Ever since the pedo incident, Jason hadn't let Justin out of his sight. He was the one who woke Justin up in the mornings, and fixed her breakfast. He was the one who changed her from her Night-Wing footie pajamas into her batman overalls. He was the last one to say goodbye to her before him and Kim had to go off to work, and leave Jay to take care of her, and he was the first one to speed home and get a kiss from his baby girl, before dinner time.

Jay had his GED, so instead of going to school, he would stay home with Justin all day, watching movies, playing outside, and playing Batman and Robin.

Things had gotten a lot better between Jay and Jason. Jason had stopped looking at Jay like he was a ticking time bomb; he began bragging about how great a kid he was to the other dads in the neighborhood.

"Never have to remind him to do any of his chores." Kim had overheard him saying to Russell at their weekly card game. "Everyday, I come home, he's already cleaned his room, Justin's room, the yard has been raked, the garden weeded, and the front and back porch swept."

David had thrown down a pair of eights, "Wish Matthew was like that. Every day seems either me or my wife have to negotiate with him to do his chores. Almost like he doesn't even want his allowance."

Jason raised an eyebrow, "You give him an allowance?"

David looked up at Jason with confusion. "Yeah… you don't give Jay one?"

Jason cast a look around the table, noticing the silent disbelief and judgment of the other men. "Well, I… uh… I never got an allowance for stuff like that. To my mom, putting a roof over my head and food on the table was payment enough."

Kim had paused in the doorframe, concern creeping in as she realized the situation. Jay did a lot around the house… he never got any type of compensation for it. Sure, he got a roof over his head, food on his plate, and Kimberly was one of many mothers guilty of spoiling her children with baked goods and pizza nights, but Justin got all of those things too, and she didn't have any chores besides keeping her toys put up.

Russell shrugged, putting his beer down along with three tens. "When I was a kid, all I did was mow the lawn once a week and keep my room clean, I got five bucks a week."

"We're not trying to tell you how to raise your kid or anything, Jason." The man who spoke was named Arnold, a newcomer at poker night. He wasn't a resident of the neighborhood, but a friend of Russell's who was visiting for the week. "And if he'll do all that work, just from appreciating the work you and Kim do, good for you. You raised a good kid."

Arnold raised his beer to his lips, taking a small sip, before glancing sideways at Russell. "It's just…"

Jason frowned, "What?"

"It's not a big deal or anything, but… I mean… why do you let him hang around Blake?"

Judging from the glances he was getting, Jason figured they all wanted to know. "Why not?"

David cleared his throat, "I told Matthew not to hang around that kid. One look at him, you can tell he's a bad influence."

"In what way?" Jason asked.

Russell snorted. "Way he dresses, you can just tell he's looking for trouble. Probably sacrificing cats in that basement."

Arnold shook his head, "I've met his parents, they both seem normal enough. Can't see why they let him dress like that."

Jason did not like where this was going. He didn't pry into Blake's life, but he knew enough about the kid to know that he was a good kid. He dressed differently, and his taste in music was too vulgar for his age. Jason had been guilty of similar things at his age. And worse things.

Kim felt her hands slowly curling into fists. Blake had wormed his way into a special place in her heart. She didn't quite consider him her child, not like she considered Jay or Justin, but he was damn near close. He was Jay's only close friend, and was like a second brother to Justin. Hearing Jason's friends talk about him like that nearly made her blood boil.

But screaming at people was frowned upon, so instead of walking into the garage, she went to her and Jason's room to prevent such action.

When Jason came to bed, he found Kim sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing nothing other than one of his T-shirts. His eyes widened as Kim smirked, slowly drawing the T-shirt up her thighs. "I love a man whos good with kids."

Jason raised an eyebrow, "This is about… Jay?"

Kim shrugged, "Or just repressed sexual tension from not decking Arnold."

"Oh… so it's about Blake?"

"Get. In. Bed."

Jason was about to tackle his wife onto the mattress, but was interrupted by a little voice screaming from down the hall, "MOMMY DADDY MOMMY DADDY!"

They both dashed down the hall to see Justin estanding up her tiny bed, a pillow cut and stuffed to look like a batarang clutched in her tiny hands. Her eyes widened when she saw her parents, and she pointed at her open closet door, "Monster!"

Kim flicked on the lights while Jason scooped Justine, "Sweetie, there's no monsters."

Kim opened the closet doors wider, showing her daughter, "See? Just your clothes and toys."

Justine trembled, clutching onto Jason tightly. "He's hiding."

"Hiding?" Jason asked, "From who?"

