Chapter 5: Their Problems

Returning back home meant several things for James. Most noticeably he had a new temporary housemate. While he was friends with Anya, he has never really been in a place where it was just her, him, and Holly J. Now they would all be under one roof after classes ended.

Currently, James was leaving his English class, the other students leaving the lecture hall as soon as possible. Another composition was to be written, this on a past bad experience. What perfect timing?

"James," James turned to see a very pregnant Liberty moving towards him. "Have you seen J.T today?"

James shook his head. "No. Why?"

"I have an appointment and he's normally there." Liberty said before sighing. "Why can't he just stay still?"

"It's kind of his thing mate. Sorry." replied James. "Speaking of appointments, I should go check in on Manny to see her next date. She's probably driven Craig insane now."

"It's likely." Liberty told him. "I'm going to go search for J.T for a bit more before going to get the ultrasound for the hundredth time in my life."

James gave her a nod before parting ways.

While he and J.T have become good friends, there was still the slight hint in J.T's voice that led James to believe that he was still jealous. Despite it happening in high school, J.T still dated Manny and had some lingering feelings for her, though they were quickly dissolving. James figured that since J.T lost the chance to sleep with Manny, he would be pissed at everyone else who did. So for the man that knocks Manny up, i.e. James, J.T would always have a small tinge of envy for them.

While leaving the building, James thought about his last talk with Fiona before she got on her plane for New York. It was weird, considering that they had said two words to each other prior that, and that was "good morning." She gave him a regretful goodbye before declaring that she would call whenever she got the chance. And she hadn't, but James did not worry. Fiona was her own person and could take care of herself… For the most part.

"Jaime!" James cringed at the voice. Emma was not happy. "You leave for Hawaii and don't call when you return?" Yep, she was completely pissed at him. "You jerk! And I was going to waste my time calling you!"

"Um, hi Em." It was a lame and useful attempt to calm her down, but James was desperate at the moment. "I would have called but I had to deal with the whole Anya thing."

"So you've heard?" James nodded. "Riley was called to the Director of Athletics' office. I doubt he'll be playing at all next year."

James shrugged. "I'm just looking out for Anya, that's all. I could care less whether he plays for the team or not."

"Aw, miss your ex?" Emma teased. "I bet you do. So tell me, how was Hawaii and don't skip on the Fiona news because Manny's already told me she was there."

James sighed as he walked with Emma.

"Well, it wasn't all bad. HJ was actually on her best behavior." James explained. "Fi and I talked about the little incident, but we've come to terms that this is what it is. I'm with Holly J, she's-"

"With another woman." Emma added.

"Right… She's with Charlie, and the four of us are quite happy." James finished. "So there's not much to say mate. Really there isn't."

"Mm-hmm. And my name is Darcy." Emma stated. "Come on. Tell me what really happened. Did you kiss her? Did you tell her you loved her?"

"Manny put you up to this, didn't she?" James asked. Emma normally never forced James to talk, only coercing him here and there. Only Manny forced James to gossip.

"Maybe…" Emma said. "But that's only because she loves you and worries when you're choosing her son's stepmom."

James actually scoffed at the idea. It was his son too.

"Nothing is wrong with Holly J." James said.

"True, but there's a lot wrong with Heather." Emma said pointedly. "And we both know that you are somehow friends with her, giving her all the more reasons to be around J.J."

"J.J?" James questioned. "So you guys have named him? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Um… Well…" James knew Emma was looking for a reasonable excuse, though he was just messing with her. He had left the naming of the child solely up to Manny and Emma so long as he was in there somewhere. "Jay and I found a house!"

"Manny told me." responded James. "So what's the name?"

"Well, we've decided to let it have your first name and your dad's last name." James gave a small nod. "So, James Joseph Wilder. She gave him her dad's first name for a middle name and since I'm officially godmother slash aunt, I decided that if I'm married to Jay, then my nephew will be J.J."

"As long as my mom approves, I'm okay. And Holly J won't be a bad stepmom, even if I do marry her." James said.

Emma paused in step. "What do you mean 'if'?"

James frowned. "I'm not going to propose to her anytime soon if that's what you're thinking." Emma then smiled brightly. "Oh no… What's that look for?"

"Because you love her!" Emma said walking again.

"Holly J?"

