Chapter 10: Zeke

It was about an hour from our house to Sea Otter Bay to which the Parker Estate, where my parents live. We have a pretty big property because it's been handed down from generation to generation. My parents have lived here for a long time, my dad grew up here, but he brought my mom and then as a wedding present from my grandparents, was given the estate and had me. There property from the outside looks quite lavish, but with my mother being like Devina, she made her home a home.

My parents love it here; with nature and the fresh air, unlike the city life Devina and I live. My mother; Anna Beth Parker, is a very kind woman. She had to be since she had me and my siblings as her children. She was a small, brown haired woman, which was normally curled and dressed as if she was on a farm. It's normal since she was originally from the south. My father on the other hand alternated from city to country quite a bit. Slower and slower, he's been pulling away from the Parker Foundation to let X learn how to take over the foundation one day. My father, Niklaus, or he goes by Nik, is a suit or jeans kind of guy. With his blonde hair and green eyes, he was, during his younger years, called a typical pretty boy.

My parents ran the Parker Foundation together for nearly thirty years it isn't a bad job though, regardless of the weight it puts on your shoulders, it is encompassed by the fact that they were helping people in third world countries and places that sufferer from natural disasters. Together, they made an amazing team. My father handled the business side of everything and my mother handled the social side of it all. Now, they are handing the tradition down to Xavier and my sister Madeline.

As I pulled into the driveway, I parked right next to Devina. And got out of the car, it's really awesome. I pulled the key out of the engine and I looked at Devina. Even in casual cloths, she still looked beautiful. She was looking at her car, and I could tell that she was mesmerized by the gesture of her father to get us both cars. She opened her door and slowly closed the door.

"Mom, this car is awesome!" Lucas said as I heard his door close. He ran around her can and to me. He touched my car and it looked like his eyes were about to fall out of his head. "Dad, this is so cool."

"Why don't you help Uncle X with his stuff?" I said to Lucas as I saw his car pull up to the spot where he usually parks. I walk over to Devina and she pushed her fingers though her hair. "What's wrong?"

"This doesn't mean we're reconciling with my family. Just because Dad bought us cars doesn't mean that we're all suddenly on good terms with each other. Especially with Lucinda! Over my dead body will we ever be on good terms again." Devina said and I just smiled. I kissed her forehead and I could tell she was closing her eyes. She let out a sigh and put her arms around my waist.

"Everything's gonna be fine. Nothing has to change if you don't want them too." I said and she nodded in agreement. She opened her eyes and looked up at me. I kissed her and she kissed me back.

"Hun, why are you wearing a suit? We're at your parents' house." She rolled her eyes and I just grinned. She opened the back seat of her car and she pulled out a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and a pair of converse.

"What would I do without you?" I asked and she just rolled her eyes.

"You would get a ton of crap from your sister for wearing a suit." She said and I just laughed because it's true. Madeline would never let me shake the fact that now I'm, as she put it, a 'suit'.

"What is with this? Three cars? Last I checked, I was only supposed to see one." I hear my mom say and I smiled. I took Devina's hand in mine and we walk towards the house. There I see my mother standing on the porch with a normal apron and a greeting smile with my sister at her side.

Madeline is still fresh out of college; she just got her masters in international relations from Columbia. She was a tall brunette with brown eyes, the spitting image of my mother. She was wearing an apron, just like her too.

"What's with the suit? I know you're a senator and all but even the president doesn't wear a suit to have lunch with our family." Madeline said and Devina just laughed.

"Madi, take it easy on him today." Devina insisted and Madeline just rolled her eyes. She ran up to Devina and hugged her. Josephine came out of no where and joined in, then came my mother; which left X, Lucas and I just looking at them. They have a bond in which is indestructible.

"I missed you!" Madeline said and I just started up the stairs. The girls eventually came in as well. When you first enter the house, you see a picture of the entire family sitting on the porch. This one is a little dated considering it was eight years ago when Lucas was three and was sucking his thumb. I walked into the formal living room and there I saw my dad staring at the couch.

"Dad!" I yelled and he didn't even look up at me. He just stared at the couch. It wasn't until I fully entered the room when I saw that there was an orange haired boy on the couch. He looked at me with his brown eyes and his frat boy outfit.

"Who the fuck is this?" Xavier said in his intimidating voice on. He rarely every puts that on unless he feels like it's absolutely necessary.

"Xavier!" My mother yelled at him smacking his head. "watch your mouth in my house."

