Suddenly, Phineas and Maria heard footsteps that sounded like they were coming from all sections of the house. Phineas felt like he needed to duck!
The children, including Jeff, were infront of them. Jeff looked oddly small compared to the other children.
"Frauline, these are my children." the Captain said, his voice stern, but looked proudly at his children.
He looked at Jeffrey. "That one ISN'T mine,"
Phineas nodded to Jeff, instructing the boy to stand beside him. Eyes wide, Jeff complied.
"Having fun,kid?" he whispered.
In awe of it all, Jeff just nodded. He had never seen so many children in one place before. The funny thing was, though, earlier they acted like kids. Now it was as if they were in the military, standing in a straight line, smiles wiped off their faces.
Werner looked over at Jeffrey. His eyes old Jeffrey he wanted to leave and play. Jeffrey nodded knowingly and fave the boy a big smile. But, before he ran off with Werner and the others, he glanced hopefully at Bogg, who gave him a nod of approval. Bogg watched his boy run off, hearing the laughter made him feel better. The Captian excused himself, leaving Phineas alone with Maria.
They stood there, not knowing what to say or do. Finally, Phineas picked up her single bag, but she grabbed it before he did.
She did, however, allow him to carry her quitar. "Guess I'll take you to your room," he smiled and she followed him up the stairs and down the hallway.
"You take care of your son alone, Mr. Bogg?" she asked.
"Uh, yes, yes, I do."
"Must be awfull hard on you,"
Bogg shook his head. "No, not really. Jeff's a great kid,"
They finally came to an empty room. "I guess this it is," Phineas told her. They entered the room and he put her guitar on the bed. They heard children's laughter outside and looked out the window.
The children, including Jeff, were playing tag.
"Oh, to be that young!" Maria sighed, flopping herself on the bed.
"I agree. Sometimes I feel a hundred years old," Phineas nodded, smiling at her.He chuckled as he thought, that's an understatment!
"At times I'm impressed if I can keep up with Jeffrey."
Maria smiled. "What is your place here, Mr. Bogg?" she asked.
Phineas shrugged. "I'm not sure. Haven't really talked to the Captian."
"I'm sure we'll learn soon enough,"
He nodded. Phineas couldn't keep his eyes off her. She was plain and skinny, but her charm was what got his attrention. When she wasn't looking, he took the omni out of his pant pocket and looked at it. Still blinking like crazy, he sighed and put it away before she noticed his actions.
A few hours had passed when Bogg realized he hadn't seen Jeffrey lately. Busying himself, Bogg gave himself a tour of the big house. He could see Jeffrey staying here. All those other kids, a ton of rooms to explore, a real life family. He sure wouldn't be traveling so much, that's for sure, Phineas told himself. Maybe, just maybe, he should leave now. Without the kid knowing—it would be better him, wouldn't it?
That night, he was laying in bed when Jeffrey finally came in, all out of breath. The boy sat on the side of his bed, beaming from ear to ear.
"Today was sooo much fun, Bogg! I even climbed a tree!"
Bogg put his arms behind his head, trying not to look at the boy. He could tell in Jeff's voice he was happy.
"That's great, kid," he said, tension shown in his voice.
"Bogg, what is it? What's wrong?"
"nothing. Just tired, I guess."
Phineas heard the boy stretch. "Yeah, I'm kinda tired, too."
"You should be, all that running you did."
"Phineas, WHAT'S wrong?" Jeff demanded, making the man look at him. Bogg sat up in his bed, looking straight into Jeff's eyes.
"You like it here, don't ya?"
Jeff shrugged. "It's okay, I guess."
"Oh, c'mon, you like it here and you know it!"
Jeff gasped. What was his friend getting at?
"Yeah, I like it here. So?"
"You'd be taken care of,"
"Bogg, please! What are you saying?"
Phineas put firm hands on the boy's shoulders.
"I can't take care of ya', that's what I'm saying! I love, but you need a family. You would have been better off with your grandparents--"
Jeff was crying and Phineas hated that. "Bogg, please...I love you! I don't want anyone else!"
"Kid--"
"No! I won't stay!" Jeff stomped his foot on the hard floor angrily. He remembered this same conversation when he and Bogg met his great-grandparents. Yes, he liked playing with these kids and the big, big house. But this big man—the man he thought was a jerk at first—he'd grown to love.
"Bogg, No!" Jeff wrapped his arms around Bogg and he felt Bogg put his big arms round him. They cried for awhile.
Phineas pulled the boy away and looked into the big puppy brown eyes. "Well, guess we're stuck to eachother, huh?" he sniffed.
Jeff smiled. ""Like paper and glue?"
"You got it, kid." he smiled.
They rested nicely that night in the warm soft beds.
The next morning, after they freshened up, they headed downstairs. Bogg stopped Jeff. "Ya' know something? I haven't checked the omni lately." he opened it up.
"Well?"
"Still blinking, kid." Phineas shut it and put it in his pocket.
Peter, the oldest boy, ran to them. He had a big smile on his face.
"Hey, been looking for you two! Maria's taking us to the mountains. Wanna go?"
"Can we, Bogg?" Jeff asked hopefully.
