It put them in debt. Gilbert had to work more and more hours. Barely any time at all to spend with the family He loved so dearly. His wife stayed at home while He provided, She was the regular house-wife, No job, Just staying home, Taking care of the kids, Doing all the cooking and cleaning. She was bored of it, She wanted to get herself a job too, The kids were getting a little older, They could pay for a babysitter. But Gilbert was totally against it, He had a vision, The vision of a man working, Providing the income and support for the family, While the wife stayed home and took care of the house-hold. No wife of his was gonna drop the kids off to some stranger while she went off to work when she didn't need too. They fought over it. Matthew would be crying because of his father's shouts. He never liked it when they fought. What kid would. She was also tired of Gilbert's long work-load, She was upset that He didn't get enough time with the kids. Matthew missed him, And Jeffrey barely knew him.
After a year, Gilbert finally caved and agreed to allow her to get a job, But only if the kids would be watched by a family member. No strangers. She thought that would be for the best aswell so when she worked, She would drop the kids off at their grand-parents.
It worked out great, Both Her and Gilbert worked similar shifts, So they both were off right around the same time.
Jeffrey and Matthew loved the time they got with their grand-parents. They didn't miss their mother too much. Expect for nap-time but they got used too it.
After work, She would start on dinner, When they weren't asked to stay at their parents house.
While she was cooking, Gilbert would have the kids in the back yard. Matthew loved to play catch so usually that's what they did. If Gilbert wasn't too tired. Jeffrey just loved to play in the dirt.
Matthew comes through the door, He throws his coat over the couch.
"Hey dad." Matt says as he walks by Gilbert to get to the fridge.
"Where you been." Jeffrey says as he walks out his room and over to Matt.
"Just out, Would you like a soda?." Matt asks as he goes to grab another.
"No, I can get it myself."
Gilbert ignores the boys and heads to his bedroom. He needed to get a shower.
Matt walks over to the counter, He turns around to face Jeff.
"... I'm sorry I woke you up this morning."
Jeff stops and looks over at Matt "... I should be the one apologizing."
"Why!, It's my fault."
Jeff walks up to Matt and hugs him "I'm glad you didn't leave." He whispers.
"Now why would I leave for, We haven't even spent much time together yet." He says as he places Jeff in a headlock.
"Hey! QUIT IT." Jeff yells as he counters the move and places Matt into a arm-bar.
"How do you like that." Jeff asks.
Matt laughs "Okay, I give, I give man. Let me go." Matt pleads
Jeff lets loose of Matt's arm. "I'm not as scrawny as I used to be big brother."
Matt holds onto his arm "That you aren't Jeff, You've got a little muscle."
A hour later
Gilbert comes out the shower, He had on a nice black buttoned up shirt with red roses on the front, Right above the shirt pockets. And some brand new jeans on.
"You look spevy dad, You going to see someone." Matt asks.
Gilbert was nervous, He was pacing back and forth, Like he had forgotten something.
"I have somewhere to go, Your gonna have to make something for dinner, Make sure your brother does his home-work. I should be back in a few hours."
"Sure.." Matt responds.
"Jeffrey GET OUT HERE." Gilbert shouts in Jeff's doorway.
Jeff walks out to see his father. "Wow... What's going on." Jeff asks surprised and shocked to see his father dressed so nicely.
"Dad's going out." Matt stats.
"I want you to behave, Matt'll tell me if you ain't." Gilbert stares at Jeff.
"Yes sir, I'll be good."
Matt watches
Gilbert walks a few feet towards the door, He stands behind the couch.
"If He don't behave, Then use this." Gilbert says to Matthew, While handing him a belt.
Matt reaches his hand out as his father places the belt in his palm.
"..Okay..." Matt whispers. He swallows spit.
Gilbert checks his pockets and then rushes out the door.
Matt while still holding onto the belt, Looks over to Jeffrey.
Jeff and Matt both stare at one-another.
"... So.. wanna go to the race-tracks?." Jeff asks.
"Sure, We can go but first I'm hungry. How about we go to that cafe down the street." Matt replies.
"You got the money?" Jeff asks.
"No, But you do." Matt smiles as he gets up off the couch, He throws the belt down and brings his arms around his brother's shoulders.
Jeff smiles back "Oh, I do huh."
"Yep, You sure do."
"We'll see, You'll be washing the dishes in the back." Jeff stats.
Matt and Jeff both walk out the apartment.
"..Nah, I don't think that will be me, More like you maybe." Matt jokes.
TBC
Birdym: Thanks for the review!, I'm thinking it'll be a few more chapters before Taker turns up, I don't wanna rush it and I still have some things that I wanna write about.
Slashdlite: Well, I waited until I was motivated, Hopefully it wasn't too long of a wait for ya. Thanks for the reviews!
Infection13: It'll still be a few more chapters. Matt did make it bad but all things are better now.
Takers lady: HEY! I hope your enjoying the story so far. Matt really is a nice guy, Just has some troubles, Much like Jeff has his.
THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS GUYS! HOPE TO POST SOON!.