Chapter 16 – Beginnings

Troy glared over at me and I tried not to let the smirk rise over my face. He shook his head as he laid a card down and I quickly reached over and snatched it up. "Damn it!" I laughed quietly as I lay my phase down. "Trust me Troy Boy, you can't beat me."

Troy threw his cards down as I laughed, "Come here you big baby, I'll give you a big kiss." Troy gave a slow smirk, "Really?" I nodded as he pressed off the bed and he brought his lips over to mine. I pulled his face towards mine and he smiled. "How is the nausea?"

"It's okay. I still feel like I could puke everywhere." Troy pressed his lips to my forehead. "Is there anything I can do?"

I sighed, "I wish you could wave a wand and make all of the symptoms stop."

"I know, did you get any sleep last night?"

I groaned, "No, I had hot flashes all night." Troy cringed, "I feel like it's too early to be talking about this," Troy said as he pressed off the bed. I laughed, "You knew early menopause,"

"Shh," Troy pressed his finger against his lips. "Let's not talk about that symptom. Of the one I do not want to know about it is that one."

I giggled as I went over and I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I still want to have hot sex with you." Troy smirked, "As long as that never changes." Troy smirked as I kissed him. I rested my head against his chest and he smiled laying his head on my head. "I guess I should go check on our kids,"

"Why?"

Troy laughed, "Well, I guess it is just Lo and just Lo is napping."

"So I started that book," I ventured, Troy looked at me slowly, "Yea, what about?"

"It's about us,"

"What do you mean?"

"It's not us but it's our memories."

"Hmm…I'm intrigued author Bolton," I smiled as I kissed him softly, "It will give me something to do when I am cooped up in bed."

"How are you going to change a life?"

"I'm going to write about something that really matters,"

"Like?"

"The death of a parent."

I rubbed my eyes as I looked outside, the warm summer day calling but my sick body not wanting to take the calling. Allison and Wes were out, Lo was playing with Troy, and my baby Emma was at camp having the time of her life most likely.

I curled my laptop closer to me and I typed for a few moments only trying to collect my thoughts. I then typed some more before erasing and rewriting a line. Yet – the nausea began to turn real as I jumped up and I pushed everything away and close to a toilet as I lost everything I had eaten in the past twenty-four hours… which wasn't much. I took a deep breath, my fingers grasped around the toilet as I looked at the back of the white bowl for a moment.

Who decided toilets should be white? The question lingered in my mind longer as I thought about many possibilities as to why. Was white just that generic color? "You okay?" I looked up to see Liam, "Oh yea, I was just," I paused, "I got sick."

"Should I get dad?"

"No, I'm fine, I just, I was thinking about why toilets are white." Liam laughed. "You would think about that," I laughed and I got up from the floor as I reached for my toothbrush. The inside of my mouth felt gross as I brushed my teeth. "So Rayne's aunt is going to move here,"

I looked at him, "That's great."

Rushing the brush over the last of my teeth, I rinsed and I looked at Liam. "How is Rayne?"

"She is okay. Pretty upset still,"

"That is very normal."

Liam ran a finger through his hair and I headed back to my bed. "Is dad outside?"

"Mmm…not sure. He is with Lo."

"Are you sure you don't need him?"

"I do not need your father for everything." Liam smirked, "He needs you,"

"Hell, don't I know that."

Liam laughed, "You guys crack me up."

I settled back into the bed as Liam disappeared behind the door. I looked at the clock as I licked my lower lip. I was tired, I wasn't sleeping very well at night and during the day I just wanted to nap which wouldn't help my sleeping at help. Good lord, everything seemed to be harder today.

I pulled a pillow over my head and sighed into it.

Liam's POV

Bouncing the basketball against the ground, I spun around in the park and it swooshed through the hoop. My cell phone buzzed and I reached for it. "Hello?"

"Hey,"

"Rayne, hey, how is Washington or wherever,"

"We are at the airport," she paused, "Liam, can you please come and meet me at my parents house like,"

"Rayne, are you okay?"

"I'm just having a difficult day,"

"Yea, I'll be right over."

