I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

Firework Fiasco

In spite of feeling awful, Tommy actually enjoyed himself as the night went on. After everyone had eaten and was cleaning up, sirens split the air as firetrucks raced down the street.

Everyone ran outside as flames shot through the air from the vacant lot at the end of the road. All the kids started screaming in fear. Paul hurried Aurora and Mady into the spare bedroom. Tommy took Hannah and Taylor as Gene followed with Draco and Delilah. Jenny and Jason were staring wide-eyed from Eric's arms. Bruce somehow got all the kids quiet as the others rushed outside. 

Gene and Eric grabbed a hose and ran down the street. Bruce stayed with Tommy as Paul grabbed a second hose. Tommy was pale from sickness and fear. He was terrified for his friends and spouse but was too scared to join them. 

Gene suddenly ran up with Paul, the two of them carrying Eric. Tommy passed out, thinking Eric was dead. When he opened his eyes, he was in Paul's arms. "Er?" he asked. "Eric!"  

"Sh, I'm alright. Just sprained my damned ankle trying to hose down the grass. Why in the hell the idiot shot fireworks into a vacant lot, I'll never know." Tommy hugged Eric tightly as he started crying.

"You're pregnant again." said Eric matter-of-factly as he looked at Tommy. "When?" "You know you were told to wait." "I can't believe you're putting your health at risk again just because you think staying pregnant will keep Paul from leaving." Eric somehow made it inside, leaving the others to stare at Tommy.

"Tom?" asked Gene, "Is that true?"

"Y-y-yes!" stammered Tommy. "I-I-I wanna go home!" "I-I-I'm sorry!"

Paul got the girls in the car and told Tommy to wait on him. "I'll be right back."

Tommy didn't say anything on the way home. When they pulled in, Tommy carried a sleeping Mady inside and went to get Aurora. Paul brought Taylor and Hannah in.

When the girls were tucked in, Paul took Tommy in his arms. "Baby, let's go shower and get some sleep. It's been rough."

After their shower, the two of them laid in bed, not really talking but not fighting either. Finally Tommy rolled over to face the wall and closed his eyes. He drifted off to sleep soon. Paul waited until Tommy was asleep to get out of bed and call Gene.