Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Fifty-Six: A Full Plate
All night I'm anxious to get home, Roy can tell I'm off and comes to see me as I'm packing up my things. "Now sweetheart don't take this the wrong way as you were amazing but your usual amazing you weren't. Is everything okay?"
I give him an uncertain look I didn't need upsetting my Director added to my plate, "sorry Roy I have a lot going on at home at the moment. I'm sorry if my performance was not-"
"Darling you are exceptionally talented you phoning it in today would still gain rave reviews I just know it's not your usual quality. Is there anything I can do to help? Do you need to take a rehearsal night off to be with your… kids isn't it?" His hesitation on kids was clear.
"Kids. I have a son but my partner's much younger sister lives with us part of the week. Thank you for the offer but at this stage I don't need to take it. I'll let you know if I have to." I close up my bag and place it over my shoulder, "I should head home and put the kids to bed. Night Roy and sorry for-" he puts his hand up to shake it off. Obviously not wanting any apology from me.
When I walk into the house I see Dylan bouncing up and down with our disgruntled son while Erica sits at the table finishing off her homework. Dylan gives me a sigh of relief, "look little man mummy is home and she can use her magical powers to make everything okay?"
I lift my eyebrow as I pick up my son and look at Dylan, "magical power's?"
He leans in and kisses me, Erica giggle's. He exhales a calming breath, "yep magic. I feel better already. It seems that tooth has decided to begin its exit strategy out of his gum, he's been grumpy since his mashed pea and broccoli purée dinner. I'd blame the broccoli but he weirdly has inherited your love of vegetables."
I go to the sink and wash my hand before putting it into his mouth to feel his gum. Yep definitely the tooth especially when I feel his little gums squeezing my finger to get some relief. "Have you got his teething ring?"
"It's in the freezer trying to get cool. When it got warm he got annoyed with it. It should be ready soon."
He's ready for bed but I know while I might be able to get him to sleep by nursing him he probably won't stay that way for too long. It's going to be a long night for Dylan and I. "Dyl can you bring his cot into our room I don't want his crying keeping Erica up all night and I imagine he's going to be in a bit of discomfort throughout the night?" He gives me a nod and moves to bring the bed in while I rock Art and chat to Erica about her homework.
I manage to get Art down and then move into the lounge room where Dylan is just finishing warming up my dinner, while I eat I look over Erica's homework and discuss her weekend plans that she has with her mum. They are planning to go wedding dress shopping and also get a new dress for Erica, she is less than thrilled with the plans. When she asks if she can stay here instead I tell her that it's a special moment for her mum and even if she doesn't like Kevin yet being part of the day is important. I wonder if I'll regret those words once I hear about Dylan's phone call this afternoon.
By the time Erica is down for the night I check on Art and then move into our study, Dylan is already on the phone to Iris. I guess I'm running behind schedule this evening if Iris has already called through. The relief I feel talking to both Iris and Val on speakerphone unwinds some of the tension in my body. I'm taking small wins this evening, in this moment my family is all safe. Sitting on Dylan's lap he rubs his hand up and down my back, trying to offer me comfort. The University at Buffalo has agreed to allow Val to finish off her courses by correspondence for the remaining weeks of semester and then to allow her to sit her finals at California University. Val ended up speaking to Clare the chancellor's daughter who got the number from her father on who at CU looked after arranging such things.
It seems when Val called the student administration the chancellor's assistant had already rang to advise that a friend of the family would be phoning soon. Clare had just become one of my favourite people and I could tell Iris felt the same way. Val I knew would be loyal to her for life for going above and beyond for a girl she had spent all of thirty-six hours sharing a room with. If this was Steve's Stephanie then I'd gladly welcome her into our tight knit family.
With the administration stuff out of the way tomorrow was time for Val's parents to be informed. Both Iris and Val were tight lipped about what that involved but Dylan was clear on his expectations. "Mum you have access to what you need, if you have even a nanosecond of a thought that you'd like Security for you both then please arrange it. There is no expense too high to keep my mother and our kids Aunt Val safe." I squeeze his hand.
Iris played it cool and simply said of course darling, and while she was aware it wouldn't be a problem it is always lovely to hear. Val I think was the sniffles in the background, she didn't say anything. If all went to plan they should arrive here on Sunday. We gave them our love and then let them go for the night knowing that the time difference meant that it was almost midnight there.
Getting off the phone I turn to Dylan and give him a sweet kiss, I love how protective of our family we both are. I love that I can trust he will always put the family first. Once I have built up enough strength from his kisses I prepare for another hit, "you ready to tell me about this afternoon?"