"Well, answer his question." I said putting my intimidating voice on. He stood up and looked directly at me and Xavier. I could tell Devina was shaking her head, but I couldn't focus on that now. I could tell that the boy was sweating profusely with the threatening stares my father was just giving him. He extended his hand to me and waited for me to grab it. I took his hand and gave it a firm shake.

"Peter. Peter McGreevy." Peter said as he tried to release my hand, but I still held it tight.

"Zeke. This is my brother Xavier." I said and X gave a slight nod. "Why are you here?"

"Zeke he's my guest." Madeline said pushing her way through to stand next to Peter. I released his hand and stood with my arms crossed. My father stood up and stood beside me. He was the same height as me, but way more intimidating.

"Peter, these are my brother's wives, or soon to be wife, Devina and Josephine." Madeline said trying to distract him from us. "This is Zeke and Devina's son Lucas." Madeline pointed to Lucas and he gave a nod. Frat boy can't even use his words."

"It's nice to meet you Peter." Devina said and let out a sigh. "So, Mom, do you need help in the kitchen?"

"Absolutely. I could use all of the girls." My mom said. "Nik, X, you should play football outside. Why don't you get changed?" I stood eyeing Peter for a few more seconds.

"Babe!" Devina said in a fierce tone. "Listen to your mom." I looked towards her and she gave me pleading nod and I nodded back.

"Come on guys. Go get the ball and we'll throw it around when I'm done." I said and I could tell Peter was relieved. I have no idea why, I'm not done with him yet. X and my dad went to the backyard doors and I picked up my bag and went upstairs.

I heard footsteps following me, and by the sound of it, it was Devina. I went to my room and left the door open for her to come in. She dropped her travel bag on my bed and she let out a sigh and sat down on the bed.

My room hasn't changed since I was a teenager. It still had the same T.V, the same and poster and the same smell. It was like a time capsule. I remember having to sneak in and out of this room so many times, I should think it's embarrassing.

"Do you want to tell me why you were trying to scare Peter?" Devina said as she sat on my bed. She moved a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm just trying to protect her."

"By trying to make the poor guy piss his pants? Come on Zeke."

"I just want to see what he's made of."

"Whatever you do, don't piss off Madeline, because if she complains to me, you're sleeping in one of the guest bedrooms." Devina said and I smiled at the threat. I started to unbutton my shirt as I walked towards her. "Ezekiel Parker, are you trying to seduce me?"

"I just saw you sitting there and I just thought that all the girls that sat there before you was a mistake. It should have been you all along." I say and pull off my shirt. I kiss her cheek, and then move down to her neck.

"You're forgetting that you have known me all your life. I was there when you had all those girlfriends. You were there when I had all those boyfriends."

"All irrelevant compared to what we have now." I said and kissed her lips; harder and more aggressively with every passing second. She kissed me with the same force and desire until she pulled away.

"Zeke…" She said and I looked her in the eyes "Your mother is downstairs and our son is playing football with your father. Now's not the right time and your high school hook up spot is not the right place. But…" I said and there was a gleam of hope in my eyes "if you take it easy on Peter and you help me get through my family dinner, tonight." She said while seductively biting her lip. She put her mouth to my ear "I'm all yours. We can even try for that baby." She kissed my cheek and bounced up from my bed. She opened the door and looked back at me. "Get changed. I'll be looking forward to tonight." She exited the room and closed the door.

"Damn she's good." I said and I give a satisfied grin for choosing the best woman to send my life with. I put on the outfit Devina picked out for me and I put the other one on the bed. I walked out of my room and down the stairs. Like Devina, my mother put pictures on the walls leading down the staircase. I came by a picture of the first time I brought Lucas here. I touched the picture and I just felt the happiness flow through me. I walked down the hallway that leads to the kitchen. All of the women were in aprons doing something to contribute to the meal. I came up from behind Devina and hugged her waist. She was cutting carrots and smiled at my touch.

"Can I help with anything?" I asked and they all stopped what they were doing to answer my question with a constant shaking of their heads. I guess they're still not over the one time I blew up the pot roast.

"No honey, we're fine." Devina said as she put her knife down and reached her arms behind her so she could lightly touch my cheeks. Her hands slowly went down and I kissed her palm.

"Why don't you play with the guys?" Josephine said from the stove as she stirred something in the pot.

"Please take it easy on Peter. All he ever did was like me." Madeline said walking into the pantry.

"No promises." I said and smirked.