"We won't be there for thirty minutes but I just need someone right now,"

"I'll be there," I promised, "Thanks Liam,"

"Of course Rayne,"

I hung up and I picked up my basketball and my hat as I went heading back towards the house. As I walked up Aunt Taylor and Alexa pulled up, they waved as I smiled. Alexa stopped walking as Taylor went into the house. "Hey Alexa,"

"When does your sister get home again?" I laughed, "I don't know, couple of weeks I'm pretty sure," Alexa sighed and I smiled, "Miss her?"

"Kind of,"

"I'm going to go,"

"Do you want to go see a movie later or something?" I looked at Alexa surprised, "You want to go to a movie with me tonight?"

"Is that okay or is that in your big bad self?" I looked at her with an amused smile, "Yea, we can. Wanna grab some fast food afterwards?" Alexa grinned, "Hell yea,"

"Freshman," I said with a shake of my head, we walked into the house together as we were talking, my mom was standing in the kitchen as Taylor was talking to her. I smiled, "I'm running to Rayne's house. Sounds like she needs some help,"

"Okay, have fun," I nodded my head as I looked at Alexa, "Six thirty?"

"Six thirty," she confirmed, I backed out of the warm as I reached for my car keys.

Taylor's POV

I flicked on my blinker as I glanced over at Alexa, after the pit stop at the Bolton's to provide a dinner tonight and check up on Gabs who was looking good. She had some sickness and was pretty exhausted but she was doing better than the first round of chemo.

"So, Alexa, mind telling me what Liam meant by six thirty?"

"We are going to see a movie together," she scrolled through her phone as if it was nothing, "With like Wes or someone else?"

"Uh no, just us. I mean if Emma was home she would go but she isn't and that is the reason I really want to go to the movies because Emma isn't home." I gave her a glance, "Alexa, I don't know how I feel about this,"

"Mom, it's a movie. Liam and I watch movies together all of the time."

"With adults or other people around,"

"I'm 14 mom, I'm almost 15. I am going to be okay."

"Alexa, he is 16."

"Mom, you know Liam. I would get it if it was some random 16 year old but really, it's Liam. Liam Bolton. The Bolton you have known since he was born. You are best friends with his parents. You basically raised me how Aunt Gabi and Uncle Troy rose Liam. He isn't some killer God it's a movie? Okay."

I looked over at Alexa as I stopped at the stoplight, "I guess but,"

"I'll be home by eleven and tucked into bed with my blankets." I laughed, "Alexa, you better watch your mouth and you better behave."

"We are friends mom. We grew up together. I don't know what you want, I don't have many friends here yet, we basically did just move here. I have Emma who is out of town and the entire Bolton family. So,"

"You have the soccer team,"

"Cool, who Emma is all really friends with and I tag along,"

"Stop being dramatic Alexa,"

Alexa rolled her eyes and I turned up the music, wow. Teenagers.

Liam's POV

I pulled into Rayne's house and it looked like they had just arrived, I shut my car door as Rayne came flying out of the house. "Whoa, slow down there," I reached out and I grabbed her as she looked at me, her face close to a nervous breakdown.

"Take a deep breath and breathe,"

She busted into tears at the simple thought as I wrapped her in a hug, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"It's been two weeks Liam and I feel like I'm dying. I feel like I'm not breathing everyday anymore, I miss her so much and my aunt tries. She really tries but it isn't the same." I pressed my hand to the back of her head as she began to cry harder. "Okay, okay," I eased her into my truck as I wondered what the hell would be the best option in the world. I could take her back to my house but that didn't seem very smart.

Her mom's grave but I'm not sure how the hell that could make her feel. "Rayne," I paused, "Do you want to go to her grave?"

"No!" she said quickly, "No, I can't," she began to cry harder and I pulled into the park as I slid over closer to her. "How was Washington or wherever you went?" she shrugged and I pressed my lips together, "Okay,"

"Liam, it was horrible. Her kids are mad because they don't want to move. I think I am just going to move," she said quietly, I looked over at her, "Rayne, are you sure I just, it's been two weeks,"

"The longest two weeks of my life, I mean Liam, maybe change will be good," she offered, "Is this why you wanted to see me?" she nodded her head, "I already told my aunt I will move up there. I just can't be here anymore," I swallowed hard and I looked out the window, "I'm sorry I couldn't help you Rayne,"

"You did a lot for me Liam,"

"I bet I did," I said softly, I started the car and I realized that Alexa and I were going out soon. Something to get my mind off of this bullshit. "Rayne, I like you,"

"I like you too Liam, I'm just not ready,"

"So you are going to leave?"

