Chapter 1: Monday
AUTHORS NOTE: This happens after Clay and Rebecca break up. Clay and Stella do get back together but it did not work out. Clay has not lost his leg in this fic. Emma has officially graduated and now lives with her dad in Virginia Beach. Emma is a Music Therapist. Emma is 23 in this story and Clay is 30. Also, Ray and Naima have another child in this fic… a little boy who is about 1 years old. His name is Alex. RJ is six in this fanfiction!
"Ray, you need to go home and get some rest." Trent ordered as he watched Bravo 2 almost fall over as he was standing beside his cage.
"I can't man. Naima and Jameelah are gone on a girls trip and will not be back until Sunday, I have RJ and Alex."
"Well, you are going to have to find some to take RJ and Alex until you feel better."
"Where am I going to find someone on such short notice?"
"I would but I'm headed to see Mikey for the week." Jason said, looking on at his best friend. He was RJ and Alex's godfather after all.
"It's cool, Jase. I can deal with them and this." Ray responded with his eyes closed.
"I can watch RJ and Alex for you, Ray." Clay said as he watched his brother sneeze for what felt like the millionth time that day. They were off rotation but they were working out and doing drills. Ray had come in looking like death. He told the guys that he woke up feeling sick. Trent, of course, checked him out and concluded that he had the Flu.
"Really?" Ray looked at Clay with surprise.
"Yeah, I mean nothing is happening in my life right now." Clay shrugged his shoulders. Clay's love life was dead as far as he was concerned. The two women he had allowed himself to open up to destroyed him and he was not looking for anything with anyone. His week off rotation was going to be slow and boring and lonely.
"If you're sure. Both can be a handful sometimes."
"Yeah, I'm sure. I can pick RJ up from school and Alex up from the babysitters."
"Okay, I'll go home and pack them a bag." Ray stumbled and Sonny caught him.
"I don't think so. I'll have Emma swing by your house and pack RJ and Alex a bag. She can take it over to Clay's apartment."
"Clay needs to get both their seats out of my Jeep."
Clay had picked RJ and Alex up from and taken them back to the apartment. He was currently walking around his apartment trying to get Alex to stop crying. He figured that he was hungry but hadn't had time to stop and get any baby food for Alex. RJ was watching a cartoon on the television but Clay could tell he was getting hungry too.
Clay heard a knock at the door and went to answer. As he pulled the door open he saw Emma Hayes.
"Hi, Clay! How are you? Looks like the little man is hangry, huh. Hey RJ!" Emma sat her bag, RJ's bag, and Alex's bag on the couch before going back out into the hallway and bringing in grocery bags. "I thought that he would probably be hungry by now and I brought some food over, do you mind?"
"Absolutely not! Please make yourself at home, Em."
Emma smiled and took the bags into his kitchen. She turned and showed him a pack of chicken breast. "I thought that maybe you would like a home cooked meal. Is chicken parm okay?"
"Yeah, that sounds great!"
"RJ, are dino nuggets and mac-and-cheese okay with you?"
"Yes, Aunt Emma!"
"Great." Emma began putting some of the groceries away. She left out what she would be using to cook dinner for herself, Clay and the boys.
"What about the little guy? What do you want, huh? You think you can eat some mac-and-cheese?" Emma asked Alex as she walked over to where Clay was bouncing him. Alex quieted a little at the sound of her voice but he was still crying. "Are you giving Uncle Clay a hard time?" Emma tickled his belly and kissed his cheeks. Alex giggled before reaching out to her.
Clay transferred the baby into her arms and Emma kissed Alex on the head. "Do you want to help Aunt Emma make dinner?" Emma moved towards her bag and pulled out a baby wrap carrier. She turned to Clay, who was watching her with amazement.
"Could you help me put this on?" Emma held the wrap out to Clay, who moved towards her. She instructed him on how to put it on and he adjusted it with ease. She slipped Alex into the carrier before moving back towards the kitchen. She pulled everything from the grocery bags and began preparing RJ's dino nuggets and RJ's and Alex's mac-and-cheese. She also began working on her and Clay's chicken parm.
"Is there anything I can do?" Clay asked, feeling a little helpless as he watched Bravo 1's daughter move around the kitchen with ease.
"No, I'm sure you've had a long, hard day. I know dad was going to push you guys with drills and training today. You just relax with RJ and I'll let you know when the food is ready." Emma smiled at him.
