A/N: Here we are with the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I still own nothing!
The entire family looked over at him skeptically. There was no way that Simon had just gotten off the phone with no one.
"Simon, who was it?" Mary asked curiously.
"I just said it was no one," Simon defended.
"Right and I'm best friends with the president," Lucy smirked. Carlos looked at her with an expression of surprise.
"Really, how'd you meet him?" he asked excitedly.
"She was being sarcastic," Kevin replied. Carlos ducked his head in fake disappointment looking back up at Simon.
"No really, who was it?" he asked. Simon sighed irritated.
"I just said it was no one alright so just drop it," he growled. Ruthie came over placing a hand on his arm patting it gently while looking over at her family who only stood waiting for an answer.
"You know what guys just leave him be," she said.
"But Ruthie he hasn't answered the question!" Lucy exclaimed. Ruthie narrowed her eyes at her sister.
"Maybe he hasn't answered it because he doesn't want to share!"
"But we're his family. He's supposed to tell us," Mary said. Ruthie sighed stepping over to hand Aaron to Martin going to stand in front of them. She resumed her arm crossing, her lip forming a grim line.
"No he doesn't. Have you ever considered that maybe he doesn't want to say anything? We don't all have to know every single aspect of each other's lives. When he's ready he'll share. If he's not then you have to respect that," she said. They all ducked their heads mumbling an apology before ambling into the living room.
"Thank you Ruth," Simon whispered. She nodded giving him a light squeeze. He chuckled when he saw her face scrunch up. "What?" he smiled. She backed away slowly shooing him up the stairs. "Is that you're subtle hint to tell me that I stink?" he laughed. She nodded.
"Go have a few minutes for yourself. Take the time to think. You look like you've got a lot on your mind," she suggested.
"Is that another gentle shove in the hygiene department?" he asked,
"It's either that or go face interrogation again," she said. Simon then got a look of fear to come over him. The last thing he needed was to be hounded with questions. Many of which, probably all of which he didn't want to answer right now. The more he thought about it, the more appealing a shower sounded at the moment.
"I knew there was a reason you were always my favorite," he smiled. She smiled gently shoving him up the stairs.
"Go." He nodded heading upstairs quickly. Ruthie smiled to herself before going to join the rest of her family.
"I can't believe you guys would do that," she huffed. "You're all old enough to know that prying is rude. If he wants to keep it to himself, let him. We all have our own secrets," she said.
"We already said we were sorry," Matt told her.
"But still. I would expect so much more from my older siblings," she sighed. She felt Martin come up behind her wrapping an arm around her waist. She smiled when Aaron gently pulled on a mass of her hair.
"I think someone wants to say goodnight," he whispered in her ear. Ruthie turned around taking Aaron to her. Cuddling up to her he resumed playing with her hair.
"Goodnight baby. Sweet dreams," she whispered kissing his hair. She gently handed him to Martin who quietly took him upstairs. She turned to see that everyone had smiles on their faces. "What?"
"You two are adorable," Lucy said. Ruthie felt herself blush. She realized now that she had been doing that an awful lot lately.
"We are?" she asked.
"Yes you should see yourself with him Ruth. It's the sweetest thing I've ever seen," Mary said sniffling.
"She doesn't mean you and Martin sis," Simon laughed coming back down the stairs. She could feel herself blush deeper in embarrassment. She faced her sister again who only laughed.
"We meant you and Aaron Ruth. You guys are so cute," Sarah commented. Ruthie smiled to herself. She had really come to think of Aaron as her very own. There were hints of that before but now she could admit it without feeling like she betrayed someone.
"My baby sister's growing up," Matt smiled. "As much as I might regret saying this later motherhood suits you," he said.
"He makes it easy," she said simply. "Who am I to deny a little boy of something he's never had?"
"There's no doubt he needs it. Every child does. It's just something different. Something we haven't seen before," Sarah said.
"It just feels natural I guess," she chuckled.
"It makes sense too. If you're going to be seeing his dad what else would he think?" She blushed once again and could only smile. Who would have thought that the baby who had once torn them apart would play a part in bringing them back together? As angry as she was with her Sandy also played a big part. In a way much like Martin was with T-Bone she would always be grudgingly thankful to her.
Martin then came down settling on an open space on the couch taking Ruthie down with him. She gasped before cuddling in next to him. "Is he okay?" she asked playing with his fingers absentmindedly.
"Yes Mama he's just fine," he chuckled. "The little guy was out before I even left the room. He should be good for a couple of hours at least," Martin told her.