"Yea, I am going to leave."

I nodded stiffly as I pulled in front of her house, "I guess I'll see you around then," I told her, "Liam, don't be like that."

"Don't be like what Rayne? We became friends; you get what the hell I'm going through right now. You fucking get it all and you are just leaving?" she looked at me surprised, "I need to be elsewhere, I lost my mom Liam. You still have yours,"

"Do I? Because what if something happens,"

"She isn't even that sick Liam, she is fine,"

"Fine is a relative term Rayne, don't you think that in the beginning your mom was fine too?"

"Maybe she was,"

"Yea well,"

"She is going to be fine Liam, stop trying to compare are two situations,"

"I promised your mom I would watch you Rayne,"

"Well I don't want to be here anymore Liam, I'm sorry,"

"I'm sorry too," she shook her head as she got out of the truck, "I'll call you when I'm settled,"

"It's okay, move on from here Rayne."

"Liam,"

"It's whatever," I put my car into drive as I sped away, watching Rayne get smaller and smaller with every turn of my wheel.

Troy's POV

Lo and Alli were coloring as I watched as I scrolled through my phone. I sighed as I rested back against the couch; Gabi was finally getting some sort of sleep, as the insomnia was horrible at the moment. She would toss and turn into the late hours of the night and would finally give up and do something else.

The nausea and the puking were so much better than last time. So much better. She is feeling a lot of relief with that and a couple of other things. I looked at the kids again as Lo rubbed one of her eyes. She looked up at me with a smile and I smiled back. The door opened and then Liam burst through the living room, he looked angry. I watched him walk into the kitchen as I nodded my head slowly.

"Alright, time to be a parent," I muttered. I stood up as I walked into the kitchen as Liam was finding water. He glanced at the clock and then back to making the water before he dropped the glass. I flinched as it rolled around the ground; he clinched his jaw together and muttered something. "You okay?"

He paused for a moment as he looked at me and shook his head, "No, I'm not. I just, I need to get out of the house,"

"You need to take a minute and let's first clean this up," he nodded as we both cleaned up the spilt water and once we were done he took a long breath. "It's nothing. I shouldn't even be upset over it. It's stupid."

"If it made you upset it's not,"

"I'll be fine dad,"

"You can tell me Liam,"

"I know I can but I am fine. I'm just going to the movies tonight."

"Okay, be safe alright? Does your mom know?"

"Yea, I asked her."

"Good, have fun."

He paused and then he looked at me again, "Dad,"

"Hm?"

"Rayne's moving," he said, I looked at him and he shrugged, "I guess she just can't do it here anymore."

"I'm sorry Liam,"

"It's nothing,"

"You liked her?" I assumed, he thought about it for a couple of moments, "Something like that,"

I nodded as he drifted off and out of sight; I shook my head as I gathered up everything. I looked at the two girls as Wes was staying over at a friend's house. I let out a long sigh as I sat down on the ground with the girls and they both giggled. I smiled as they both gravitated towards me. Something about girls always pulled towards me. I leaned back against the couch as I rubbed Lo's back.

"Can I go cuddle with mommy?" Alli asked, I shook my head, "Not right now, do you want to go pick up dinner?"

"No!"

"Allison, come on,"

"But I want to cuddle with mommy,"

"Alli girl, not tonight okay? Mommy is sleeping,"

"So,"

"We don't want to disrupt mommy and her sleep."

"Can we cuddle?"

"If we go pick up dinner and then come back to take a bath we can lay together on the couch,"

"Fine," she grumbled, "We can do that," I shook my head as we stood up and I put shoes on both of the girls. I went upstairs as I grabbed a different t-shirt and checked on Gabi. She was laying on her side and a laptop next to her. She looked okay, not peacefully sleeping but she was sleeping.

Walking back downstairs I got a phone call, Chad.

"Hey,"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes…"

"Is Emma home?"

"No, not for two more weeks. Why?"

"Then can I ask why your son's truck just pulled into my driveway and took my fourteen year old daughter out to a movie?" I stood up a little straighter, "I don't know, he just said he was going to the movies and Gabi knew more about it."

