Golden hearts

Chapter 2: Family issues part 1

Disclaimer: I only own Glee on DVD and CD!

I own: The children of the New Directions and their friends!

Tom and Molly were in the middle of the movie when they heard a ring at the doorbell. Together they went to the door to see Alice Summers, the daughter of Tom's dad's girlfriend. Alice was in the grade below Molly at Sky Heights, so Molly sort of knew her.

"Hey Alice," Tom said. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't know," Alice replied. "My mom texted me and said to meet up with her here after her date with your dad tonight."

"That's cool," Molly said. She saw worry creeping on to Tom's face as they let Alice in. If Alice's mom wanted her here, it had to be something big.

Immediately, Tom's dad and Alice's mom opened the door and came inside. Molly looked at them, who looked thrilled, and Tom, who looked panicky. She thought he knew what was happening, and he didn't seem to like it, whatever it was.

"Tom, Luke, Alice, Molly, we have some news for you," Alice's mom said, giggling. Tom's dad took Alice's mom's hand and held it up, revealing a ring on her finger.

"We're engaged! I popped the question to her on our date!" Tom's dad said, putting his arms around Alice's mom.

"That's awesome!" Alice said. She looked at Tom. "That'll make us siblings."

Tom gave Molly a look of disgust and whispered, "My dad did not talk to me, or to Luke, about this!"

"Tom, is something wrong?" Tom's dad asked, noticing.

Molly just let her boyfriend talk. "Yeah Dad, something's wrong. I don't remember you consulting me or Luke about doing this!"

"Tom..." his dad began, "I thought you two would be happy."

"I am happy," Luke said. "Now I'll have a mommy, and a sister, too."

"That's where you're wrong, Luke!" Tom shouted. "She's NOT our mom! Our real Mom died when you were six and I was nine. Just because she hooks up with our dad and goes on dates with him does not mean she's our mom. So, guess what, Dad? You, and Helen, and Luke, and Alice can pretend all you want, but this is NOT our family."

Molly just let Tom talk. She felt sympathy for him, as if his dad was trying to replace the mom he'd had for nine years.

"Tom, you're being irrational" Helen said.

"You know what?" Tom snapped. "Marry my dad if you want. But don't expect me to go to the wedding. Molly, come with me. Let's go pack my stuff!"

"Where are you going?" Tom's dad shouted.

"I'm staying at Molly and Adam's house for a few days!" Tom said, running to his room. Molly stood in the living room and stared at Nick's dad.

"I'm sorry he reacted this way," Molly said quietly.

"I should have seen this coming" Tom's dad admitted. "Maybe a few days will be good for him at your house, just have him sleep in Adam's room and no funny business."

"Okay" Molly said, following Tom to his room. Tom was already starting to throw his bags together.

"I can't believe him!" Tom said. "He's replacing my mom! Well, if he wants to do that for himself, that's his business. But I am not replacing the woman who gave birth to me."

Molly sighed. "I'm sorry, Tom. You only get one mom. Even though your dad's getting married, Alice's mom can never be YOUR mom."

"Molly, after Olivia died and your parents had Faith, did it feel like they were replacing Olivia with Faith?" Nick asked.

"Not really," Molly admitted. "My mom got pregnant with Faith before Olivia got sick, even though we didn't find out until after Olivia died, so it's not like it was planned that way. I guess the main difference is that parents can have as many kids as they want, but there's only ONE person who can be the woman whose body you came out of."

"My dad's an idiot!" Tom snapped. "I guess he couldn't find enough comfort with just having Luke and me. And now he's marrying a woman with a daughter of her own... I knew my dad and Alice's mom were going out but I never thought it was this serious."

"Alice's mom is probably still grieving her husband, and your dad still loves your mom, I can guarantee it," Molly said. "It's just that you and Kyle and Grace will eventually graduate high school and go off to college. Your parents probably still want someone. I'm sure your dad loves Alice's mom. They wouldn't be getting married if they didn't think their kids were ready."

"Well, I'm not ready, and they're still doing it," Tom said. "Come on, let's go to your house."

Molly picked up one of Tom's bags and began following him out the door. As they were leaving, Tom called to his dad, "You know, Mom wouldn't want you to be doing this if I wasn't ready."

Molly decided there was no point in trying to reason with her boyfriend. Sometimes when you were stressed, you had to just let it out.