"No! Fiona!" Emma replied before sighing. "I knew you two had a thing for each other. She couldn't keep her hands off of you!" James only smiled at the memory Emma was recalling. The night he took Fiona to The Break Room. Fiona had held onto his arm on their walk to the car, something he still has yet to ask her about. "But… On the flip side, it led my best friend to cocaine…"

"True." James said as they came to Emma's car. "But the pregnancy got her to stop."

"Momentarily." Emma said in a saddened tone.

James could only sigh. Manny's love for cocaine had become a fear of his and Emma's in the past and they were both relieved when the doctor announced that the baby was apparently unaffected. Yet. James kept saying that over and over in his head. Manny snorting the drug during her early weeks of her pregnancy could possibly cause for some birth defect and James feared that it would.

"She went to any morning classes?" James suddenly asked.

Emma nodded. "Yeah. She said that sitting down in the afternoon is boring. She actually misses taking orders from Paige."

"I was just checking since she hasn't called." James replied.

"You should be worried about Riley and Fiona." James gave Emma a nod. "I'll speak to you later, alright? I'll be at your place so you can see the pictures Jay and I got. Make sure it's a legal documentation."

"I'll be there, but so will Anya and most likely HJ." James told her. "Because they're dorm got trashed, Anya's rooming with me and HJ for a while."

"You're a good friend Jaime. But, I really do wish you'd go after Fiona again. I liked her." Emma said nearing her car before her phone began to ring. "That's Jay. Talk to you later."

James nodded before walking off. He wanted to focus on his attention on Anya's problem, seeing as Riley could go on another attack due to 'roid rage and damage more than just property, but he strayed to Fiona Coyne. He wondered how she was or if she told Charlie about her drinking in Hawaii. He then wondered if she continued drinking. She probably did. Hell, he wanted a drink after he returned home alone.

James only sighed. He had about an hour to go home and rest before leaving for work. What a long day this was going to be.

It was a quarter after ten when James returned to his condo. In his hand was some food from the Break Room. While very little people ate there, James was quite used to the food. In fact, he almost favored it above everything else. Almost.

But as he entered his home, he heard the TV on and frowned. Moving to the living room, he saw Anya and Holly J watching TV, both girls in their pajamas.

"How was work?" Holly J asked.

"Good." James said, forgetting that he had given Holly J a spare. Fiona was clouding his better judgment and for a second he swore she was the only person that had a key besides him. "Did you cook?"

"No. Brought something home." James smirked. Great minds thought alike. James sat his Styrofoam container on the countertop, moving for the refrigerator to get a drink. "Manny stopped by earlier. Something about kicking your ass for your message."

James laughed. "Oh yeah…"

"Is that all you have to say?" James now saw Holly J looking at him as he sat at a bar stool.

James nodded. "It was pretty funny." James then looked at Anya, who had yet to say anything. "How are you Anya? You've been real quiet."

"I called Riley to talk… He didn't answer." Anya said. "Jaime, I know that's not him. Riley's real sweet. He would never hurt me on purpose. Not like Sav."

"Oh brother." Holly J said while lazily rolling her eyes. "Anya, seriously, can you get over him? That's been months ago. Besides, he's after some cougar."

"Winnie is about three years older than me." James stated.

Holly J glared at him. "Are you trying to date her?" James shrugged as he opened his container to reveal his Buffalo wings and fries. "Well fine. Let's see how well you sleep tonight when I sleep in Anya's room."

James smirked. "If that's what you're going to do to punish me HJ, you failed. Badly."

"We're not all like your ex." Holly J responded. Unbeknownst to Holly J, the statement stung James probably more than it should have. He knew that Fiona was not interested in women, per se, more like interested in finding true love regardless the gender.

"Don't say that Holly J. That's mean." Anya reprimanded, though the Sinclair had little care. "So, will you help me talk to him tomorrow Jaime? I-"

Anya was cut off by a loud knock on the door. James, who was currently eating, sighed heavily as he grabbed a napkin to wipe his hands as he went to answer the door, Holly J right behind him.

Opening the door, James saw Adam Torres.

"Adam? What the hell are you doing here this late? Does your mom know you're out?" James questioned.

Adam sighed. "Something terrible has happened. Can I come in?"

James released a small sigh before stepping aside. If Emma had become something akin to an older sister, then Adam was definitely a little brother. He watched the soon-to-be completed male move in past his girlfriend, heading for the living room.