"Troy! That is my daughter and they are going alone,"

"Chad, they are friends,"

"When have they ever seen a movie together?" Chad questioned, "All the time?"

"Alone?"

"Fuck, Chad, if I knew? I have a lot of other things I'm worried about."

"Troy! My daughter!"

"Does Taylor know?"

"She claims that she is bored and her only friend is away and a movie with Liam is something she has done before but MY DAUGHTER."

I rolled my eyes as I gathered the two girls into the car, "Chad, I really am trying to feed the two kids I have right now and find something Gabi might eat."

"Didn't Taylor drop off food?"

"Wait, Taylor was here earlier? And dropped off food?"

"Troy, where the hell have you been?"

I sighed, "At the doctor Chad, they are running tests. They think I have arthritis in my knees,"

"Oh lord, what the hell,"

"Basketball, my knees feel like they are burning on fire,"

"Dude, I'm sorry. You are battling those knees,"

"Yea, they are all swollen and moving sucks ass. It's not just one it's both, I don't know, I have another doctor's appointment Friday to go over my test results. Then we will go from there."

"Uh, so about my daughter,"

"Chad, if they aren't back by midnight and they look like they kissed or had sex then you can call me."

"I swear to god," I laughed, "Chad, chill,"

"Troy,"

"Chad,"

"I love you Chad,"

"Oh Troy,"

I laughed, "I'll talk to you later and keep the knee on the DL okay?"

"How the hell are you walking with all of that?"

"Chad, it fucking hurts like hell. That is why I need to tell Gabi so I can pull the crutches out,"

"Good god, Troy,"

"It's pretty swollen," I pulled the dinner Taylor left for us as I laughed, "I'll talk to you later okay?"

"Yup, see ya and if,"

"Yea, yea, I'll handle it,"

"Thank you,"

I hung up and I leaned against the counter, my knee felt weak. I reached for the narcotic pain medication that was prescribed to me. I took one as I held my jaw together. Damn it.

I heated up the dinner doing a lot of knelling, as Gabi appeared downstairs at some point. "Hey," she smiled, "How are you feeling?" I asked, "Good, some nausea but it's good, why?"

"I was wondering if I could sneak upstairs for a little bit,"

"Sure, go, you have done a lot lately,"

"Oh question," a shot of pain ran through my knee, "Yea?"

"Liam and Alexa?"

"Wait what?"

"Liam went to the movies with Alexa?"

"Yea, I guess, I don't know,"

"Oh okay,"

I went upstairs as I held onto the railing and got into the bed as I collapsed back on it, I rubbed my knee as the pain intensified. "Fuck,"

Liam's POV

Alexa and I laughed at McDonalds as we ate the shitty food together. "I'm glad you aren't in a bad mood anymore."

"Yea, sorry. I shouldn't have been in the bad mood in the beginning. That's no fun."

"No, I just hope everything is okay." I nodded as I took a sip of the water I had, "My best friend, a girl I really like I mean, is moving because it's too hard here or some bullshit, I don't know, I guess it's whatever." She looked at me with a long look, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I said with a half smile, "How is your three weeks without Emma going?"

"Horrible, honestly, who told her these camps were a good idea,"

I laughed, "I think it's nice. She isn't following me around everywhere."

"She loves you Liam,"

"We are close."

"Very close," she confirmed, she smiled and she answered a few text messages. "You should probably return me home before my dad hunts us down."

"That would be funny."

"You know my dad would kill you,"

"Oh yea, I do."

We both climbed out of the booth and walked to my truck. "I had a lot of fun tonight Alexa,"

"Yea, I think we should do it again,"

"I think we should,"

I smiled at her as I took her back home, once we got there she stalled, "I'll come over in a few days," she said with a shrug, my mom can take me and we can hang by the pool or something."

"Sounds like a good idea," I said with a smile, "I'll see you later Alexa," she got out of my car as I watched her walk inside and I returned to my house. Everything was quiet, the girls already asleep meaning my mom was already in bed. An odd chance that my dad might be up but it was rare. I kicked my shoes off and I sat on the couch, I looked down at my phone as Rayne had texted me a couple of times.

Giving up for the night, I went downstairs and landed on my stomach onto my flat bed.

