Next Steps

10 Year Later

Abel's P.O.V

Rushing around trying to get everything set up for Nevaeh's fifteenth birthday, I felt like I would lose my head.

"Abel, have you seen my black shirt?" Shouted my husband of five years.

"Third drawer!" I shouted back at Jason.

"Never mind" He shouted as if he hadn't heard me. I shook my head, somethings never change.

After dating for a year, Jason and I decided to move in together. We were together another three before agreeing to marry and a year later we signed the papers. On Beth's tenth birthday she asked Jason to adopt her like David had Nevaeh and after me agreeing he did so.

We lost dad last year to cancer and I have since reconnected with my family, not wanting to lose time with them.

"Abel, did you hear me?" Jason's voice broke through my thoughts.

"Sorry, what?" I asked.

"The cake's here, they need to be paid and I got to feed these two." Jason repeated.

"Right, party on it." I said before kissing my two little boys on the head. We adopted Harley Jackson a few months after dad died and then Shooter John just last month. I shook my head at the thought of my son's name, only Jason could come up with something like that.

I smiled at Michael standing in the hallway of our eight-bedroom home, looking around. After not getting into the core due to his attitude, he got a job at the local backers.

We had managed to get become friends with the help of Rachel, who wanted to be in her daughter's life more than be with Michael. Not wanting to lose her, he called a truce.

"Wasn't expecting you until later." I said to him.

"I'll be back just had to pick up the extra shift, kids aren't cheap." Michael said. Rachel had given birth to twins four years back.

"Don't I know it." I laughed as I handed over the money.

"I don't know how you did it at sixteen." He shook his head as he counted to make sure I had given him the right amount.

"Hard work and a lot of help." I said.

"Hmm... Abel here, you gave me too much." Michael tried to hand over the 50 bucks.

"It's called a tip Michael and don't argue with me. Go buy my sister-in-law something nice." I said as I shooed him out and shut the door. I went to the kitchen and placed the box on the counter. I looked over the checklist and ticked off the cake. I only had to set up now.

"Where're the girls?" I asked Jason as he cleaned Harley up.

"Getting ready. I was told not to come in." He laughed.

"Sounds about right." I mumbled.

"Right you watch the boy's and I'll set up. After I answer the bloody door." I grumbled as I head to the front door where the bell had just gone. I opened it to see fifteen or sixteen teenage girls standing there smiling.

"Hello Mr. Teller" They said.

"Hello girls. They're upstairs." I let them in as they said their thanks and rushed upstairs. I went into the garden to start setting up.

At twelve o'clock guests started pouring into the garden. All my family and Jason's were there and all Nevaeh's friends. After she had greeted her guests, she went to spend time with her friends.

"Hey brother. How are things going?" Tommy asked as he walked over with his two-year-old son in his arms.

"Things are stressful, what with the new baby and all. How about you?"

"Enjoying the time before the new baby." Tommy laughed, I laughed with him as our brothers came over.

"Lexi says sorry that she couldn't make it." Devon said with his girlfriend on his arm.

"Don't be stupid, she's on her honeymoon." I waved it off.

"Yeah but you know what she's like. . . Mika put that down!" Damion said as he ran after his three-year-old boy while the rest of us laughed. I looked around the garden and saw my youngest brother sitting alone in a corner. I walked over to him.

"Hey Phil, you alright Lil brother?" I asked him.

"Yeah, just board." He smiled at me.

"Yeah, I know it's hard with Tommy and I being so much older than you. Why don't you go play the Xbox? I'll deal with mom." Phil nodded his head and ran for the house. I laughed quietly and to find my mom.

"Hey ma, how're things?" I asked as I sat beside her and the club.

"Things are good baby. What's Phil doing?" She asked

"He was board, told him to go play Xbox. Don't look like that mom, there's no-one around his age. Of course, he would be bored." I defended my brother.

"Guess your right son." She smiled

"How're things with the baby?" Chibs asked

"We're getting there. Doc said the infection has cleared up so hopefully, he'll sleep more. It's still weird having babies in the house after fourteen years." I informed the only grandfather my children have left; he nodded his head at me.

"Hey Abel, the Prospect don't believe your son's name." Kozik said.

"What one?" I asked.

"Both"

"Oldest is Harley Jackson, named for my da. We adopted him a couple of months after he died when the little one was abandoned at the base. Shooter John came along a month ago, we had put in for adoption before we found Harley and we were contacted when his mother died in childbirth, no dad around and so we took him. As for his name you'd have to ask Jason. I don't have a clue where he got it from." I told the gobsmacked Prospect. We were all laughing at his face when Nevaeh came over with a guy.

"Hey Daddy." She said sweetly.

"Hey baby, you having a good day?" I asked her.

"Yeah, I want you to meet someone, you as well Papa." She said looking at David who was sat at the other end of the table with Juice.

"Who's that Spitfire?" I asked.

"This is Max, my boyfriend."