Chapter 9
Riker's POV
I woke up with aches all over. I just wanted somebody to cuddle with. I looked at the clock it was ten. Bella would be asleep by now. I dragged myself out of bed with groans of protest. I wrapped my blanket around me, and pattered softly down the hall. I checked on Bella, and then went on to the spare room. Curt was sleeping in bed snoring softly. I walked into the room, and climbed in the bed. I buried my face in Curt's chest, and tried to go back to sleep.
It was Saturday, so me and Bella both lay on the couch, while Curt fussed over us like a mother hen.
"Curt, I'm fine, really!" I chuckled, as he asked me for the tenth time if there was anything he could get me.
"I need cuddles." Bella said.
We both chuckled. "But you've got your daddy for that." Curt said.
She shook her head. "I want you. And you can cuddle with daddy too. Please, you said you can't catch the chicky pox." Curt chuckled.
"Sure, angel." he said. I sat up, and so did Bella. Curt sat in between us, and we both cuddled with him. I fell asleep about half an hour into whatever we were watching.
Curt's POV
Riker fell asleep. Aww my poor baby, he must feel awful. I left him to sleep, while me and Bella chatted about school. She asked me if I could help her learn to read faster. I told her that maybe once she was better. I woke Riker up at lunch time, and gave them both some soup. He stayed awake long enough for about half a bowl, and then he was out again.
The day went by quickly after that. I graded some papers while they both slept. If you can call sticking gold star stickers on papers grading, anyway. I looked at the clock. It was already nine! I should get Bella up to bed. I went into the living room, and gently shook her shoulder.
"Bella, angel. Gotta go up to bed." I said, softly.
"Don't wanna." she said still half asleep.
"How bout I carry you?" I asked, hoping that would help.
"K." she said with a yawn.
I carried her up to her room. "Good night, angel."
"Night Papa." she said.
I smiled, she probably didn't even realize what she said. I went back downstairs. Just as I got to the bototm there was a knock at the door. I opened it, and was met with Ross.
"Hey, Ross." I said smiling.
"Hey, Curt. What are you doing here?" he asked, looking slightly confused.
"Oh, I'm taking care of and Bella." I said. "They have the chicken pox."
"Oh, that sucks!" Ross said, "When did you and Rike reconnect?" he asked as we moved to the kitchen.
"I'm Bella's teacher. Coffee?" I asked, as I set about making myself some.
"Oh, yeah, I kind of remember Riker saying something about that." he said, "And some coffee would be great. I wonder why he didn't just call mom when they got sick."
"I didn't really give him a chance to." I said, chuckling. "We were supposed to be going on a date. But then Bella got the chicken pox. Riker called to tell me he couldn't make our date, and he commented that he never had the chicken pox. So, I knew he'd probably be getting them soon if he didn't already have them. And I was right."
"You two are dating now?" Ross asked.
"Yeah, and before you say anything, he told me what happened with Ell, and I promise I won't hurt them. I just want them to be happy.", I said.
Ross smiled, and clapped me on the back. "Your a good man Curt. Where is Riker anyway?"
"Sleeping on the couch." I said.
"Curt?" Riker called from the living room, almost as if he'd been listening. I went into the living room.
"Yeah, babe?" I asked, as I sat on the edge of the couch.
"Can I have some juice." he asked, as he pulled himself into a sitting position. He looked so adorable his face covered in little red dots. I smiled
"Sure, beautiful. I'll be right back." I kissed his forehead, and went to the kitchen.
Riker's POV
"Hey, Ross." I said seeing my brother standing in the door way for the first time.
"Hey." He said. He came and sat next to me. "So you and Curt, finally got together?"
I blushed. "Yeah."
"So does Bella like her new Papa?" he asked.
"She doesn't call him Papa yet." I said. "We're taking things slow."
Ross nodded. "Because of Ell."
I nodded. "I don't want to get hurt again."
"I know bro." Ross said, pulling me into a hug.
"Why are you here?" I asked, as we broke apart.
"It's the third Friday of the month. It's bro night." he said.
"Oh, crap! I forgot to cancel that didn't I!" I exclaimed, as the someone else knocked at the door.
"We'll just watch movies. After all you were the only one of us to not get chicken pox." Ross said. Rocky and Ryland came in moments later. Bro night was a tradition we started when I moved out. Every third Friday all my brothers would come over and hang out. Just us guys.
"So, you do have the chicken pox." Rocky said. "I thought maybe Curt was making it up, so you guys could get back to something." He waggled his eyebrows. I blushed, bright red.
"Rocky!" I exclaimed. Rocky laughed, and I sat there pouting. Curt gave me my juice, and sat on the couch next to me. I cuddled into his side, and he wrapped his arm around me.
"Aww." Ross cooed. We both rolled out eyes at him.
"What should we watch?" Ryland asked.
"How about the Hunger Games?" I asked. Everyone agreed, and Rocky put the first one in. Katniss was just getting in the arena, when I fell asleep.
Curt's POV
We watched the rest of the movies after Riker fell asleep. His brothers were really cool. They all accepted me, after I told them what I told Ross. They metioned that we should come over for dinner sometime after Riker and Bella were doing better. After the boys left I decided to leave Riker on the couch. I didn't want to wake him up, nor did I want to carry him up the stairs with as tired as I was. I went up to Riker's room, and all but collapsed on the bed. I was so tired. I had been sleeping for what felt like just a moment when I was awakened by Bella.
"What is it angel?" I asked.
"I'm hungry." she said. I looked, and noticed her spots were starting to fade. I looked at the clock. It was six in the morning.
"Well, let's go get something to eat. We've gotta be quiet, because Daddy's sleeping." I said. We bith went quietly to thre kitchen. "Now what would you like to eat?"
"I want eggs." she said.
"I can do that." I said. I got the eggs out of the fridge and fried them up.
"Here ya go, angel." I said.
"Thank-you Papa." she said. I frowned. She called me Papa.
"Bella, why do you keep calling me Papa?" I asked her.
"Because daddy loves you, and your going to be my new Papa. Daddy won't say anything because of Ell, so I took some 'niti..nititi..?"
"Intitive?" I asked trying not to laugh, at the fact that she knew that word.
"Yeah that." she said.
"How do you know your daddy loves me?" I asked, sitting across from her at the table.
"Daddy was always sad after Ell left. He acted happy, but his eyes didn't sparkle like they used to. You make his eyes sparkle, Papa." she said.
"What did you just say?" A voice said. We both turned, and saw Riker standing there.
"I said your eyes got their sparkle back when Papa came." Bella said, smiling.
"When did you start calling Curt, Papa?" he asked.
"Last night. I decided to take 'nitive." she said, proudly.
Riker looked at me quizzically, "That's what she told me too."
"Well, I guess as long as Curt doesn't mind. You still have to call him Mr. Mega at school though." Riker said.
Bella and I both smiled. Bella ran out of her chair, and hugged Riker tightly. "Thank-you daddy. I love you." She came over to me, and hugged me. "I love you too, Papa." she stood on tiptoes, and whispered in my ear. "Daddy does too. Just say it." Then she skipped out of the kitchen. Riker came over, and hugged me.
"You feelin' any better?" I asked.
"A bit." he said. I noticed his spots were starting to clear up too. I felt sad that I would be leaving soon. I loved being here with the people I loved. I looked at Riker, was Bella right? Did Riker love me and was just to afraid to say it? Should I tell him?
"Hey, Rike," I said. He looked at me. "I love you."