Troy's POV

Gabi tossed onto her side and she looked at me, my eyes were up at the ceiling as she came closer. "So, you want to tell me what's wrong with your knee?" I blew out a long sigh, "You noticed that huh?"

"You're limping? Yea…"

"I went to the doctor earlier,"

"Oh thanks for the information,"

I smiled as I looked at the ceiling, neither of us could sleep. "They think I have arthritis in my knees, both of them. More severe in my right than my left."

She propped herself up on her elbow as she looked at me, "Troy, I didn't even know they hurt."

"It started a while ago, the cancer thing came Gabs, I wasn't too worried about it until I was reaching for the narcotics." Her hand swept over my face as she kissed me. My hands wrapped around her softly, "I love you baby, I'm really sorry about your knee, can they do anything?" I shrugged, "I guess a couple of medications or something. I'm not sure," She laid her head down on my chest as I wrapped her in my arms.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Take it easy and take care of yourself,"

She smiled as she sighed, "Is that why you haven't been sleeping as well lately,"

"Yea, I can't get comfortable,"

She smiled as she escaped my grip and pressed her lips firmly on mine. "Might as well make this time useful," she said with a whisper against my lips, I smirked as my arms wrapped around her stomach as she ran her hand up my shirt. She pressed her body tighter against mine as I weakened underneath of her. Her hands cold against my warm skin, her lips parted only slightly but I took the sole opportunity.

She laughed, "Even at 39 years old, you don't change," She hovered over me as I laughed, "What are you talking about Mrs. Bolton?" she kissed my cheek and then my jaw, "I think you know what I am talking about Mr. Bolton."

Liam's POV

I tossed and turned, what the hell. Pushing off the bed, I felt like I couldn't think straight. Rayne was interrupting my dreams with her tears and I reached for my phone to check on her but I knew that she was probably packing away.

Anger tore through me as I finally got rid of the idea of sleep as I changed to go on a run. When I got upstairs, my dad was leaning against the counter and drinking coffee. "You want to go on a run with me?" I asked, he looked over and shook his head. "No thanks," I nodded, "Alright, well, I will be back."

"Hey, Liam, can I ask you another question?"

"Sure,"

"Why is Rayne moving? If she wants to stay,"

"She doesn't want to stay. That's the problem."

My dad nodded, "Well, maybe it will be good for her."

"Maybe," I mused, "Or maybe she is just running away."

"Sometimes getting away is better, you find out who you are."

"Yea but she gets it,"

"Gets what?"

"The cancer, nobody else understands it."

"I see, you just want somebody else to bond with,"

"Well kind of, she knew what I was talking about."

"It's okay. I promise, I mean, you can always call her,"

"Maybe," I backed out of the kitchen as I hit the streets, I ran in circles and through the park when I stopped to rest. I sat down as I stretched out and I took a long deep breath. "I thought I might find you here." I looked up to see Rayne walking closer to me. I stiffened, "Rayne, what?"

"I don't want to leave it like we left it."

"You are leaving Rayne,"

"Maybe I'll come back,"

"Once you move there maybe it's for good,"

"Maybe it's not Liam," I shrugged my shoulders as I looked at her, she sat down next to me and she looked out. "I might just be gone for the rest of the summer. Maybe a little longer than that but I just, I need to get out of this city with those eyes and I just need a little bit of a break okay? It's not forever."

"Like hell it isn't. Rayne, once you move your Aunt won't come back."

"We already talked about it Liam, I want to be here I just need to five second break from here. Okay? Stop being a girl about this and just think for five minutes about how the hell I feel over here okay? Every time I go somewhere it's always about my mom and the memories that I have. It hurts right now."

"You are running away."

"So what if I am Liam?"

"I like you Rayne, I have told you a thousand times that I liked you. I really like you and you are leaving."

"I told you I am not ready to be in a relationship,"

"Fine, I understand but I was waiting,"

"Then wait Liam, I'll be back before school starts, two months. My Aunt needs time to figure out everything at her home. Just…give me two months okay?" I shook my head, "Whatever Rayne, if that's what you need."

"I don't want to leave here Liam and know you hate me."