"Who is this?" Anya asked in a polite, yet surprised, tone.

"Adam, this is Anya. Anya, Adam." James introduced as he went back to his meal, Holly J finding her spot back on the couch.

Adam looked at James. "Isn't she the soldier ex you was talking about?" James nodded, knowing sometime tomorrow this would bite him in the ass. "She is hot."

"Aw. Aren't you cute?" Anya said. "And you're quite handsome yourself."

"Why are you here, mate? You know your mom will be here five seconds, so just come out with it." James stated.

"I cheated on Clare." If James was not biting into another wing, his jaw might have been agape. "With her friend… Alli."

"Whoa, Sav's sister?" Adam nodded at Anya's question. "You had sex with Sav's little sister? Do her parents know?"

James realized that Anya did not know Adam's back story, so while she was thinking Adam had sex with Alli like it sounded, James knew Adam just skillfully used his fingers to temporarily replace what he did not have yet. If the circumstances would have been different and Adam was single, James would have been proud at the boy's accomplishments.

"Did you use protection?" Anya asked.

"What kind of big brother would I be if I didn't teach him rule number one?" Holly J and Anya looked at James as he ate.

"The kind that gets a girl pregnant in Vegas." Holly J said.

"Ooh… Burn." Adam added. James shot him a glare. "Sorry."

"And you," Adam flinched as Holly J's attention turned to him. "What is wrong with you? I thought you were seriously into Clare?"

"I was!" Adam said. "And then there were these rumors that she was sleeping with her stepbrother and then I found out that she kissed Eli from a friend of mine."

"And who was this so-called friend?" asked Holly J. She knew how gossip worked. It could be used to hurt foes or help friends.

"Bianca…" Adam's words came out slowly as he waited for James's outburst.

"Bianca? DeSousa right?" Adam nodded slowly. "Alright Adam, why are you hanging out with her? Isn't she the one that ruined your life?"

"It's not like that anymore. She's dating Drew against my mom's orders. I have to help them sneak around and in exchange, she helps me out." explained Adam, though James doubted that she could help anyone out. "Look, Bianca's story makes sense. And when I asked Clare about it, she just brushed it off. Not the Jake stuff, but the Eli stuff. And so-"

"You found Little Bhandari. Way to go Adam, you're nothing like your big brother. And by that, I mean Drew." Holly J said.

James swallowed the food in his mouth.

"Alright Adam, tell me again how this happened." Adam nodded at James.

"Well," Adam recounted. "After school, I went to ask Clare about what Bianca told me. I don't really care about the Jake rumors because they're clearly false. But when I asked her about Eli, she kind of dodged the subject and said she'd call later. So, I went to go find somewhere to cool my head, and there was Alli."

"And bam. You just did her right then and there." James said.

Adam frowned. "In front of The Dot? No." James just shrugged. "So then we head to my place where no one was and… Well… That's when it happened."

James sighed. "Alright. And your mom still hates Alli, right?" Adam nodded. It was no secret that when Audra Torres disliked someone, she made it her duty to let everyone else know. It still shocked James as to why the woman had taken a liking to him, but he was not complaining. "Alright mate, let's get you home and see if we can't explain this."

"That's the thing…" Adam stated. "She kind of walked in on us…"

"Oh dear God." Holly J said. James only glanced at Holly J. The two of them had recently been caught by Holly J's mother. "What?"

James only shook his head. Leave it to Adam to stop by at ten at night with news like this. Then again, James realized that the boy could not have just walked into the Break Room (despite Drew and Bianca doing it quite frequently) and come up to the bar to talk. In fact, Drew and Bianca did not even come to the bar when they came.

"So are you going to break up with her?" James asked suddenly.

"I don't know. She's still my best friend." James smirked at this.

"If you're going to date a friend, don't date your best friend. Break ups are the absolute worst." James stated.

Holly J smiled. "Speaking from experience, huh Jaime?"

James did not reply to his girlfriend. Unlike the first time, this stab was a hundred percent intentional.

"From personal experience," James began. "I know dating a Sinclair can be a pain in the ass. Make sure you dodge that in the nearby future Adam or else."