"Ezekiel, be nice to him. I don't ever recall Madeline ever being that mean to Devina. Or with X and Jelly." My mother interjected.

"I'll try, I can't say the same for X and dad." I said and I smiled. I kissed my mother on the cheek and I kissed Devina on the lips. I walked to the backyard and I saw X trying to throw the football to Lucas. Peter was just sitting on the porch, just waiting for something to happen that involved him. My father stood by X and clasped him on the shoulder as Lucas caught the ball. I walked beside Peter and crossed my arms.

"You know, we don't care if you have money or not." I said and he looked at me. "This family is weaved together like a cloth. We stand together, we fight together and we protect each other. My sister is the baby, she is loved by us, she is smart and kind and trusting."

"Zeke…" He began to say but then I glared at him.

"She's my sister and when I was growing up, she and X were my best friends. I love her and I will protect her no matter who I'm protecting her from."

"I know that. I have sisters too and I would act the same way you're acting now. I get that you love her and I get that you don't want her to get hurt. I will try my hardest to love her as much as she lets me, I would do everything I can to be there for her and I wouldn't dare hurt her because I know that she would get to me before you could get the chance." Peter said to me with sincerity. He said it with such conviction that it was hard not to believe him.

"How old are you?"

"I'm twenty-six. I just got my first byline in the New York Times." Peter said with his eyes never leaving mine.

"You're a reporter?" I ask and he nods. "Be careful when you tell Devina that. She'll never trust you if you do."

"Noted." He said and I nodded at him.

"Come on, let's see what you've got." I said and I whistled. Lucas looked at me and he threw the ball at me. He was a good nine yards away from me. Damn, my boy can throw. "When we're done with dinner, the girls will come out here. Watch out when they do because they are serious about three things; family, food and sports."

"They can't be as bad as you're making them out to be." Peter grinned but he caught on that I was serious. "How bad?"

"Let's just say last years thanksgiving game turned touch into tackle." I said and I think he could picture it himself. "Go long." I said and he started running. I threw the ball and he caught it. Lucas gave him a high five and X and my dad looked impressed. I smiled at this and jogged to my brother and father.

"So, what do you think about him?" My father asked as he looked me in the eyes. "Is he good enough for Madeline?"

"He's a reporter for the New York Times." I said and turned to X who understood what that meant.

X laughed to himself and looked at my father and said "What do you think Devina is gonna do? You know how she feels about reporters around Lucas."

"Does she know?" My father asks. My dad has always liked Devina. He has always thought of her and Jelly as his daughters as well. Both of my parents are very welcome towards both of them. Devina especially needs it because she feels that her family has been ripped from her.

"No, I just found out." I said and they nodded. "I think he likes Madeline, well the correct term he used was 'love'. He means it."

"Okay." My father said and turned his head. I heard the patio door open and I turned around as well. Then all of the women in the family came out.

"What are you guys doing out here? I thought you were supposed to be cooking?" I said as Peter and Lucas came by my side.

"Honey don't worry, we have a timer on the chicken and all the vegetables are being kept warm." Devina said and put her cup of lemonade down.

"Can we play?" Madeline asked as all of the girls descended down the staircase. "Come on, pick teams."

"Oh no, you are not putting X in the hospital again." Xavier said talking in third person. "You guys are too competitive!"

"Oh come on babe, don't be a baby." Josephine said as she moved toward him. "Come on, mom and dad be captains."

"Alright!" My mother said enthusiastically. "Me first. Devina."

"Lucas."

"X."

"Zeke."

"Peter."

"Josephine." My father said. "Wait, we have an uneven number."

"You can have Madeline." My mother said and Madeline smiled. "Alright. We get this side, go over there."

I came up from behind Devina and lifted her off her feet. She laughed and I just smiled. I put her down and kissed her on the cheek. "Go easy on X this time. Don't want to sprain his arm again." I said and she laughed.

"Okay, I'll go easy on X, but I'm coming after you." She said and I just ginned. She gestured for me to come closer. "and I'll definitely be coming after you tonight." She seductively bit her lip and I had the sudden urge to bite it for her. I backed away slowly and then she turned around to face her team.

"Okay guys." My father began to say. "Your mom has won the past five games and I will not let her win a sixth. She may have more people but I have something she doesn't. I have the losing streak and the aspiration to break it. They're going to give the ball to Devina, Zeke. I want you on her. Everyone else, defense to the receiving end. Win on three! One Two Three."

"Win!" We all shouted and clapped our hands together. We all went against each other. Of course Devina is the quarterback.

