Tarlos: We're A Family, All Four Of Us

Part 5

Trigger warning: mention drug abuse, implied death 

I have been dedicating so much thought to all kinds of different streams from this storyline and I am unbelievably proud of how this and the next few chapters turned out.

They slammed the car door shut looking up at the looming school, students eating outside on their lunch because it was such a good day. "Ah you must be Mr Strand and Mr Reyes, Louise's parents," "Yes pleased to meet you," "Her records state she has a history of seizures but a cause hasn't been found," "We have their suspicions and we are working with her doctors," Carlos smiled squeezing TK's hand, "What are those suspicions? I assure you it will not leave this room," TK looked uncomfortable and looked for help in Carlos, "Hey its up to you," "I found out I was pregnant in rehab doing a drugs wipe, I was 12 weeks. I had no clue till then and am clean still currently with minor hiccups along the road. My ex her biological father smashed my head into the fire engine at 15 weeks pregnant and she was abused without my knowledge by him till I gained custody," "That would explain a lot of it. She's been having what we refer to as sensory outbursts, as a school we would like to get her tested for Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. Has she had any violent outbursts at home?" That question threw them off, she hadn't or at least not to there knowledge, "No not to our knowledge I'll ask our babysitter," TK called the nanny a wonderful woman who was a huge help, "She says that she has issues when coming home from school," he listened again, "Roxi I'm so sorry we will be dealing with it I assure you," TK hung up fumbling with his phone, "She's been throwing toys, food, Roxi never mentioned it to us as Louise always apologises with Harper's encouragement and thought it was just childish outbursts."

That rocked TK, he didn't know of any of it, he didn't know his Louise. Carlos was rubbing his back the entire time as they talked, shutting the car door TK broke down in the car he didn't want Carlos seeing him like this so he swallowed his pride and packed it all in.

Anyways happy news they were having the grandparents over tonight to ask Gabriel and Owen to be there best men and also to tell them plus Andrea that they were having a baby. Carlos was incredibly protective that evening, the girls were busy playing so the adults had a shower together, "Today was yeah," "Yeah lets forget it and focus on tonight for a bit. Your dad Carlos is going to be over the moon I swear," "And my mamá we'll be over the moon about the grand baby might want to wear something that can hide and show the bump at the same time," Carlos leaned down to cup TK's small bump and kiss it, "How far along now," "Bump will be visible by wedding and honeymoon," "Two weeks to ourselves without the kids," "I know is it wrong to be excited?" TK pulled on a t-shirt then did Carlos's buttons kissing him after each one.

Grandparents and Kendra Harrington let themselves in making them all jump, "Grandad, grandpa, abuela!" Harper smiled, "Who are you?" Harper added, Louise stayed quiet deciding to keep playing with her Playmobil, "Louise come give us a hug," Andrea smiled, Louise just ignored her, "Mamá leave it we'll explain later," Carlos burst out saying dragging TK out behind him. It was a little awkward, TK put headphones on Louise and gave her a squishy instead of ripping heads off of toys, she was extremely clingy towards TK, "Do you want to go to bed?" TK whispered in her ear, Louise nodded letting TK pick her up and take to her room. "So whats up with Louise then?" "Don't worry about it, anyways Kenda, Ms Harrington nice to meet you," Carlos nervously spoke as TK rushed to set an extra plate, "Kendra's fine, your girls are wonderful by the way," "Pleased to meet you," Harper giggled, "Louise come meet Kendra!" She yelled again, just like that Louise appeared, "What the hell?!" Owen gasped, "We have no idea how she does it," TK sighed as Louise ran over to meet Kendra. "How about some happier news?" Carlos smiled interrupting, "What could be happier than being at your side at the wedding?" "Well papa, mamá, Owen, Kendra now, TK you tell them," "We're pregnant," faces lit up, "Tyler Kennedy you sneaky son of a gun," Owen laughed standing up to hug his son. Andrea went straight for the bump as called for. "Hi baby I'm your a abuela your going to be so spoilt," "What about us?" The girls bluntly spat out, "You two are already spoilt by your grandparents," "Don't let this become a competition, you three please," "We've been through the rings haven't we," Owen and Gabriel added, the children face planted.

"So do you to know the gender?" Kendra asked while they were eating, "No they don't we wanna know if we're having a brother or sister but they won't tell us," Louise spat out, "Lou," TK whispered, he continued talking quietly in her ear, no one could hear, Carlos and Harper were pretending this was normal, "TK you eat," Carlos retorted taking over putting reason in Louise's head. Andrea put them to bed about an hour later, so the adults could talk, "Whats up with Louise?" Gabriel repeated again, "Behaviour issues that has presented recently. Her school thinks she on the autism spectrum plus the behaviour and attitude issues," "Do you know what caused it, please don't say it's from my crappy genes," Owen laughed, "No dad, it's my fault entirely. For fucks sake I found out I was pregnant in rehab, I was doing opioids for 3 months before I found out," "That explains a lot," Gabriel sniggered, "Whats that supposed to mean?!" Carlos snapped, "Son, I was just-," "Dad you laughed in a way that implied that it didn't surprise you," "Carlos honey that's enough," "No TK it's not," "Carlos outside now," TK ordered.

The grandparents let themselves out as the two scrapped out. Didn't progress to more than whisper shouts and Carlos ended up sleeping on the girls bedroom floor, "Carlos your hair looks a mess, your usually one of the sharpest dressed," Veronica laughed in the locker room, the rest of the officers were listening in, "Uh oh are you in the doghouse with your fiancé?" Crews asked teasingly, "I slept on the floor of my daughters' room so most definitely," "On top of it all TK is pregnant," "Ouch Reyes what the hell did you do?!" "I told me dad off because he implied that TK is still doing drugs, TK didn't see it that way/didn't want to start a fight," "Fuck this on break I am marching you tail between your legs if I have to, you two are talking this out. If not for me but for Tarlos, for your girls, for your baby," Veronica announced trying to grab the 6'1 Carlos by his ear.

Walking into the 126 when everyone knows what happened was stiff, "Hey baby can we talk?" Carlos asked softly, "Okay," he took Carlos's arm leading him up to the bunk room for privacy, "I came to sort last night out, I couldn't sit by while my dad insulted you like that but I should have followed your lead," "I'm sorry for going off on you when you were protecting me, oh hello," "Who are you talking to?" TK grabbed Carlos's hand and pressed it to his belly, he felt the movement in TK's belly, "Oh my god," "Louise never moved this early," TK sighed teary eyed, "Great timing baby, so we're good?" "We're good, you need to call your dad later," "Yeah later though."

TK was playing with the girls while Carlos made the phone call, "Hey mamá!" Carlos called down the phone, "Carlitos your father has been in a temper with his tuxedo," "Can you put him on the phone a minute?" "Yeah sure," "Hey son whats up?" "I wanted to apologise for blowing up but not for what I said," "I know son, your protective of TK and I get that," "Finally my boys have apologised, he's spent the last hour searching then squeezing into that suit!" Andrea laughed, the doorbell rang, "That must be your flowers," Andrea called over to Gabriel as he answered the door.