James noticed the smile on Holly J's face. She always saw him as a challenge since there were moments that he just would not stand for certain things said or done. And for some reason he could not understand, she liked that. Blue was willing to do almost everything she said, and yet she liked James because he was uncaring about a lot of things.

Weird.

James rose. "Come on Adam, let's get you home before I get dragged down with you."

"But what about Clare?" Adam asked.

"I'll tell you what to do on the way there. Now, let's go." James responded as he grabbed his keys. "HJ, I'll be back as soon as his mom is done yelling at me too. I swear I should've never done that stupid project."

James moved to give Holly J a brief kiss and then lead Adam towards the front door. As the two left, Adam stepped in front of James, now walking backwards.

"So, you talked to Fiona? Is she still as hot as she was earlier?" Adam asked.

James grinned. "Hotter. And her girlfriend isn't bad looking either mate."

"So… Is she like lesbian or bisexual?" Adam questioned.

"Bi." James answered.

Adam gave a breath of relief. "Good. I'll be eighteen next year." James chuckled as he pressed the button for the elevator. "Do you still think of her? As in more than a friend."

"It's a lot more complicated than do or don't. There's always an outside factor that just makes things… Different." James said as the doors opened.

"Question," Adam began as the two stepped onto the elevator. "If you were to cheat on Holly J with Fiona and Holly J gave you the choice to either stay with her or go back with Fiona, which do you choose?"

"Does this have anything to do with Alli?" James asked pressing the button for the lobby.

Adam was silent, but James really did not need him to answer the question. Of course this had something to do with Clare and Alli and Eli and possibly Drew too. For some reason, Adam secretly idolized his brother for the majority of the time. James really did not understand it until he met his younger sister at Christmas. Hayden loved James, and again, he really had no clue why.

"Let me tell you something mate," James said. "Holly J would never ask a rhetorical question. Nothing like that, at least."

"Why?" Adam asked.

"Because truth be told," stated James. "If a certain Laura Coyne had not have showed up at my door, there wouldn't be a Holly J and me." Adam frowned, but nodded. "Tell me, how much do you like Alli? And be honest."

"Well… She's hot. And she's smart. Really smart." Adam responded. "Her parents have been hard on her lately though and after the whole Drew fiasco, I'm surprised she even says my last name because it's the same."

"Good to know. Now how much do you like her?" Adam sighed.

"I don't know. Enough to break about fifty rules and listen to her life story." Adam said with a half-grin.

James laughed. "Women… They will do that to you." The elevator doors opened. "But if you feel strongly about Alli, and I mean at least on par with Clare, then you need to just sit down and talk to Clare about it."

"Seriously?" James nodded.

"Vegas, I knocked Manny up and made out with Holly J." James said. "Talked it over with Fi, now everything's good. Well… As good as it's going to be anyways."

"So you just talked to her?" Adam asked and James nodded. "And she forgave you?"

"Not just like that. There was a shopping spree… But I don't think Clare's that kind of girl. She's more forgiven." replied James. "So talk it out, make sure you calmly and clearly tell her your side and be very understanding to her point-of-view."

Adam frowned. "What happens if I don't?"

"Then I'll see you in the next life mate." James said with a smile as he patted Adam's shoulder. "Good luck though."

Adam only grinned.

James led Adam to his white SUV, glad that his mother was eager to trade one of her two vehicles (she had the Explorer and a Corolla) for his Nissan. He loved his GT-R, but it got cramped whenever more than one passenger rode with him. The back was always crowded.

"Now let's get you home. Something tells me that your mom won't be happy." James said to Adam.

And she wasn't.

"Where were you?"

There were a number of mothers James had come across while living in Toronto. They included Spike Nelson, Mary-Kate Sinclair, Julietta Santos, and Laura Coyne, yet none of them put him in line like Audra Torres did. There was something about the woman that really frightened him. She had too many connections and she just knew things. Really private things.

"Mom, please don't get mad-"

"Oh, I'm already passed that." Audra said before looking at James. "Did he go to you?" James only nodded. This would not end well for his high school friend. Audra sighed. "So I guess you know."

"About him and Alli? Yeah." James said.

"I knew that girl was trouble." Audra stated as she not-so gently pulled Adam into the house by his arm. James followed only to protect the boy from murder. Any physical harm in-between time was probably deserved. "I can't believe this Adam. Drew, I could see, but you? You were dating Clare. What happened to her?"

