Dandelion

Nineteen

Briar felt the numbness want to set in each night, and each night when she thought she would let it, Greyson would show up and save her. He was becoming a rock in a chaotic world, and it terrified her. She was holding it together by a thread, and all it would take to end it all was one little cut. Maybe it was wrong of her to rely on him, that's a burden he shouldn't have. Briar was a burden no one should have to deal with, but when he was down on his knees, begging her to let him just be there, she felt a wall crack in her heart.

"What? I'm not, no. No ma'am!" Greyson's voice was pitchy by the sudden news and Briar fought a laugh.

"Yes, yes sir you are. You think I had you and your daddy out there building that stage all day for what exactly?" Ada turned on her heel and eyes Greyson.

"Trophy handouts!" he said exasperated. Briar squeezed his hand.

"Psh. I'm not asking you to do anything out of the normal. Play music son. I'm not even telling you to play your music," Ada turned again and walked into what looked like a living room. Greyson groaned as he stood there like a scolded child. Briar giggled making him look at her.

"Oh, that's funny is it?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"Kinda," Briar shrugged.

"I got you for that," he chuckled and kissed her temple, pulling her in more to walk around. He made her a plate and himself a plate and they sat down at the table.

"I thought you said Eli and my mom were here?" Briar asked as she ate a piece of pizza. Greyson looked around and then back to Michelle who was getting some peanut butter down from a cabinet.

"Michelle, do you know where the kids are?"

"Eli and Soph are out back catching fireflies. Your mama's back there too, Briar," Michelle said as she opened the fridge and grabbed a jar of pickles.

"What are you doing?" Greyson asked.

"She's clearly making the best pregnant woman snack," Briar grinned as she remembered her cravings when she was pregnant with Eli.

"That looks disgusting," Greyson said mortified as he watched his sister dip the pickle in the peanut butter.

"That's cause you're a man who can't grow another human, it's a lot of work and..." Michelle paused from eating her mouthful to swallow, "these hobgoblins want what they want. With soph all I wanted was yams, I swear I was gonna give birth to an oompa Loompa I ate so many."

Briar laughed.

"I was a peanut butter and pickle girl too, but I also constantly craved a chocolate shake with fries."

"That sounds normal," Greyson remarked.

"I dipped my fries in my shake," Briar grinned.

"Oh, dear god that sounds delicious," Michelle moaned. Greyson looked horrified.

"That's just... that's not okay to mutilate a good chocolate shake like that, Briar," Greyson said as he shook his head. Briar laughed and hit his arm. They sat there and finished eating and Greyson showed Briar around a bit more before leaving her on the porch with Ada and Cordelia as the kids ran around the yard in their superhero costumes catching fireflies.

"So, I saw an interesting video of you," Ada spoke up with a grin. Briar looked at her confused.

"What video?"

"The one your sister had Carly take of you singing karaoke," Cordelia smiled. Briar's face flushed.

"She did what?"