"You ready babe?" She asked taunting me. "Whatever team loses does the dishes. Set hike!" Devina said and Lucas tossed her the ball. They all started running and then so did Devina. Lucas had an opening and Devina threw it to him. She had one hell of an arm and Lucas was in the right place and the right time. He caught it, then Devina threw her hands up in celebration. I smiled and lifted her up.

"Zeke! Put me down!" She said through her laughter and I put he on the floor with me on top of her. I kissed her and she smiled. "get off me."

"Nope, not until you say that you love me." I smiled and so did she. She touched my cheek and kissed it.

"Of course I love you, but I do love football just a little bit more." She said and I laughed. I got off of her and helped her up. About forty five minutes later, the game was over with the score 28- 21 my mother's team. Of course they won, Devina and my mother never loses.

"So, I guess you guys get to do the dishes." X said as he taunted us. Madeline smiled then smacked him in the head. "Why do you people keep doing that?!" X yelled and we all started to laugh.

"Come on guys, lunch is ready." My mother said and smiled. My dad took her hand and kissed it. Thirty three years and they are still in love to this day. We all went inside and the guys set the dining room table as the women put their final touches on the meal. We all say down with my parents at the head of the table.

"Okay guys, who said grace last time?" My father said as he looked around at everyone.

"I did it last time grandpa." Lucas spoke up and my dad nodded.

"Okay Lucas, you get to pick who says it next."

"I want Peter to say grace."

"That's nice of you Lucas." Peter began to say and then we all looked at him. "but I'm an atheist." We all looked at him like he was crazy. We looked at Madeline and she sheepishly grinned.

"Wait, so you don't believe in anything?" X said and then Josephine coughed to shut him up. No one said anything, we just looked at each other and then him.

"So, what do you do?" Lucas asked and Devina just glared at him.

"You don't believe in God? Next thing you know he's gonna be a democrat." I said and laughed to myself.

"Zeke…" Devina said to me.

"I am a democrat." He said and another long awkward silence ensued.

"I'll say grace." Madeline said as she grabbed his hand and then X's right beside her. We all snapped out of the daze from Peter's bomb just unleashed on all of us. "Lord, help guide us through the path that you have paved for us. Bless the family and friends who aren't here and bless the food we are about to receive. Amen."

"Amen." Everyone said except for Peter who just looked very confused. My father cut the chicken and we all passed our plates down like an assembly line.

"So, Peter. What do you do for a living?" Devina asked and Peter looked at me frozen.

"come on Hun, answer her." Madeline said to Peter as she passed down the plate. "He's a big time…"

"Nurse. I'm a big time nurse." Peter replied hastily.

"That's nice. Mom always say that we need more male nurses around here. Right mom?"

"Absolutely." Mom said shakily. It seems like she knew that Peter wasn't a nurse.

"Which hospital do you work at?" Josephine asks. "We have a friend that works at Bellevue memorial."

"Yeah, I work at Bellevue memorial too. I'm a NICU nurse." Peter said his voice evening out. Madeline looked at him very confused. He nodded at her and passed along another plate. He is in no way impressing this family so far.

"So, this looks great. Do the women always cook or do you let the guys cook sometimes?" Peter asked.

"Last time we left the guys in charge of cooking, we had to go out because they blew up the meat." My mother said and we all laugh. "We normally cook and they guys normally do the dishes. Pretty much the only thing we can trust them with in the kitchen."

"Do you cook?" X asked as he shoved a green bean in his mouth.

"Yeah, for our first date, I made dinner for Madeline at my place." Peter said and Madeline smiled at the memory.

"Better be the only thing you did that night." I said and apparently loud enough for everyone to hear. Peter was chocking on something and X snorted up his beer.

"Zeke." Devina smiled and shook her head. "He was joking guys." For the next ten minutes, we engulfed everything we saw on the table. The sounds of utensils on plates and chewing filled the room.

"So, Madeline, people tell me that you called this family lunch. I hope it wasn't just to introduce us to Justin." Josephine said to Madeline with a smile.

"Nope, mom and dad told me that they had news and that they wanted everyone here to tell me."

"Well, what's the news?" I asked and my parents smiled at each other and put down their utensils. They looked at all of us and we just blinking in anticipation.

"Tell them Niklaus." My mother said and my father sat up straight.

"Well, as you know, Madeline graduated with her masters in international relations. Your mother and I have decided to pass on the foundation to the three of you." My father said and all of my siblings and I plummeted down to the plate accompanied with a loud crashing sound with our jaws opening.