"She went off with her ex." Adam said dryly.

Audra turned to James, who sighed. When he said that Adam had become something like his younger brother, he meant it. That meant that Audra turned to him on very few dealings with Adam. Things such as this.

"I don't know her side of the story because he just showed up a few minutes ago." Wrong thing to say as Audra's eyes gave Adam a well-trained glare. "But," James added in attempt to save Adam. "I do know Alli and she's not a bad person. She makes a mistake here and there, but she's in the Gifted Program and is going to attend UST's summer program."

"And what about having sex with both of my sons?" Audra asked.

James saw a small smile on Adam's face. It was not that he had had sex with Alli that he was smiling at, but for the simple fact that his mother had fully accepted him as being a boy. Even after she agreed with the whole surgery, along with two counselors and Mr. Torres, she sometimes would slip up and refer to Adam as a girl.

"Alli never slept with Drew." James stated.

"Never?"

"Ever." Audra crossed her arms at James's words. "Drew told me himself. Gave him a better reputation to, um, well you know."

"That lying…" James released a silent breath from his mouth. If he could shift Audra's attention from Adam to Drew, he could make it back in time to get some decent sleep. "Thank you James. I will talk to my son about the birds and the bees."

"Mom!" Adam's face noticeably reddened, embarrassed by the entire situation.

James neared the door. "I'll check in on them in school whenever I have time to make sure it's a one-time thing Mrs. Torres."

She gave him a nod, her eyes never leaving Adam's. James left the house with a smile. His little brother had taken one large step towards manhood. Even at the expense of cheating on Clare, who James believed was with Eli as rumored, Adam still did the proverbial act.

He couldn't be more proud if he tried.

After returning home to a nice shower, James crawled under his sheets, surprised to see Holly J awake. She was currently staring at the ceiling in thought.

"Are you okay?" James asked her quietly.

She rolled so that she was facing him completely.

"Do you think I'm bitchy?" Although James frowned at the question, he really wanted to tell her that he did on her worst days. "Anya says that I was after telling her that her boyfriend or ex-boyfriend or whatever he is, is a junkie."

James sighed. "HJ, you might want to be considerate of her feelings. You know she's trying to move past Sav."

"Jaime, that was months ago. Christ, she's been with you since then!" Holly J said. "And he's been taking steroids for twice that long. I just want her to see that."

"Not everyone sees the same thing you do, mate." James said. "For starters, some people say that I'm a complete jackass and carefree. But, we both know that can't be true if I care about you."

Holly J smiled. "You're smooth Nichols, I'll give you that."

"Better than you know Sinclair." James said.

"Tell me," James fought a groan. And he was about to doze off too… "Is it weird that your ex is sleeping in your home while your current sleeps in your other ex's bed?"

James smiled. "Is it weird to you that I've kissed both of them before kissing you?" Holly J just rolled her eyes. "I'm fine. Anya's fine. You're fine. And hopefully Fiona's sober." James saw the look in Holly J's eyes and regretted opening his mouth. "Don't go telling Jane this."

"But she's her friend and she needs to know." replied Holly J.

"Yeah, well I'm a closer friend." James retorted.

Holly J frowned. "James, she's dating her brother."

"Holly J, promise me that you will never ever bring this up in front of Jane. If it ever got out that I told, she'd never forgive me." James saw the look in his girlfriend's eyes and for the second time, he regretted what he said.

"If it means that much to you, I won't." Holly J told him.

"Thanks love." James said. "And to answer your question, no, I don't think you're bitchy. Stubborn at points and a damn evil tease, but not bitchy."

"I'd better not hear differently from Heather." Holly J responded as she rolled to put her back against his chest. "My mom wants us over at dinner, by the way. Thursday."

"Okay." James said tiredly as he closed his eyes.

"James… You didn't lie to me when you said that you loved me, right?" Now James was almost fully awake.

"No. Why?" he asked.

"Nothing." James was confused as she pressed up against him before moving her head to give him a kiss. "Night."

"Night." James said as she grabbed one of his arms and moved it around her waist.

James felt something amiss with this seemingly perfect picture. While his girlfriend slept in his arms, he felt like she was unknown to him. She was hiding something and he wanted to know exactly what it was. But for now, he would close his eyes and go to sleep. He would deal with it in the morning.