Clay hesitated for a moment, not wanting his guest to do all the work. Emma left the stove and took him by the hand, pulling him towards the couch where RJ was sitting. She lightly pushed him down on the seat.
"RJ, do you have homework to do?"
"Yes, but I don't want to do it. It's hard!"
"Why don't you and Uncle Clay work on your homework? Maybe you will be done before we eat then you don't have to worry about doing it afterwards. That way you get more screen time before bed."
"Will you help me, Uncle Clay?"
"Of course, buddy. What kind of homework?" Clay and RJ began working on his homework sheets while Emma and Alex moved back towards the kitchen.
Fifteen minutes later, Emma was putting RJ's dino nuggets and mac-and-cheese on a plate. She also put Alex's mac-and-cheese in a bowl.
"RJ, come sit at the table. I have your food ready. Do you want milk, juice, or water?"
"Juice, please!"
"Do you want orange juice or apple juice?"
"Apple."
"Clay, would you feed Alex while I check on our dinner?"
"Sure." Clay helped Emma get Alex out of the carrier and sat down beside RJ.
A few minutes later, Emma put down a plate in front of Clay and kissed Alex's head before moving to sit across from Clay. Emma cut her chicken and pasta up before looking over at Clay who was struggling with the baby in his arms.
"I can take him. It looks like he enjoyed his mac-and-cheese." Emma reached for the baby and Clay handed him to her over the table. She settled him onto her lap and began eating her food. She watched Clay's face as he took the first bite and moaned.
"This is amazing, Em."
"Thanks, it was nothing really. I'm glad you like it."
They ate in silence unless RJ was talking to them. They finished their meals and Clay enlisted RJ to help him clean up because Emma had cooked. Emma moved over to the couch and saw that Clay and RJ had finished his homework.
"You boys did a good job on this homework, I think that deserves an award!"
"Really, what?" RJ asked, excited.
"Cookies!"
"Yay! Uncle Clay, Aunt Emma makes the greatest cookies ever!" RJ was bouncing up and down clapping his hands beside Clay.
"Really? Well, I can't wait to eat some of those."
"Clay, if you want to try to get the boys in the bath and dressed for bed… I'll start the cookies."
"Sure, come on RJ. I'll need your help with your little brother."
"Okay, Uncle Clay!" RJ grabbed Clay's hand and Clay led him into the bathroom. Emma grabbed Alex and RJ's bag and followed him before returning to the kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, Emma was pulling the cookies out of the oven and Clay had not returned with the boys. She could hear giggling and splashing coming from the bathroom and shook her head. She placed the cookie trays to cool before turning off the oven and walking towards the bathroom.
When she entered, Emma could not help but laugh. There was more water on Clay and the floor than in the tub with RJ and Alex. Clay turned around and playfully glared at her.
"Requesting assistance, Bravo 6?" Emma joked as she moved to get towels to clean up some water and then proceeded to slide onto the floor beside Clay. "RJ, I thought you were supposed to be helping Uncle Clay?"
"I was, but then we started playing and well… Alex and I teamed up against him." RJ shrugged.
"I can see that. As much fun as this was, we need to get you and your brother bathed and in pajamas. The cookies are cooling but you can't have any until after your bath."
"Okay, Aunt Emma." RJ turned his attention back to the bath, which Emma only had to help a small amount with. Clay was able to get Alex cleaned up with Emma's help before draining the tub and drying everyone off.
Emma turned to see a drench Clay looking a little disheveled. His shirt was completely soaked and he had several strands of hair out of place. She took Alex from his arms and held in a laugh as she reached up to push the hair out of his face.
"Why don't I get the boys changed and you can get cleaned up?" Emma allowed her eyes to wonder. His shirt had completely soaked through and she could see the outline of his abs and muscles as the shirt clung to his body.
"Yeah and I'll clean up in here." Clay motioned around the room. Emma locked eyes with Clay again and blushed slightly, realizing that she was basically checking him out. Clay gave her a small smile and then pulled the soaked shirt off.
"Okay, then, I'll just be…" Emma waved her free arm around and then all but ran out of the bathroom.
As she laid Alex down on the bed, Emma shook her head lightly to clear it before getting both boys dressed in their pajamas and making her way back to the kitchen. She directed RJ to sit down at the table and placed a plate with two chocolate chip cookies and a cup of milk in front of him. She was preparing Clay a plate of cookies when she heard movement behind her.
"Those smell delicious." Clay said as she walked towards her and ruffled Alex's hair playfully.
