Sail along

Chapter 26

"Micky! Michael!" She said happily and pulled them both into a bone crushing hug.

"Presents!" Mike answered, grinning.

"Mike," Micky said horrified, "say hi to Millie first."

"Hi Millie first, " Mike giggled. "Presents?"

"Hi, Millie," Micky sighed. "It's good to see you."

"Good to see you." Mike echoed as they followed Millie inside. Mike wandered around Millie's house as Millie, Larry and Micky talked to Stephen and Christopher. A yell from the kitchen made everyone turn to see what was going on.

"Wet, wet, stop." Mike yelled from the kitchen where he had turned on the kitchen sprayer.

Micky sighed.

"Hang on, Mike, I'm coming." He said, going into the kitchen.

"You're a handful, you know that?" Micky said as he stopped the water and looked at Mike who was dripping wet.

"Sorry." Mike whispered.

"Aww Mike," Micky sighed "it's okay."

"It was an accident Mike." Millie said, going over to him.

"Wet." Mike said.

"I can get you a towel to dry yourself off," Millie said, going into the bathroom.

"I'm sorry," Mike whispered, holding his head down in shame.

"It's okay, Mike. You didn't do anything wrong, okay?"

Mike nodded but kept his head down.

"Mike, look at me," Micky said and Mike looked up with tear-filled eyes.

"It's okay," Micky smiled. Millie returned with the towel and handed it to Micky.

"Here," Micky said, taking it and drying off Mike. Mike giggled as he did.

"Tickles," he said laughing.

"Tickles?" Micky said as he smiled "I'll show you tickles." He poked Mike in the side, tickling him some more. Mike squealed and turned away giggling more.

"Okay boys," Millie said smiling "enough now."

"I'm a handful." Mike said proudly.

"You sure are," Micky sighed as Mike laughed, resting his head on Micky's shoulder.

"Love being a handful. Is fun," he said with a smile. Micky smiled.

"I'm not too keen on it, but your our handful and we love you." Micky said running a hand through Mike's hair.

"Hmm, feels good, " Mike said, yawning, closing his eyes.

"Why don't we get you to bed?" Micky offered. Mike shook his head and smiled slightly.

"Not tired," he said, forcing his eyes open. "Hi."

"Hi, Mike," Micky sighed. "We've had a long day. You probably should get some rest."

"Probably rest," Mike parroted "rest, rest, rest."

"I'll show you where you two will be staying." Millie said as Micky picked up his and Mike's bags.

"Thanks Millie," Micky said "you and Larry are both a peach."

"Peach!!" Mike yelled as he followed Micky through the house to the back.

"It's no problem, you two." Millie said as she stopped at a door "here you go." She opened the door and Mike ran in and took a running jump onto the bed.

"Guess that's your bed—"

"NO! My bed," Mike said sternly.

"Right," Micky sighed, setting the bags on the floor.

"Are you comfortable, Mike?" He asked, going toward Mike.

"Hmmm, very nice," he muttered with a smile.

"I'm taking that as a yes."

"No," Mike said with a giggle.

"Alright, well, if you need anything, I'll be here. Just hollar."

"HOLLAR!" Mike called out and Micky smiled, sitting down beside him.

"Yeah, that's right. Just like that."

"Just like that..." Mike whispered as he closed his eyes. Micky sighed and brushed the hair out of Mike's face, smiling.

"Good night, Mike," he said quietly as he stood up and made his way out of the room, leaving the door cracked open.

"I really cannot thank you two enough," Micky said as he reentered the kitchen. "Really, I mean it. They wanted to take him away for the night and Mike panicked.. Thank you for letting us stay here. I don't want to imagine what might've happened to him if they did take him..."

"What did happen to him? If you don't mind me asking." Larry said as they sat down in the living room. Micky sighed.

"Mike hit his head in a roller skating contest. Well, more of, some guy pulled him down and made him hit his head." Micky said.

"Oh," Millie said "if I get my hands on that boy I'll-"

"Now now cupcake," Larry said "I'm sure that guy has been talked to."

Micky nodded and let out a sigh.

"Besides, as Peter would say, fighting back only adds to the cycle of violence. It won't do any good."

He sat down and held his head in his hands.

"The damage has already been done..." he muttered. "I really hope Mike's okay, though. It's hard to tell when he's like this."

"He'll be fine I'm sure of it." Millie said.

"Kids tough I'll tell ya," Larry said "he'll pull through. Don't worry Georgie."

A sound of a crash came from the bedroom and they could all hear Mike's voice scream

"HOLLAR!!" Micky let out a sigh and stood up.

"I'll be right back." He made his way upstairs and into the bedroom. Mike was a tangle of blankets on the floor.