Bogg shrugged. "Sure, why not? We need the fresh air. Let's go,"
The picnic was fun, full of singing and laughter. Jeff got involved with the children playing a game with a ball."Your son seems to be enjoying himself, Phineas." Maria said, eating an apple.
Bogg smiled. "It isn't often he's with people his own age,"
"Why is that, Phineas?"
"Just never accured to me, I guess. We get along just fine, Jeff and me."
"But, he needs school and other children."
Bogg nodded. "I agree. But I think I'm doing a pretty good job of it so far." he didn't mean to sound so defensive, but he hated it when people talked to him about his ability with Jeffrey.
When people talked like this to him, it was like they wanted to take his boy away from him. Like he was a failier as a father figure.
Maria put her hand on his shoulder, sencing the tension.
"I'm sorry, Phineas. I can tell you care a great deal for the boy,"
"I do. I do, a lot. Now, can we talk about more pleasant things?" Bogg changed his voice tone and gave her a smile.
"Such as?" she asked, feeling the change of mood.
"Us?" she smiled.
"Is there an 'us'?" he asked, looking into her eyes.
"I hope so,"
Maria chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry, sir. But, I'm a nun."
"I can help you change," he whispered and kissed her.
Peter nudged Jeffrey. "Hey, look at the two love birds."
To his horror, Jeff saw Bogg kissing Maria! He ran over to them as he thought of how to get Bogg away from Maria before it was too late.
"Bogg, I need to see you,"
"Go back to your game, kid. I'm having my own fun," came the moan.
"Bogggggg, NOW!"Jeff ordered.
"He gets like this sometimes. Don't move,"
"Wouldn't think of it," Maria smiled.
Phineas moaned as he stood up and went to his partner. "THIS had better be good, kid."
"Bogg, you can't fall in love with her! THAT'S what's wrong!" Bogg crossed his arms over his chest.
"And why not?"
Jeff sighed. "She's supposed to marry the Captain and help him raise his kids, that's why."
"And THAT'S important, I suppose?"
"Yes, it is, Bogg. To them," Jeff nodded over to the children, knowing that would get to Bogg. The guy may act all tough, but he also had a heart that was soft as a feather.
"Oh, great," Bogg moaned. Another one bites the dust. Though he hated to admit it, he knew the kid was right. He took out the omni. The light was still red.
"It's still red,Kid. We can't leave yet," Phineas sighed, closing the lid. Jeff looked at him, knowing that the pirate still had deep feelings for Maria.
"Guess there's something else wrong," Jeff shrugged.
"At least it's not me falling for her, kid. But, don't think I haven't changed my love for her,"
"I know, Bogg. I'm sorry you can't return your love to her. That must be hard," Jeff put his hand on the man's shoulder. The older man gave a deep sigh and looked over at Maria, who was watching the other children play.
"That comes with the job, kid. I go through it every day," they started walking back towards Maria and the children.
"Yeah, but I hate seeing you go through this. It's not fair,"
"Life's not fair, kid. Part of the territory,"
They acted as normal as possible during the time of the picnic and Phineas stayed close to Jeff. Maria tried to figure out what was wrong with the older man, ever since he had a 'conference' with his son, he had been distant. She was going to find out later that night...even if she had to drag it out of him!
The next few days, Phineas and Jeffrey watched the children and Maria come closer and closer. The Captain came back with a new woman. Phineas knew that was hard for Maria, for every time she saw the two together, her bright blue eyes clouded with unhappiness. He wished he could go to her, hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay. One night, Maria just left. It was during a big party that the Captian put on so people could meet his new fiance. She didn't say a word to anyone, not even to him or the kid. He woke up that morning, finding Jeff gone. Panic struck a cord in his heart and throat. Jumping out of bed, he rushed to get in his cloths and dashed down the long staircase. He heard singing outside and decided to go there. What he saw made him slow down and catch his breath: Jeff was there, sitting with Max listening to the children.
"Bogg!" Jeff ran to him and wrapped his arms around the older voyager. Phineas wrapped his arms around his boy and gave a big sigh of relief. He let go and knelt down to eye level.
"Kid, don't you EVER do that to me again! You want me to have a heartattack!?" the boy looked down at the floor.
"I'm sorry, Bogg. I got up earlier than usual and you were still asleep. I wanted to hear them sing."
"He was perfectly fine with me, Mr. Bogg." Max told him, tense in his voice.
"I'm sure he was, Max." Phineas looked back at Jeff. "I just get really scared when I don't see you with me, Jeff. I don't want to loose you, ever."
Jeffrey smiled and wrapped his arms around the pirates neck once more. "I love you, Bogg."
"I love you," Phineas whispered into the boy's hair.
"Now that that's settled, why don't we sing once more?" Max asked the children.
"I'm sorry, Max, but we just don't want to," Liesle said, her blue eyes saddend.
"It might make you feel better," he assured her.
The children started singing agian but not with the joy they used to put into the songs they sang. Phineas looked at Jeffrey, who was also sad.
"I think we need to take a little stroll to the Abbey," Phineas whispered to the boy.
It took awhile to get to the Abbey. They stood infront of the tall locked gate. Phineas rang the bell and a tall Nun came to them.
"May I help you?" she asked.
"We'd like to see Maria," Jeff told her.
"I'm sorry, but she isn't seeing anyone." the Nun walked away.