"I'll never hate you Rayne," I said softly, I rested my head on my knees as I looked at her; I hugged her in a side hug. "I'm sorry," I muttered, "I'm just frustrated,"

"I never want you to understand this pain Liam, so I am not going to ask you."

"Will you come back if I need you?"

She looked me in the eye and nodded, "Yea,"

"Thanks," she leaned up and gave me a soft kiss, "I'll see ya soon Liam Bolton,"

"See ya,"

She got up and began to walk off as I picked up grass, I sighed as I leaned back on the grass. Fuck this.

Gabi's POV

Making dinner, I stirred the pot and I peered outside to see the girls running around. I smiled as Troy slid an arm around my back, "Mmm…my baby," he whispered, I smiled as I pressed my hand into his arm.

"So have you seen my oldest son?"

"Not since this morning, he blew through the kitchen asking if I wanted to go on a run."

"He returned right?"

"Yea, for a brief few moments and then he said something about a pick up basketball game."

"Can you call and ask him to return home? I would like a family dinner."

"Mmm…okay."

"I was thinking family game night,"

"Can we do that without Emma?"

"Uh yes,"

"Oh,"

I laughed as Troy called Liam and got him to answer pretty fast, Liam must have protested. Wes came bursting through the door and I hugged him, "Do you have a game this weekend?"

"I have three games mom," he said with an eye roll, "Oh yea! The start of tournaments,"

"Six thirty tomorrow right bud?"

"Yes!" he grinned, "Are you both going?"

"Duh," Troy said giving him a high five. I nodded my head with a grin, "I love watching you Wes," he smiled as he hugged me tightly, "I love you mom,"

"I love you too Wes," I kissed the top of his head as he hugged me tighter. "Mom! Can I show you something?" I nodded as he pulled me towards his room and when we opened the door he went over to his computer as he pulled something up, he then looked back at me as I looked up at the screen.

I laughed, "Wes, this is amazing,"

He had digitally worked a picture of all of us together, scripting Bolton family over the bottom of it. Established in 2012.

"Wes, this is amazing. Can you email this to me?"

"Actually, I can do one better." He went into his email and he pulled it up, "I bought it the other day and it's being shipped here," he paused, "I want to give it to dad for fathers day Sunday,"

I grinned, "Wes, you are so brilliant, he will love it."

"Thanks mom, if it isn't here by then can we just print this?"

"Of course,"

I squeezed his shoulder as I pushed him up into the kitchen. He smiled as I helped Troy finish setting the table. "What was that?"

"Nothing," Troy raised an eyebrow and I smiled, I put Lo in her high chair. He slipped behind me, making sure to press up against me. "So family night," Troy announced, Liam walked through the door as Troy looked at him. "Where have you been?"

"Danforth,"

Troy shot me a look as I shrugged my shoulders; I knew we were going to have to talk now. Something was going on.

"So we can either do movie night or game night," Troy said as he made himself a plate, "Game!" Lo and Alli called at the same time, "Come on, let's watch a movie," Liam said, "Liam, we did movie last time anyways. Let's play a game,"

"Like what?"

"We can play phase 10?"

"Yes," Troy agreed quickly with a smile, "Sounds good,"

"NO!" Troy said loudly, Lo giggled as Liam laughed. I shook my head as I tossed my cards down, "I win Mr. Bolton, what are you going to do about it?"

Troy rolled his eyes, "I can not even," he stood up as he looked at the kids, "Who wants ice cream huh?"

"Your dad really needs something to unhurt his feelings. He doesn't like it when I win."

"Damn, you beat me at basketball anymore and card games? Are you ever going to let me win?" The kids laughed as they gathered around Troy as he made shakes. I went over as I leaned against Troy I kissed the back of his neck. "I love you,"

"I'm sure you do,"

"You are such a sore loser,"

"I did win a bunch of championships,"

"What is a championship?"

"A winner," Troy said towards Lo, "A clear cut winner,"

"Are you a championship?" she asked Troy, Troy laughed, "A couple of times but not always. Everybody wins and everybody loses. Nobody is always a winner,"

Troy handed ice cream out, they all went back to the table. Troy went to hand Liam's to him but he stopped. "Liam, you are going to be brutally honest with me, why are you at the Danforth's house a lot?"

"I can't hang out over there?"

