Neighbors

Chapter 23

"Um...wow, I uh..." she cleared her throat and bit her lip. "Maybe?"

"I know it's a lot to take in," he nodded, "if I need to go over it again at a later time, I can. The rest of guys can as well. We are always willing to explain anything to you."

There was a knock on the door and Victor leaned in, "hey sorry to interrupt but breakfast is ready." He noticed the shocked look on Liza's face, "you okay, Princess?"

"Yeah," she whispered then cleared her throat, "yes, I am."

"Come along, Darling," Owen said as he held his hand out. "Let's have some breakfast."

She placed her hand in Owen's and smiled softly when she felt him squeeze her hand then he let go so he could place both of his hands on her hips. Victor took one of her hands and gently pulled her down the hallway back to the dining room.

"Here you go Baby," North smiled as he placed her plate in front of her. "We had a little helper make sure it was just like you like it."

"This is perfect," she smiled, "thank you." She picked up the fork and winced slightly.

"You okay, Pookie?" Sean asked setting his fork down.

"Yes," she nodded, "just keep forgetting I can't use my dominate hand."

"Do you want me to get you a pain pill?" he asked checking her fingers to make sure the blood flow was still good. She noticed that he did that a lot, he said it was important, so she just let him.

"No," she shook her head, "I'm fine."

"Pookie," Sean sighed softly. "If you are hurting, it's fine to take some medicine."

"I'm fine," she shook her head.

He leaned by her face so his mouth was just millimeters from her ear, "I will do whatever it takes to protect you, Pookie. I won't let you get addicted again I promise. Now, quit being stubborn and let me take care of my favorite patient."

"Okay," she gulped and nodded.

"Good," he beamed as he stood and left the room.

"Mommy," Kiairi smiled as she sat in her lap. "Wike?"

"I love it," Liza nodded then opened her mouth as Kiairi help up a spoonful of scrambled eggs. "So yummy," she smiled after she swallowed. "You did a great job helping them, thank you."

"Me lub it," Kiairi clapped.

"I love it," Kota gently corrected. "Try again, Little One."

"I lub it," she smiled.

"Close enough for now," Kota chuckled. "Are you ready for school?"

"Me no go stool," Kiairi shook her head. "Me stay wif Mommy foreber."

"I thought you wanted to go to school," Liza looked at her confused. "Why don't you want to go now?"

"Me stay wif you," she said sternly. "Me no go Miss Winda no more."

Liza looked at her confused, "Why don't you want to go to day care anymore, Kiairi? Has something happened?"

"Me no go, Momma," she glared and Liza gasped.

"Sweet Pea, what happened?" Liza asked gently. "What's going on? Are you just mad you haven't been in a few days? Are you missing everyone?"

"No," she shook her head. "Me no want go back, they mean Mommy, me no go back."

"Okay," Liza nodded and hugged her then kissed her head. "Okay, if you don't want to go back you won't. I'll take care of it, I promise."

"Otay," She smiled then turned so she could start eating again in her mother's lap. "Me lub dis."

"I love this," Liza corrected gently.

"I lub this," Kiairi giggled.

"Here," Sean said as he came back into the room. "What's wrong?" he asked noticing everyone's serious looks and quietness.

"Little One is refusing to go to daycare," North growled. "She said they are mean."

"Have you noticed any bruises on her?" Sean asked everyone, "Has she been acting out?"

"No," Liza shook her head, "she actually seems happier since everything has happened, and she hasn't gone back."

"Take your medicine, Darling," Owen commanded, "and it's settled, you will be pulling her out and we will figure out a routine of keeping her with us."

"What?" She asked shocked. "How will what work when I go back to work?"

"Yay!" Kiairi bounced happily in Liza's lap.

"Come over here, Little One," Silas said scooting his chair back. "Let Mommy eat."

"Otay," Kiairi smiled as she happily raced over to him while Marc and Luke rearranged the plates.

"Remember what we discussed?" Owen asked and she nodded. "We will figure it out."

"Okay," Liza said as she took the pain pills then took a drink.

"She will most likely just join you when you start working with us," Kota shrugged. "Since we all own our own companies, it's no problem for her to be there. Gabe can make a play area for her in each of our offices and it would also be educational because she will be learning from all of us."

"That sounds like homeschooling," Liza frowned in confusion.

"It could be," Kota nodded, "Corey and I could easily make a homeschool plan for her."

"You can think it over," Owen nodded, and she sighed softly.

"Okay," she spoke softly. "Thank you."

"Open," Raven said as he scooped some of her breakfast out for her. She smiled softly and opened her mouth making him grin as he continued to feed her.

After breakfast she went into the living room and watched as Kiairi started building blocks with Nathan and Luke while the rest sat around and either watched or did their own thing.

"Momma?" Kiairi asked giggling when Max knocked the tower down with his nose.

"Yes?" Liza lifted her head from Sean's shoulder.

Max laid his head in Kiairi's lap and she started petting him. "Tids mean."

"How were they mean?" Liza asked gently.

"Day say me why," She pouted. "Me no why."

"Why would they say you were lying?" Liza asked curiously.

"Miss Winda tids say me why me have wots daddies. Day say my daddy dead I say bad dad gone me have wots good daddies they say I why. Me no why, right?"

"Kiairi, come here," Owen said pushing his chair back from his desk. She got up and walked over to him. He picked her up and sat her on his desk so she could face him. "We are very proud of you for telling the truth. You are correct, you have lots of daddies and some people and kids have trouble understanding that. Most people grew up with only one or two parents so they have trouble believing that there can be more. But you right, you did not lie and that is the most important thing."

"Like I've said before," Kota chuckled softly as he sat next to Liza, "you're stuck with us now."