"I'm just making sure," she pouted. He laughed kissing her check
"Daddy's just as good you know. You don't have to do everything," he whispered.
"You know what would sound really good right about now?" Lucy asked. Everyone looked over to her expectantly. "I'm feeling the need for some ice cream," she said.
"Yeah that sounds really good. I could seriously go for some Fudge Brownie right about now," Mary said licking her lips.
"That does sound good," Sarah smiled.
"Now I'm just going to ask for my own safety here. Is it the moms or the babies that feel the need for ice cream at 10:30 at night?" Matt asked. Three very pregnant women turned to glare at him angrily.
"What?" he asked slightly scared.
"Ice cream please Matt," Sarah ordered with deathly sweetness.
"I wouldn't argue with a pregnant woman dude. That could end painfully," Kevin warned.
"Alright. Rocky Road Luce?" he asked.
"Please and thank you dear brother," she smiled kissing his cheek gratefully.
"What do you feel like having honey," Matt asked.
"You know what? Just get me something fruity."
"Are you sure you don't want anything specific?" he asked fearing her wrath if he messed up again.
"No I trust you," she smiled.
"Alrighty then," he said heading for the door. "Carlos you coming with?" he asked. "Mom and Dad always told me use the buddy system," he said. Carlos rolled his eyes but followed him out. Once the men had gone the sisters turned to each other and smiled.
"Are we walking or driving?" he asked.
"Driving is faster," Carlos said. "Gives them less time to complain about not getting what they want."
"Who wants a pedicure?" Ruthie asked. Her sisters all raised there hands and turned to Simon.
"Oh no, no, no you are not dragging me into this," Simon said raising his hands and getting up while moving away.
"Oh come on Simon. It'll be fun!" Sarah said.
"I am not losing my manhood to three pregnant sisters and bottle of cotton candy colored nail polish!"
"And you say I ruin all the fun," Ruthie pouted.
"Ruthie I'm a guy!"
"We'll force him in later. Who's first?" Ruthie asked eyeing Martin.
"You know what? I think I'm gonna go take a shower now," Martin said.
"Oh come on man! Don't leave at the mercy of these kinds of weapons!"
"It's not my fault I need to keep up with good hygiene," he smirked.
"That's the worst timing I've ever seen in my life," he grumbled.
"They're you're sisters," he laughed.
"With your luck it won't be long before they're yours to," he retorted.
"I'll get out while I can," he chuckled.
"Some brother you are," Simon mumbled. Without saying a word Martin hurried up the stairs two at time. Simon looked around, lost at what to do. Face the girls or run away screaming. Option number two sounded strangely appealing
"Can get you ladies anything?" Simon asked.
"So much for facing life like a man," Mary commented.
"Might as well make him useful somehow," Lucy said. "I'll take a jelly sandwich with Tabasco and pickles."
"Is that even edible," Simon asked with a look of disgust. Lucy glared at him as he moved into the kitchen.
"It's only going to get weirder man. Take as a practice run," Kevin said.
"Gee thanks," he mumbled.
"Oh can someone go check on him please," Ruthie asked. Kevin looked over at her and smirked.
"What's there to check? It's not like he's going to accidently get stuck in the shower drain," he laughed. Ruthie looked over at him rolling her eyes.
"I'm not talking about Martin dummy. I meant Aaron," she huffed.
"It's been five minutes Ruthie he's fine," Kevin said.
"A lot can happen in five minutes Kevin. I just want to make sure he's doing okay."
"Sure it'll give me something to do to avoid the girly stuff," Simon said going into the kitchen. In a few minutes he returned with his sister's unusual concoction. "Here you go. I swear that looks illegal to eat," he laughed.
"Trust me man it's not. Savvy was worse," Kevin said.
"Boy do I feel special."
"Thank you Simon," Lucy smiled taking a big bite. He nodded before turning to the stairs.
"I say we watch a movie," Kevin suggested. "I haven't seen an action flick in a while."
"I was thinking something more along the lines of a chick flick," Mary said.
"Oh come on. I'm the only guy left and it has to be a chick flick!" he whined.
"Come on we all know you love Jack and Rose and the eternal love they share," Lucy said.
"No one's supposed to know about that!"
"Don't worry we won't tell anyone you watch chick flicks," Mary said comfortingly.