He nod's, "they ran their names using Kevin's job information, and the social security number I had given Christine, the one your dad had used to run Suzanne's financial information previously. Kevin only began his employment at the lab just before Christmas. Previously he lived only one county over from Suzanne. They confirmed that Suzanne wasn't lying about losing her house in the flood but her past especially when Erica was a a baby is very sketchy. It appears they haven't been able to figure out how she managed to get the money for the house she owned there. Her name comes up on some questionable business dealings but there was never enough evidence to charge her of anything. It appears to have stopped once Erica was of school age as she bought the house and appeared to live a relatively normal life, she kept a part-time job in town only working a few day's a week. They don't know if they targeted me specifically before the flood or after, but they suspect that losing the house has meant she is getting bolder and looking for a potential big payday."
"And Kevin?"
"Went to College and appears to be a bit of a hippie, he has a few arrests for protests getting a bit violent in a few of them. He hasn't ever really been able to hold down a job for longer than nine months, seems to have a problem with authority. There was an investigation on him selling some company information to a competitor when he worked for a pharmaceutical lab five years ago but again there wasn't enough evidence to charge him. The connection with him and Suzanne is unknown but her bank records show she visited his town at least twice a week for eighteen months before moving out here."
"And Jack?" I don't want to ask directly if Erica is who Suzanne claims her to be. It's irrelevant anyway we love her, after month's of her living in our home the DNA is irrelevant.
"As far as they can tell they dated for less time than Suzanne indicated. Dad has a pretty big file at the FBI but he was still appearing and mostly operating legitimately back then, the details are a little scant. It's a possibility that Suzanne is telling the truth but from what they can tell he was also connected to a few other woman at the time."
While they appeared concerning I'm surprised that the FBI based on this information would be interested and not just pass it to local authorities, "Baby why do they care enough to phone back?"
"I don't think they would if Kevin hadn't messed around with that pharmaceutical company. They are seemingly very important donators to the Democratic Party and him selling those details cost them millions. They'd love to catch him in the act and hopefully put him away for something."
"Catch them in the act? They want us to play along give them access to the money-"
"They want us to appear to invest and let them play it out. They know we moved the money so it's safe, we won't have to move it back as they advised they can make whatever they try appear legitimate. The finances will be safe. The kids and us, well they think they aren't violent but they'll keep a close eye on us when it's getting close for them to access the money."
"Let me get this right, they want us to get played but carry on as normal with no protection until the end?"
"They think that both Suzanne and Kevin haven't been caught yet as they aren't too greedy and they both will jump ship and cover their tracks if they suspect anyone is even slightly on to them. As you said previously they haven't done anything to us and they could take Erica at any time. They are good at this because they don't do anything criminal to the last possible minute, until then there is nothing to hold them on. The FBI giving us any protection could set them off-"
"And they could take Erica." I breathe deep there was no other option, "I guess we play this out. I assume we work off their leads and not try to push." He nods, "and I should remain being the sceptical one?"
"Yep. We keep doing what we are doing. The FBI will monitor their accounts and security numbers, they think that they'll want a quick exit organised for when they strike. It will mean we should know when it's getting close."
I sigh, "I don't know if I should feel relieved that we aren't just paranoid rich people or feel upset that we aren't just paranoid rich people."
He laughs, "yep I completely understand. The loner who didn't trust anyone till a beautiful brunette stopped past his locker is feeling a desire to bunker down with our McKay family and shut those strong gates to the rest of the world." I lean in and kiss him again.
"Not until we can ensure Erica is bunkered down with us. Suzanne obviously had a reason for never introducing Erica to Kevin, and I can't imagine she'd immediately trusted him with such a big con without trying something first."
He chuckles, "if this acting career doesn't work out you could work for the FBI. They think it's highly unlikely too. They are going to look closer at the last two year's for both of them, it might help them understand what we are getting ourselves involved in." He kisses my head, "now we can't do anything more about these situations tonight and since our room has our little man bunkered down in there, shall I run us a bath so we can both relax, maybe you can tell me more of my new favourite stories."
I roll my eyes, "favourite stories?"
He kisses my neck, "absolute favourites."
The bath was relaxing but cut short by Art waking. He woke in discomfort every forty-five minutes throughout the night. Dylan had early morning classes so I did the lion share especially the last few wake up calls close to dawn, trying to give Dylan as much sleep as possible. Even doing that we were both exhausted and dragging ourselves about during our morning routine. Once Dylan and Erica had left, Art and I played for a bit and then I joined him for part of his morning nap. It gave me enough energy to have a shower, call my doctors office and book an appointment for next week, and then attempt to head to campus.
When I arrived David, Steve, Brandon and Dylan were all sitting together; Dylan clearly onto his second coffee. Due to me still nursing the fact he could have as much coffee as he wanted escalated my already heightened tension of the last hour.
As I walk up to the table I look at David, "Uncle David here hold your nephew." I pass him my grumbly son, "he's in a mood and in his current state will be the best birth control you'll ever find."