"You took Alexa to a movie,"

"It was a movie dad, it wasn't a sex parade," I felt my body go stiff as Liam said it, Troy wasn't quite sure what the hell to say after that, "Liam, I just," Troy breathed out, "Take that and go to your room for now, I need to think."

Liam shook his head as he went downstairs, Troy and I glanced at each other. "What the hell is a sex parade?" I whispered, Troy laughed really hard, "I have no fucking clue Brie, are we really old?"

I laughed as I pressed my hands against my face, "What are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know Brie,"

Liam's POV

"So your parents are freaked too?" I looked at my phone as I nodded; Alexa was sitting on the opposite side, painting her nails. "Do you girls always have to paint your nails?"

"Yes." Alexa said easily, Alexa jumped as her phone fell onto her bed, "Alexa, you need to go to bed, it's past midnight." Taylor's voice filled the room, "Okay mom,"

"Is she really awake?"

"Dad, honestly, I am going to be fifteen soon."

I stifled a laugh, as making noise on my end would be terrible, "Go to bed Alexa,"

"Okay dad,"

"I love you,"

"I love you too parents,"

Once her door shut, she picked up her phone, "I better go,"

"Yea, uh maybe cool it for tomorrow?"

"Actually, my mom is already coming over, the whole family is."

"Awesome, I'll see you tomorrow then."

I hung up as I rolled onto my back. My eyes focused on the ceiling. "Liam," I sat up as Wes was standing in the doorway, "Hm?"

"I think I hear Alli crying,"

I shifted out of the bed and went upstairs, as it was Alli. I opened her door and she looked at me, "Liam?"

"Yea, babe? You okay?" she squirmed out of bed as she came and pressed her face into my leg. I picked her up and she shook her head, "I had a bad dream about mommy and I want it to go away." I swallowed against the lump in my throat. Lately, my mom has been a lot better. Happier. Excited. She was good again she was my mom again. I was loving it but she still had her moments of you knew she was sick.

"Want to tell me about it?"

"She got really sick like she did that one time and daddy couldn't help her."

"Dad can't always help her,"

"Daddy is a hero Liam, he fixes everything. Why can't he fix mommy too?"

The lump in my throat grew as I sat down on the bed; Daddy is a hero. It was something I felt like all of the girls have said at least once in their lifetime. Yet – I never found truth to it. He was just my awesome dad. I mean he could fix just about everything but to label him as a hero?

"How is he a hero?" I asked her, my fingers rubbed her back as she shrugged, "He does it all right and is always happy. He makes mommy really happy and he is the happy hero. Nothing could ever be wrong."

"Are you saying mommy isn't happy?"

"She is happy," she looked back at me, her six-year-old eyes glancing at me. "She just hurts and is sick and Daddy always makes it better."

"I think dad wishes he could make her better Alli, I think he would do a lot to make her better but right now we just have to wait it out."

"I want daddy," she began to scoot off my lap as I stopped her; she would wake up my mom, if she was even asleep, and that wasn't need. "I'll get him okay? We don't want to wake up mommy. Sleep beats sick."

"Like rock beats paper?"

I mused on the thought, "Something like that."

Going up the flight of stairs, I opened the bedroom door, as my mom was asleep. I tiptoed further in and I poked my dad, he moved as he looked up at me. Confusion crossed his face and then he looked at the clock. "Can I help you?"

"Alli needs you and I figured I better do it than have mom wake up."

My dad put his hand on his face, rubbing away the exhaustion. "Good thought," he moved to get out of bed as I went to the door. He followed me out, "Worthless knees," I tried not laugh as he watched me, "It will be you one day,"

"Uh huh, I am not a basketball God,"

He rolled his eyes as he walked into Alli's room. She jumped up and he picked her up. He talked in hushed tones as I leaned against the frame of the door. Alli sat in his lap, as they talked for a bit, once I knew the talking wasn't going to end I moved away from the doorway. I went back downstairs as I wondered what could have caused that.

My mind wondered off and I almost didn't hear him approach my doorway, "You okay?" he asked me, I sat up and nodded, "Tired,"

"Maybe if you wouldn't stay up till this time…" He said with a half smile, "We all know you did,"

"True,"

"Alli okay?"

"Fine, just a bad dream."

"I know it was about mom,"

"Yea," he let out a long sigh as he lay back on my bed, "It was."