"You're doing what?" X said and I looked at Madeline. She was frozen with terror.

"Mom, I'm a senator. I don't have time for the foundation." I said and I looked at Devina. She looked at me with compassionate eyes and I found relief in them.

"We thought you guys would be happy about this. X, you have been working there since you were twenty one, Madeline, you're high school internship was at the foundation. What's the problem?" My mother said to defend her choice.

"Mom, it's not that we're not happy. We are. We love the foundation and we all knew that someday, we were going to be given the foundation, but now? I just got out of college. I was supposed to travel to all of those countries and learn about them before I even started to take over your job." Madeline said in a compassionate and nervous tone.

"I had time to do that mom; it should only be fair that you give her the time to do it as well. As for me, you're right. Dad has been preparing me for this since I got out of college. I just think we need a transition period for all of this to happen. Just give us two years before you back out completely. It gives Madeline time to travel to those countries and see how the foundation helps people. And Zeke, he shouldn't be involved in this. No offense."

"None taken." I said as I gave Xavier my full attention.

"This isn't the life he chose and it isn't the life he is prepared for. I think he should have a seat on the board rather than run the foundation. Madeline can handle your portion of the company while I can handle the business side."

"I think that's a good idea Xavier." My father said and nodded to him. "Madeline, are you okay with us giving you two years before you take over for your mother?"

"Yes. That's perfect." Madeline said to my father.

"Ezekiel, are you okay with being on the board rather than running the company?" My mother asked and I looked at Devina. She nodded and then I nodded to my mother. "Well, then that's settled."

"Yes, I suppose it is." I smiled to Devina and she kissed my cheek. We all resumed eating and when we were done, the losing team did the dishes and the winning team goes to the den and plays tennis on the wii. We finish up and go back to the den. I see everyone there, except for Devina.

"Where is she?" I ask and they look at me. Of course they would roll their eyes at me because we all know exactly where she is.

"Why did everyone just roll their eyes?" Peter asked then everyone laughed. "What?"

"Devina's favorite place in the house is the library." I said "Lucas, we're leaving to go to the diner with your mom's family in twenty minutes. Get changed into one of the nice suits in your closet please."

"Can I do it after this game dad?" He pleaded and I nodded. I walked out of the room and I could hear peter say "This place has a library?" I laughed to myself and I made my way to the library. I went to the entrance on the second story because that's where her chair and her favorite books are. I climbed the stairs and opened the door and sure enough she was in her huge chaise lounge chair with a blanket over her legs with a book in her hands. I pulled out my phone and took a picture of her. She looked up at me and smiled. I walked over to her and sat on the chair.

"You know, if the person in this book were real, you so wouldn't have a chance with me." She said and I just smiled. "Seriously, a guy that risks everything just to save his one true love."

"Trust me, you don't want your life to be one of your books. All that they're about is drama and love triangles."

"Which is awesome." She said and we both laughed.

"Okay, if our lives were books, I would cheat on you with your sister and you would have an affair with X and then my mother would kill you all." I said and she looked dumbfounded by the idea.

"Yeah but this book has amazing angels in them!" She said and put up the book.

"Come on, we have to have dinner with your family. We need to change." I said and stood up. I pulled her up with me and she immediately pulled my lips to hers. We stood there, caught up in the moment. She jumped up and wrapped her legs around me and I sat us both down on the couch; overwhelmed by each other's presence. She unlocked her lips from mine and leaned her head forward so our heads are touching. Our breaths are loud and heavy and our eyes closed taking in the moment.

"Tonight." She promised. "I'm all yours." I opened my eyes and the mesmerizing brown eyes were staring back at me with her long brown hair in her face. I nodded and she gracefully got off me and helped me up. We walked back to my room together. She changed into an amazing one shoulder blue dress that made me fall even more in love with her by the second. I put my sit back on and she smiled at me.

"You look amazing as always." I said to her and she blushed. I grinned at her and she kissed my cheek. I took my hand in hers and we walked downstairs. She got her keys out and everyone gathered in the foyer to say goodbye to us. I said goodbye to all of them, but not without a witty remark about me in a suit. Then Devina and I got in our cars and went to the dinner that has a very big possibility of killing us both.

Hello my lovely readers, you are all amazing and I hope you are having a beautiful day. My advice to anyone and everyone is READ THE HUSH HUSH SERIES AND ALIENATED! Please…