"Thanks, I wasn't sure what kind of cookies you liked so I just went with basic chocolate chip." She turned and handed him a plate with four cookies on it.
"Em, you didn't have to make me a plate but thank you." Clay passed her and sat down at the table. He took a cookie off the plate and bit into it. "Oh my god! This is amazing? Are they homemade?"
"Yes, I'm glad you like them. I'm surprised you haven't had any before at the team gatherings." Emma brought Clay a glass of milk, which he accepted graciously.
"They get gone pretty fast. Sonny has told me so many times that you are an amazing baker but I've never had the opportunity to eat any of your stuff. Sonny has told me stories of how the team fights over your cookies and brownies."
"Yeah, they are ridiculous. I always make several dozen cookies for team gatherings and Bravo always seems to inhale them."
"They are amazing, Em."
"Thanks." Emma blushed for what felt like the millionth time that night.
After inhaling the cookies, RJ began to fall asleep at the table. Clay smiled and lifted him off the seat. He took RJ to his guest room and laid him on the bed. He tucked RJ in tight and left a small lamp in the corner. He left the door cracked and went back to the kitchen where Emma was putting the pans in the dishwasher.
"I saw you brought a bag of your own with you. Are you planning on staying with RJ in case he wakes up and is scared because it's a strange place?"
"Well, I was planning on staying just in case they both woke up in the middle of the night screaming." Emma giggled. "I brought a baby monitor that we can put in the guestroom so one of us can hear if RJ wakes up. Alex's portable crib is in my vehicle. If you could run and get it out I can set it up here. I'll stay on the couch in case he wakes up in the middle of the night."
"Emma, I'm not letting my guest stay on the couch."
"Well, technically I'm not your guest. I'm the girl who barged into your apartment and invited herself to stay."
Both laughed at Emma's description of what happened.
"Honestly, Emma, I wouldn't have been able to survive with you."
"That's sweet of you to say but I'm sure you would have."
"Give me your keys and I'll run downstairs to your car."
"Great." Emma gave Clay her keys. A few minutes later he returned with the portable crib and entered his apartment to see Emma walking around the living room area singing a song to Alex.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance... I hope you dance...
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin',
Don't let some Hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance... I hope you dance.
I hope you dance... I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
And wonder where those years have gone.)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Dance... I hope you dance.
I hope you dance... I hope you dance.
I hope you dance... I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
And wonder where those years have gone.)
Alex was asleep in her arms before he knew it and Clay cleared his throat before setting up the crib. Emma whispered the instructions on how to set it up. In no time, Clay had it assembled and was rolling it towards his bedroom. Emma touched his arm and gave him a questioned look.
"I'm not letting you sleep on the couch. I have a king size bed, we can share as long as your comfortable or I can take the couch."
"I'm not letting you sleep on the couch in your own apartment."
"Then bed it is. Why don't you change and I'll bring your bag into the bedroom."
Emma motioned for Clay to put the crib on 'her' side of the bed. Emma nodded and laid Alex in the crib and moved towards the bathroom. She dressed quickly and returned to see Clay had already climbed in on his side and was reading a book. Emma peeked over to see Alex still fast asleep. She walked towards the guestroom to check on RJ, who was also fast asleep before returning to Clay's bedroom. She didn't bother checking to make sure everything was locked, leaving with a Navy SEAL her entire life she knew that Clay had already secured everything.
She climbed in on her side.
"I hope this is okay with you?" Clay whispered, trying to keep his voice low so as not to wake Alex.
"It's fine, Clay. Really."
"I really wouldn't have been able to handle both of them by myself. I appreciate you giving up your night to come and help me."
"Well, I think that it was amazing of you to offer to help Uncle Ray while he is sick. And I think that you did a great job for someone who hasn't babysat the kids for years."
"Thanks, I don't really have any paternal instincts." Clay shrugged.
Emma giggled, "Really? I saw several signs that you have paternal instincts." Emma rattled off examples from the night and Clay smiled.
"Alright, I may have some paternal instincts but you are going to make a great mother someday. I mean, I was amazed at how easy you made everything look tonight. And you have a beautiful voice."
"Thanks, it's just practice. And the song, that was nothing."
"Well, I think you are going to be a great mom. And you are a wonderful singer. Whoever you end up with will be a lucky guy."
"Thanks, whoever you end up with will be a very lucky girl. Goodnight, Clay."
"Goodnight, Emma."
They both turned off their lamps and settled in for the night.