The Love You Give

Cat's Out of the Bag

By the time they made it home it was close to dinner and the house was beyond quiet. Ezra and Celeste looked at one another before making their way to their rooms. Ezra walked in to her room and smiled at what she saw. Jace and Jackson lay passed out on her bed, while Jacob lay passed out on the couch shirtless with Janelle laying on his chest asleep. Ezra put up her dress and shoes before removing Janelle quietly and leaving the room. She filled Celeste in on what she walked in on and laughed as Celeste told her Jansen was passed out too snoring his life away. They hung out with Marisol as Ezra began cooking dinner. She and Pierre had worked out a flexible schedule once school started becoming more taxing.

"This all looks amazing, Ezra." Celeste smiled. "Thanks. I haven't made lasagna in a long time, so I figured it was time," she said as she made the Caprese salad. "I'll go get Jansen and the boys." Celeste said heading off. Marisol and Ezra began plating the food and talking about the upcoming gala. "Go head on over to the dining room. I'll meet you there with the boys. Ezra has cooked up a real treat for us," Celeste informed Jansen before making her way upstairs.

"I've never been so exhausted in my life." Jace said yawning. "Same. Babies are tough." Jackson said sitting up. "Yeah, and to think we almost had a real one. I love Ezra, but I'm really glad she's not pregnant." Jacob said stretching. "I am too, but we would've handled it." Jackson said standing up. "You damn right we would've. We fucking love her and I know like me you two would do whatever it took to keep her safe and happy." Jace stood up. The brothers nodded knowing the truth in the statement. They did not know, however, that their mother had heard the entire conversation.

Celeste and Jansen were seated by the time the boys made their way down. "Hey Mom, did you ladies have fun?" Celeste nodded absentmindedly. She was still at a loss with everything she had heard. "Dinner is served," Ezra walked in with a wide smile on her face. She set down plates with Marisol. "Thank you, Ezra," Jansen smiled. Ezra placed Celeste's plate down, but noticed the wary look on her face. "Are you okay, Mama?" Celeste looked up in her eyes and saw nothing but happiness and love. "I'm fine, baby angel." Ezra nodded before heading back into the kitchen.

Celeste wondered how she didn't see it before. It was so obvious. Her sons who didn't care about anything but themselves in an instant began to change under her very eyes. They were serious. She had never heard any of her sons profess their love for a partner and here all three were doing so and for the same girl. She didn't know how to feel, but as she watched their smiles light up the moment Ezra walked into the room with more dishes, she couldn't deny that they were wholeheartedly happy. She wanted to be happy for them. She loved Ezra also, but she couldn't help but fear what this would mean about her placement. If Child Protective Services found out, would they remove her from their home? Her home.

"Are you okay?" Jansen mouthed to Celeste. She nodded and gave him a small smile before digging in. She listened as her sons laughed and talked with one another like brothers once more. Ezra was talking to Jansen about something from her World Literature class and she couldn't help but notice how involved her husband was. Her entire family had become restored because of the teen that fixed them. "Mama, are you sure you're okay?" Ezra asked grabbing her hand. Celeste snapped out of it. "Yeah, baby, I'm fine. This food is delicious." She said taking a bite and blinking away tears. Ezra didn't believe her, but she trusted that whatever was going on she'd come to her if she needed to.

The following week flew by in a breeze. The baby dolls seemed to be turned up to max difficulty, because everyone was having a hard time. The dolls were each randomly given an illness and Janelle's was a cold. No one seemed to get any sleep that night, but when she got better the next day collective cheers could be heard. It was finally Friday and the last day of their project. Ezra and Zoe couldn't help the tears welling in their eyes as the packed up the dolls in preparation to hand them back in. Xavier and Jackson comforted their girlfriends the best they could, but they too felt a sadness that the project was over. "We can make a real one, babe," Xavier whispered to Zoe causing her to chuckle. "Yves bout with the flu was enough birth control to last me a decade." They all laughed.