The four of them crack up at that. "Don't laugh, ten minutes of holding a teething baby and you'll be all wearing double condoms." I move to Dylan's lap and steal his coffee.
"I'm guessing it didn't get better after I left?"
"No it did we napped, I showered, got dressed, and as I was getting everything ready to head here he had a nappy explosion; it was so bad that it required a quick bath hose down. That's when the tears started, he was upset over the nappy and then got disgruntled because he wasn't allowed to play in the water for long enough. Then once he was freshly dressed and I had changed my wet top, we made our way to the car where he decided to throw his teething ring in the garden. Once I washed that down; I've given up sterilising unless it's on the ground longer than five seconds, he was grumpy the whole way here. I imagine because the washing of said thrown teething ring warmed it up and now it's not cold enough for your son."
"Okay so tough hour- shouldn't approach expanding the family with you then." I can tell he thinks he is so funny.
"Baby I'm this close" I hold my fingers a fraction apart, "to buying us single beds. We can be like married people in the fifties separate beds next to each other." I take another sip of his coffee and know I'm in a grumpy mood, "I'm so tired my forty five minute nap buzz has long ago worn off."
He rubs my back, "that's okay baby but you aren't allowed near a phone until this tooth comes out, and I think I should take away your cheque book and credit cards. There will be no furniture purchases in this state."
My brother's were nearly in tears, "is this the same couple who you were worried would create our next niece or nephew in front of the campus yesterday Brando?"
"Yep Steve. I don't know what concerns me more how quickly they can shift gears or the fact my sister said she is giving up sterilising things. I think hell may have just frozen over."
"Twin you are so funny. Hilarious." I turn to Dylan, "was it really only yesterday that you and I were not sleep deprived? I miss those day's."
He tries, he really tries to hide his laughter but as I'm sitting on his lap I'm shaking with his silent chuckles. I turn to my son to see if the laughter has raised his spirits, I smile at the sight. David is quietly singing to him and my son not used to good singing- his father and I struggle to find let alone hold a note, is like a sponge he's completely focused on the sound and absorbing it right up. "David I could kiss you right now." David keeps singing but he is fighting back a smile, Mr Chuckles underneath me has suddenly gone quiet.
"Baby no you won't." I turn to Arthur's father.
"Baby be happy I didn't propose to the man, he is sexy as hell to me right now, he stopped our son from crying."
"Do I need to take the baby away from David?" I give a look of fear and shake my head, "okay well no kissing, proposing and no saying he is sexy again."
I turn back to the table and take another sip of his coffee, "fine I'll just think it and give him loving eyes."
Steve is literally crying and Brandon is pointing at Dylan laughing at his misfortune, David is trying to sing through his laughter. Dylan is grumbling behind me and wrapping his arms around me mumbling the whole time, "this is why we shouldn't leave the compound. This is why that gate should be permanently locked. Maybe I should buy an island, this wouldn't happen if we lived on an island."
Brandon eventually composes himself, "should I be worried about his mumbling that he'll buy an island and hide you away?"
I laugh, "no as soon as he figures out the only island we could afford to buy wouldn't be big enough for a road to run the Porsche he'll change his mind." After another sip of coffee and a look at my now happy son I decide I should leave for class before I'm late. "Okay I'm off to learn how to start my own harem or whatever the male equivalent is called."
"Can't you just drop that class her idea's are getting crazier and crazier."
"Maybe it's Brando, that will be two women you've made crazy-"
"Three, Sheryl was a bit nuts as well."
My brother looks murderous at both Steve and Dylan's comments. David though jumps in before he can have a go at either of them, "Brandon you slept with the woman's studies lecturer- nice."
My son losing the music starts to fuss, "David don't stop singing, and it's not nice she's…"
"Smoking hot, feisty, sexy-"
"Steve that's not how I'd describe her."
I turn and kiss Dylan, "oh so now you want to kiss me."
"Oh did you want me to kiss David instead?" He growls and gives me a heated kiss.
When he pulls away he looks at me, "you are napping before your rehearsal tonight you have gone delusional from the trials of the week and lack of sleep."
"Okay but maybe we should bring David home with us, he could sing to Art all afternoon."
"David I've got a great idea. Kids album soothing beats to calm the baby blues."
As I stand I look at David who is looking at Steve like he is crazy, "David don't laugh Steve actually maybe on to something. If you recorded soothes Dylan's teething grumpy son, as well as it does by you doing it live I'd buy copies for the car and each room in the house."
"Baby how long is he going to be my son?"
"Until he loses the rebel without a cause attitude Baby. It's obviously from your gene pool." I bend down and give my son a kiss, "lucky he got your looks as well because even when he's moody he's still a little cutie- yes you are my little guy."