R&R please! Enjoy! :-)

Chapter 41

Kenny's POV

"Thanks again for staying the night with me and the kids." Bebe tells me as she rubs my back and escorts me to the door.

"Please don't do that..." I whisper and move her hand.

"You didn't enjoy our night together?" She winks at me.

"I enjoyed being there to break the news about Dustin to the kids."

"You know that's not what I mean."

"I only came over for one reason!"

"But we still ended up having sex."

"I know..." I look away. I feel guilty for cheating on Butter yet again with Bebe.

"Did you enjoy it?"

I shake my head. "Not really. To be honest, the whole time I was thinking about Butters."

Bebe looks hurt. "Wow...I don't even know how to respond to that blow to my ego."

"I'm sorry."

"We were together for so long. How could you feel nothing?"

I shrug. "I just don't."

"Why are you with Butters anyway?"

This is becoming a very awkward conversation. "I-I love him. He makes me feel safe and secure."

"Do you really think he cares about you?"

"Of course he does."

"Kenny, he's your pimp. Why would he give a rat's ass about you? He's trying to make money off of you!"

"He loves me, plus we need the money."

She laughs. "You never needed the money! You're just a dirty whore!" She goes the closet.

"What are you doing?" I ask raising my eyebrow.

She comes out with a handful of clothes and throws them at me. "Since you want to be a whore, you might as well look the part! These we the slutiest outfits I have."

"These are women's clothes."

"Since you want to be the bitch in the relationship, there you go! I'm sure it won't be the first time!"

"Bebe, don't be like that. We still need to be cordial for kid's sake."

She laughs harder than before. "Now you're worried about the kid's sake? Fuck you bitch! Get the fuck out of my house! Go back to your pimp!"

"Bebe-"

"Get the fuck out!" She shoves me. "I'll let you know when the funeral is."

"You don't want me to help with the arrangements?"

She shoves me out of the door. "No! Goodbye Kenny!"

"Butters left. How am I supposed to get home?"

"You figure it out!" She slams the door in my face. I shrug and decide to walk home. I need time to think and clear my head. Plus explain myself to Butters…

Stan's POV

Susan and I are having lunch together so we can discuss our future. "So I've thought about it and Eli and I are going to move it with you."

Her eyes light up. "What about Julia?"

"I'm going to talk to her about it first, but if she agrees, she will as well."

"That's great! I hope she does, I really would love another chance to actually get to know her."

"I would love that too. I'm going to visit her after work so I'll run it by her."

Susan smiles. "That's great. So have you thought some more about your business plan?"

I nod. "I really want to start my own catering business. I'm tired of being overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated. I need to work for myself."

"Good, I'm glad to hear it."

"One of the first things I have to do is get a business license. I'm going to start studying for that. I want to get this started ASAP."

"I'm really proud of you Stan!" She takes my hand.

"Thanks, it's past time I started taking control of my life."

She nods. "There's one more thing, I think you should do."

"What's that?"

"I really think you should get checked out for depression."

I shake my head. I wasn't expecting that. "I'm fine, babe."

"Are you sure? You haven't been eating or sleeping well. Plus you're extremely emotional, like thinking someone is going to kidnap Eli."

"I've just had a lot going on at one time. My daughter is paralyzed and I have Eli." I explain.

"But remember you have me to help. Plus you have your parents. You're not alone at all." Susan reminds me.

"I know, but sometimes I get a little overwhelmed. Eli still isn't sleeping through the night so it's rare I get a full night's sleep that's why I haven't been sleeping well. Paying child support is killing me. I can't afford to hire a lawyer so I can legally have full custody of Eli. My biggest fear is that Liz will come back and take him from me and I won't be able to do anything to stop her. It would kill me to lose him and she's a stranger to him. He sees you as his mom, not her. He'll be scared and confused. I don't want that for him."

She nods in agreement. "You definitely should fight to get custody since Liz did abandon him."

"Yeah, it's just the money to do it."

"Let me help…" She offers.

"You're already doing so much for me."

"This is for you and Eli. I would do anything for you two. I love Eli like he was my own son so I want to make sure he stays where he's loved."