***
"You know what little guy you're one lucky baby. You know why? You've got the best Mommy and Daddy ever. You're grandparents will always be first but those two are a very close second. I remember being so young. Okay well I don't remember being your age but being young and naive was so easy. At you're age you don't have to worry about all the drama in life. When you get to be my age it just gets more complicated." Aaron looked up at him with curious eyes. "Never be in a hurry to grow up Aaron. Be a little kid for as long as you can. I made that mistake once and look where it's got me?" He eyed him confused and cooed.
***
Ruthie looked up the stairs that Simon had gone up ten minutes ago with a worried expression. There might be something wrong.
"Okay let's let them dry and I'll do whoever's next when I get back," she said. Jogging up the stairs she came to her room to see that the door was left slightly ajar. She felt Martin come up behind her.
"Boo," he whispered. She looked over at him rolling her eyes putting a finger to her lips signaling for him to be quiet.
"She's wanted me to get back together with her. The thing is I don't know if I can. It's always her first. Like what I do for myself doesn't matter. She got mad at me earlier for choosing you guys over her. I just don't like when she hounds me like that. What do you think I should do?" The little boy gurgled in reply playing with Simon's fingers. "Yeah I don't know either," he sighed. "I think Mommy and Daddy are listening. Should we let them in?" Aaron giggled. He smiled when he saw them moving away quickly.
"We saw you. You don't need to run. I had a feeling you were listening anyway. Just come in already." Ruthie and Martin quietly entered with guilty looks on their faces. Ruthie frowned when she saw the sad look on her brother's face.
"Did you wanna talk?" she whispered.
"I'm fine Ruth," he said.
"No you're not Simon. I know my big brother. Is there something wrong?" she asked gently. Simon sighed but nodded.
"You know what this sounds like a brother/sister moment. I think I'll go see what they're putting Kevin through downstairs," Martin said backing out slowly.
"No it's okay. Chances are she's going to tell you anyway. You can stay," he said. "One of us turned to the dark side's enough," he laughed.
***
"Oh Kevin that looks really cute," Lucy giggled. Kevin sighed wondering how in the world he had gotten himself into this. Why hadn't he gone on the ice cream raid while he still had the chance? Just then Matt and Carlos returned.
"We come baring gifts!" Matt called.
"Finally. Took you guys long enough," Lucy growled ripping the bag out of Carlos' hand. She smiled pulling out her pint of ice cream passing it to Mary who tore open her ice cream. Sarah frowned when she took out hers. Matt looked over at Carlos slightly scared. What had he done this time?
"This is Raspberry Supreme," she groaned.
"That's what you asked for isn't it honey?"
"No I asked for something with chocolate!" she shouted. They both looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
"No before I left you said 'Get me something fruity. There's your something fruity," Matt said. Sarah could feel tears of anger beginning.
"I asked for something with chocolate Matt! Not only did you not get what I asked for but I trusted you to get me what I wanted!" Matt was shocked. Sarah had yet to yell at her like that. Pregnancy hormones. What a joy. And this is only the beginning he told himself. Lucy and Mary both turned to glare at Matt.
"Here you go Sarah. You can have some of ours. My brother knows nothing," Lucy said gently.
"Make yourself useful and get us some spoons," Mary ordered. At a loss for what to do Matt hurried to the kitchen. He quickly returned with appropriate silverware and watched the women tear into their sweet treats. Carlos looked over at Kevin and laughed.
"What happened to you?" he asked pointing to Kevin's now perfectly polished nails.
"Carlos don't you think these compliment my skin tone really nicely? Kevin asked laying his hands out for display. Matt and Carlos looked at him in complete shock.
"What did you do to him and how do we get him back?" Matt asked.
"Nothing," Lucy said innocently around a spoon of ice cream.
***
Simon shook his head confused. "I just don't know," Simon groaned as he finished.
"Oh she's going to get it now. After everything she's done to you why do you even see her anymore?"
"It's not like I want to. She just makes me," Simon said.
"That's low Simon even for you. I know you don't let people just tell you what to do. Don't let her take advantage of you like that," Martin said.
"But if I don't she could do something much worse."
"What could be worse then forcing you to get back together against your will?" Ruthie growled.
"Who knows? She could ask me to marry her," he teased.
"Oh god. That'd be a nightmare. But still don't take orders from her. Be a man," Martin said slapping his shoulder.
"We'll help," Ruthie promised.
"I'm kind of scared to see what your version of help is," Simon smiled.
"Oh you know. Just the usual."
"The usual being what exactly?" he asked.
"Do you want the legal version or the illegal version? I'm very versatile," she smiled.
"Preferably something that doesn't get us arrested Ruth," Martin laughed.