"You. He's scared cause you're big." Justine explained. "I'm little, so he comes out at night to try and eat me!"

Jay poked his head into the room, "Eat you? There are cannibals in America?"

Kim shushed him, "No, she thinks there's a monster in her closet. It's a phase most kids go through."

"But there is one!" Justine protested.

Jason sighed, "Justy, monsters aren't real."

"But I saw one!" Justine insisted. "He lives in my closet!"

Jay squinted over at Justine's open closet door. "Kinda small in there. Must not be a very big monster."

"Big enough to eat me." Justine snapped.

THE NEXT AFTERNOON:

"Alright, emergency cell phone is on top of the fridge, the contact numbers are mine, Jason, Tim, Dick, poison control, and 911." Kim summed up. "We'll be back by morning, maybe tonight if things don't go so well. Justin's bed time is eight, your bedtime is ten. You can have Blake over if you want, but if he spends the night you can only stay up until midnight. Kyler can come over to play this afternoon if she wants, but no spending the night for her. I don't think you can handle looking after two little girls by yourself."

Jay nodded, "Thank you for that mercy."

Kim pointed towards the kitchen as Jason straightened his tie. "There's fish sticks and cheesy potatoes in the fridge. Absolutely. No. Pizza."

"And don't touch my pork chops." Jason said firmly.

Kim picked up her purse, fishing out a twenty dollar bill. "Here's for watching her."

Jay grinned, thinking about how many arcade games he could play with that. "Thanks mom."

She kissed him on the forehead, "You've got this, big guy. Don't burn the house down."

Justy waddled into the living room, tugging her red wagon behind her. "Will you be back before bedtime?"

Kim shook her head, carefully kneeling down to avoiding twisting her ankle in her heels. She gave Justine a kiss on the forehead, "No munchkin, it'll just be you and Jay."

Justine crossed her arms, "But if you're both gone whose gonna scare away the monster if it comes tonight?"

"There is no monster, sweetie." Kim assured her, "It's just your imagination."

"Where are you going!?" Justine asked, grabbing onto the bottom of her dress as she stood up, "Don't go to far! We might need you to come home quickly! Monsters don't wait!"

Kim sighed, tugging her dress out of Justin's hands. "Then call Batman."

Justine stomped her foot, "Fine! I guess Batman is my mommy tonight!"

Jason snorted, "Ya know, I almost wish Bruce had been here to hear that."

Kim elbowed him harshly, "Okay, everything is in order, any questions?"

Justine raised her hand. "Yes munchkin?"

"Brushing my teeth, is it optional when you're not here?"

"Absolutely not. It's mandatory."

She pouted.

Jay groaned, "Like, not even a little bit optional?"

Jason gave him a look, "Do you want your girlfriend to be grossed out next time you kiss?"

"No…"

"Then it's not optional."

Kim and Jason left, heading out to their date. They had been planning a simple movie/dinner date for two months. Not only were they going to the movies and dinner, but they had booked a hotel room for the night. It was really the only way two married people could get any decent action. Otherwise they would get interrupted.

Jay turned to Justin as the door shut, grinning. "Guess what we're doing tonight!"

"Blanket fort castle?" She asked.

"Blanket fort castle!" Jay yelled. "This is not a drill! Get ALL the blankets!"

Justine squealed in excitement, "Even the ones from Mommy and Daddy's room!?"

"Of course!" Jay shouted back, "They're the biggest ones!"

Justine giggled, running off to their room. Jay moved to follow, but heard a knocking sound at the door. He opened it, and there stood Blake. As opposed to the normal black eyeliner, flat hair, black sweater, black slacks, and black converse, Blake looked a lot more… dolled up. He had spiked his hair, a streak of pink going through his bangs. His normal black eyeliner had a wing tip, and there was definitely some red eyeshadow there. Black lipstick too. He had a red pole with a black leather (probably fake leather) vest and grey tie. Black slacks were normal. But he had on black combat boots instead of sneakers.

Blake gestured to the duffle bag hanging from his shoulder, "Where do I out my instruments of torture?"

"Dinner is fish sticks and cheesy potatoes. If you can dig that, right over there, next to the couch, not on it."

Blake grinned, "Hell yeah! I haven't had fish sticks since I was five!"

Justine ran back into the room, dragging her parent's blue and white blankets and sheets with her. "Blake, you look pretty!"

Blake smirked, setting his bag down and scooping Justine up, "And you, my little spawn, are as adorable as ever."

She crossed her arms, "Tonight, I am king of the blanket fort!"

"Ya mean princess? Queen?"

She glared at him. "You be the princess."

I'm back bitches.