"Are you and mom okay?"

He looked over at me, "We are great, why?"

"Just wondering, I mean cancer tears families apart."

"Your mom and I made a pact for that not to happen."

"But if you guys hate each other,"

"I could never hate your mom Liam,"

The way he said it sent chills down my back, "I don't think I have a bone in me that could hate your mother. We are going to come out of this strong plus she has this whole book idea, I don't know," I laughed, "She is a little crazy with the book idea,"

"If she does it, it will be great. If she doesn't then we can check another failed category."

I laughed out loud, "Dad,"

"It's true, there are a lot of those but I love her. It's one of the many reasons of why I love her. She does want to change somebody's life though and I think she'll figure it out. Maybe not in book form but she will get there."

"She has changed my life,"

"What do you mean?"

"Everything she does and how strong she is tells me I can be and do better."

"You're right but I think she needs somebody outside of our family."

"Probably but she is good at it."

"She is,"

"I better get back up to bed before I fall asleep down here," I laughed as he slapped my knee, "Want to go on a run tomorrow?"

"Sure, morning?"

"Yea, I'll come wake you up."

"Sounds good."

Gabi's POV

"So maybe I am not going to write a book," I confessed sitting down next to Troy, "Oh?" he said with a small smirk, I slapped his shoulder gently, "Don't act like you knew I wasn't going to be able to finish it."

"You are such a bad finisher Brie,"

"Whatever, I just don't have the ideas for it."

"That's fine, I still love you." I stuck my tongue out as Troy smiled; he then leaned over to kiss me softly. "So what's next?"

"I'm not sure yet…"

"Think about it, you'll do it." He encouraged, "Hmm…I guess." I rested my head on his shoulder and he rubbed my knees. "My mom wants to have a family dinner next week,"

"We haven't had one lately had we?"

"No, we haven't. I think my mom misses us." I smiled as I tilted my head to look at what he was doing on the iPad. He was playing some random game as I leaned over to pause it, "Hey!" he protested, I took it from his hands as I then slid into his lap. He looked at me, "What did you do that for?"

"I want a kiss." I said with a pout, Troy laughed as he pulled me closer, "You act like you are 20,"

"I'm 38 and I love my husband. Is that a crime?" I asked he shook his head with a smile as he kissed me softly. I wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me. He grinned and he kissed me harder.

"Gross! Mom, Dad!" Troy pulled away with a laugh, "Whatever happened to random sex on the couch?"

"Five children," I said with a laugh, Troy kissed me again as I climbed off Troy's lap. He glanced at me, "What?"

"Fathers Day is tomorrow," I said letting my hand lay against his thigh. "We don't need to do anything special," Troy said, "I honestly think us being together is a perfect day,"

"Too bad Em isn't home,"

"I miss my baby girl," Troy said, "What are you talking about, I'm right here." Troy smiled as he leaned over to kiss my baldhead, "Really?"

"Really," Troy smiled as I kissed him again, my head resting on his shoulder. He reached over and picked up the iPad again. I shook my head as he laughed, "I love you Brie,"

"I love you more Troy,"

If you already read The Show then this is the same author note!

Hell. I'm sorry guys, so you can now know not to count on me. Because well I am crazy busy. I go to school, go to basketball practice (I'm a manager) and do my homework and let's not forget working out. Whatever time I have left I try to do my writing but it doesn't last long before I am passed out on my bed. I know it sounds like a bunch of stupid excuses but wow. I really can't juggle it all right now. I am not going to stop writing or anything, I still have way too many ideas. So, you are going to have to be patient. I promise, you'll get the chapters and I really want to finish The Show because I really want to write Fame. I'm so excited! MLB might be slower to be updated, the ideas aren't right there but they are coming. We are going to be hitting a big plot point soon. So hopefully everything begins to smooth out. I promise it will hopefully be getting better. I'm figuring out how to juggle time and I might start writing on my phone. We shall see. So probably no MLB next week, I will have The Show ready most likely. I really want to get that finished so you might get that three weeks in a row and then a break from that while I start Fame. :)

So all in all Hang in their with me friends! You will get the chapters my schedule is just VERY full. We will do it though! I love you all and thanks for being patient!

Xoxo – Jo

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