"Well then that rules out shooting her in the head," she groaned.
"You're very violent you know that?" Simon laughed.
"How else am I supposed to defend myself?"
"Maybe we should get you enrolled in a martial art," Martin suggested.
"No dude. Don't do that to yourself. Then she'll know how to physically kick your butt," Simon said shaking his head.
"Yeah I never thought about that," Martin said. Ruthie smacked him playfully.
"Ow," he whined. Ruthie smiled in satisfaction
***
"Someone pop the movie in and I'll get us some popcorn," Matt said. Everyone nodded as they settled down for the movie next to their respected partners. Soon Simon, Ruthie, and Martin returned. Martin's eyebrows rose questioningly.
"What the heck happened to you?" he asked taking in Kevin's new color.
"I don't know but I like it. Don't you think it's kind of my color?" Kevin asked.
"Let's make a pact now. Never leave a fellow man unattended," Simon groaned.
"Agreed," they all chorused. Matt returned with the popcorn and slipped in next to Sarah.
"Popcorn?" he asked.
"Yummy," she smiled.
"Hey don't hog all of it!" Kevin hollered. As the movie started the four couples went on to find empty spaces to settle themselves in.
"Do I have to watch this? It seems more like coupley movie?"
"No you should stay. Who knows it might actually help you get a girl," Mary said. Simon groaned settling himself in the armchair.
"You know what? She's right man. You should get yourself a girl. Then you'll have a cuddle buddy," Kevin said.
"Cuddle buddy? Wow. What has my sister done to you?"
"I fell in love that's what happened." Lucy looked over at him and smiled.
"Aw," the women said together. Out of the corner of his eye Kevin saw Simon gagging himself and laughed.
"No seriously. Being the ninth wheel sucks," Simon groaned. "I have to watch everyone be all gross."
"You'll get there in time," Martin said kissing Ruthie's cheek smiling. By now they were about twenty minutes into the movie.
"Wait pause," Kevin said.
"Why?" Carlos asked.
"Now is it just me or does Jack look really hot," Kevin asked quietly. Lucy looked over at him with a death glare throwing a handful of popcorn at him. Kevin released a high pitched squeal that made everyone laugh hysterically.
"Daddy!!!!!" Savannah cried. Kevin looked over at Lucy with wide eyes.
"Don't look at me. I'm not the one who squealed like a girl," Lucy said shooing him away. Kevin rose with a sigh walking over to the playpen.
"Hi princess what's wrong?" he asked lifting her out.
"You waked me up fwom my beauty sweep," she growled.
"I'm sorry sweetheart. What can Daddy do to make it up to you?" he asked.
"Can you makes me a samich?" she asked laying her head on his shoulder.
"Of course," he said kissing her forehead. "Go over and sit with Mommy, okay?" She nodded and skipped over happily.
"Hi Mommy! Watcha doin'?" she asked. Lucy smiled patting the seat that Kevin had just vacated. With a little bit of difficulty she crawled up cuddling herself to Lucy.
"We're watching a movie honey, shh," she whispered.
"Oops I be quiet," she whispered back.
"Alright here's your sandwich Savvy. Be careful not to get crumbs everywhere okay?" Kevin said setting her in his lap. She nodded wordlessly keeping her eyes on the screen. "Should she even be watching this?" Kevin asked.
"She's fine for right now," Lucy whispered. "Now, shh he's about to confess his undying love to her!" Kevin sighed hugging his daughter close.
"Can I have a bite?" he asked. Savannah nodded offering her half eaten sandwich to him. "Thank you," he smiled kissing her cheek.
"Shh Daddy! Watch the mobie!" she whispered. Kevin's eyes met the screen obediently. A few minutes later the doorbell sounded.
"Wow they have perfect timing," Matt said.
"What do you mean? The movie's not even half over yet," Sarah sniffled.
"Yeah well from here on out everyone dies anyway," he said. Matt felt a piece of popcorn collide with the side of his face.
"What? We all know how it ends. Why not just leave ourselves with this happy feeling inside. It's better than a feeling of impending doom and sadness," he defended.
"I'll get it," Ruthie groaned who was almost half asleep against Martin. Getting up slowly she shuffled over to the door. "Who the heck would be coming here at this time of night," she groaned. Opening the door her jaw fell.
"Hi is Simon here?"
"What the hell do you want?" Ruthie growled. Everyone's curious eyes flew over to Simon.
A/N: There we go! Another chapter. How'd we do? Good, bad? Let me know!