Hey Again

I haven't updated in a while. Sorry about that.

Anyway, thanks for the comments and reviews- please keep them coming.

Enjoy chapter six.

Ben

Chapter Six: My Oh My

In each family, a story is playing itself out. From their morning routine, to their dinner arrangements, to their emblems that represent events that have passed.

In each family, a story is playing itself out.

And each family's story embodies their hope and despair.

Bree Hodge was very observant when it came to her family. It was her, instead of Rex who had exposed the fact that Danielle was flunking Chemistry and it was also her who had found Andrew's secret stash of cigarettes. But this latest dent in her perfect family atmosphere was truly stumping her.

After deliberating whether to approach Orson about it or not, she had come to the conclusion that it would be best for all of them if she did.

After cleaning the remaining mess from her party earlier that evening, and sorting the left over food in to its appropriate plastic containers, she approached her Husband who was sat in the lounge with a dry sherry.

"Darling, coaster" she fumbled in a draw on a side table and obtained a coaster for Orson to use.

"Sorry I completely forgot" he apologized profusely.

This was why Bree could tell something was bothering her Husband. He was usually so anally retentive, only a problem could cause his high standards to slip.

She sat down opposite him, reaching out her hand to his.

"What's wrong?"

"Sorry?"

"What's wrong?" she pressed.

"Nothing."

"Darling please, I'm no imbecile. You've been avoiding Andrew for several days now. Has he said something?"

"Not exactly." Her Husband sipped at his drink, made uncomfortable by this conversation.

"Did he try to…sleep with you?"

Orson had to do everything within his limited state of composure at that moment to prevent himself from choking violently.

"What?"

Bree looked away.

"Never mind."

Orson picked up on his wife's distress.

"I think Andrew might be gay."

"Oh." And then it dawned on her. "Oh…"

"I'm confused…Bree?"

"You didn't know?"

"Well it's not the kind of question a step-father asks about his new son is it."

"Well, pour yourself another sweetheart, and one for me. We have some catching up to do."

"You conniving bitch."

The only other time Edie Britt had heard Karen McCluskey swear was when she had missed the omnibus of her favorite soap opera two years ago, she remembered well as she'd never heard a pensioner brand a television set the "C" word before.

So understandably, it took Edie by surprise when Mrs. McCluskey had called her by the offensive term. Not wanting to retaliate and upset the elderly woman, Edie ignored it.

"I'll be going now" she stated, moving towards the door way where McCluskey was situated.

"Oh no you don't"

Edie had never been threatened with a tiffany lamp before either, so she did as she was instructed to do and sat down.

"Now" McCluskey continued, placing the lamp down in its original place. "You're going to tell me everything that is concerned with this god damned photo that's causing you so much trouble."

Edie had also, never been lost for words in her life before either.

"You just gonna sit there whilst I phone the police."

She whirled, hobbling towards the cordless phone.

"Wait! What do you want to know?" She yawped, feeling slightly like she was in some sort of gangster orientated movie.

"Who's the lady with your Ma?"

"Sophie"

Mrs. McCluskey raised an eyebrow, indicating she would appreciate the answer being elaborated on.

"Susan's Mother. My Mom's cellmate."

Julie was used to her Father clamming up whenever she remotely mentioned her Mother over than when she was asked to. But, not as much as he had done in the past week.

On Monday, she'd mentioned in passing that her Mother was feeling depressed now that Ian had left.

On Tuesday, she'd briefly touched upon the fact that her Mother's morning sickness woke her up, much to her annoyance.

On Wednesday, Karl snapped.

"Will you just shut up!?"

Julie slammed her cereal bowl down with such a force it knocked the bottle of skimmed milk over next to it.

"Julie…I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that" he grabbed a cloth and started to mop up the liquid that was beginning to seep under his kitchen units.

"Don't bother apologizing. I'll go pack"

"Oh don't be so melodramatic"

"I'm not!" she objected fiercely.

"You are, I haven't done anything wrong!"

Julie stood there, perplexed at her Father's words.

"I never said you did…"

He fell silent, and went back to mopping.

"Dad…?"

Either he didn't hear her or he blatantly ignored her.

"What's wrong?"

If he didn't admit his deceptive act now, he never would.

"I told Ian' Parents. I let them know about the baby."

Lynette's marriage had never been easy and she and Tom were always the first to admit that. But her latest glitch had spiraled completely out of control. Communication had always been their strong point, now it was the thing they were drastically lacking.

"Morning" he said, putting the kettle on.

"Morning" she returned the greeting, savoring it longer than necessary as she knew this would be their only exchange for the day.

"Mom?" Parker chirped from behind her.

"Yes Sweetie?"

"Why aren't you and Dad talking to each other?"

"Um."

"And Porter wants to know why Dad is sleeping on the sofa."

She bent down to her son's level so that she could ensure that she met his gaze.

"I don't know Parker, but Daddy needs to speak to me if either of us are ever gonna find out."

Susan was waking up on her sofa a lot these days. She had grown accustom to it. This morning was different however, as Mike Delfino was beside her.

"Oh…good morning" and she couldn't stop herself from grinning.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah fine. Oh God, wait, we didn't? You know…?"

"Oh, no we didn't. Would that be a problem?"

"Well, I am a little bit pregnant Mike."

It sounded ludicrous, but Mike had forgotten. He forgot a lot of things around Susan, it was the effect that she had on him. He forgot everything but her. One thing he couldn't forget however was that Ian was the Father of her child, and not himself.

"So you have a new addition to welcome to the Mayer family Hm?"

She turned to him, snuggling into his sturdy embrace.

"Yeah, but that's not the only addition I'd like."

The story that plays out can take a varying number of twists and turns along the way.

Some more painful than others.

But, beyond the pain that is caused, there is a freedom, a protection.

Because even though we don't realise it as often as we should.

We start and end with family.

Thank you

x