I start to tear up. "Thank you Susan." I wipe my eyes before the tears fall. "I'm sorry for getting emotional…"

"Don't be. Just research some lawyers and we'll get this started."

I nod. "I will, I promise."

Julia's POV

I'm awaken by someone coming in my room. It's my dad. I smile at him. "Hi daddy."

"Hi honey, sorry to wake you, I just wanted to make sure you're doing well." He kisses my forehead.

"I'm ok. I'm just ready to go home."

He sits down. "Speaking on which, Eli and I are moving in with Susan. Would you like to move in with us?"

Is he serious right now? I shake my head. "I'm going to go home, mom and Cartman are having wheelchair ramps installed as we speak."

"Oh…" He sounds disappointed. "Well Susan has a room and bathroom on the main floor for you. Easy access to the kitchen and living room."

I roll my eyes. "That's nice, but I'm not interested."

"Why not?"

"She's a stranger to me. I want to be somewhere that's familiar with people that are familiar. Even if those people are mom and Cartman. They've been here every day to see me and making sure I have everything I need. Cartman even took me around the hospital and outside in the wheelchair just so I can get some fresh air. I'm surprised by them." I smile just thinking about it.

"I'm glad to hear that…" He gives me a half smile. "Will you at least visit?"

I shake my head. "How? I won't be able to drive my car ever again. You can always visit…oh yeah." I think about what I'm saying and who I'm talking to. "Well maybe mom can bring me to grandma and grandpa's." I shrug.

"I really would like for you to get to know Susan."

"Why is this so important to you?"

He sighs. "I want to ask Susan to marry me."

Bad move on his part. "Don't be stupid. Take your time and really get to know her. Something is off with her. She's too…nice!"

"She's a nice person!" He snaps. "I'm going to ask Susan to marry me and I would like for the two of you to get along. She's going to be your stepmother."

"So no matter what I say, you're still going to ask her to marry you?"

"Yes. I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"You said the same thing about mom and look at how that turned out." I remind him.

"She's not your mom…" I can hear the annoyance in his tone.

"Why can't you wait? What's the rush? I don't want to see you get hurt again."

He laughs. "Who says I'm rushing? She may not want to get married right away."

"If you're moving in, she's ready to marry you."

"It's going to happen. I really would like your blessing."

"You're not going to get it."

Dad stands up. "I don't get it! You're the one that wanted me to move on!"

"I didn't think you actually would!" I look away from him. "It's like you started another family without me…"

"That's not true Juju. I'm trying to include you. I don't want you to feel alienated."

"Well I do. If only you and mom stayed together, things would be so much better!"

"She didn't want me anymore…"

"Everything has gone downhill since the divorce. I started spending time with the wrong guy instead of giving the good guy a chance. I made bad decisions, I admit it! Now Dustin is dead and I'm paralyzed. None of this would've happened if you fought harder for your marriage! You had to be so weak and pathetic about it!"

"I did everything I could…" He says barely above a whisper. "I never realized you blamed me…"

"I blame both of you." I tell him. Truth is, I do blame him. He didn't contest the divorce so he didn't even try. He let Cartman win.

"I'm sorry Julia."

I shake my head. "I don't want to talk about it anymore, I was having a moment. You don't want me living with you anyway. You're already overwhelmed with Eli, do you really want the added responsibility of taking care of me as well?"

"It's worth it to me."

"Mom and Cartman have young kids at home, but they also have a nanny that comes while they're at work and Shannon comes over some nights and on the weekends. There are more than enough people there to help. Plus I'm comfortable with everyone there."

"Ok, I guess you have a point. If you change your mind, let me know, ok? You don't have to move in, but I would like you to come over sometime. Maybe have dinner with us or something."

"Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it." I smile at him.

He puts his hands up in defeat. "Fair enough." He gives me another kiss on the forehead. "I'll see you later."

"Bye daddy." He leaves. I can tell he's upset. I didn't say any of that to upset him, I just wanted him to know how I feel. Plus I have to be where I'm most comfortable and unfortunately, that's with mom and Cartman. Dad will understand one day…