One Day at a Time - (Season One)

Chapter Seven: Fear & Forgiveness

Lukas' plead seemed to dissipate the remaining hostility like water on fire.

In Alicia's defense, the younger teen seemed rather ashamed to have gone off on her brother about the 'unfairness of his friend's arrival' in front of a scared little kid. The youngest Clark probably hadn't even noticed that Marty's little brother was in her arms until he spoke up. In a fit of what was probably a mixture of embarrassment and anger, Alicia ended up stomping into her room with Mrs. Clark hot on her heels.

Nick simply ignored the chaos, and let himself plop down on the couch from the armrest before shutting his eyes tiredly. Lukas was starting to get really heavy in her arms... but Marty really didn't really feel comfortable letting him roam around the Clark's household, especially after finding out that Nick hadn't even let his family know that they would be joining them. They were quite literally the most unwelcomed guests right now, and despite the--situation going on outside, Marty had a sinking feeling that she would have to once more travel the roads with her brother to find safety. Maybe this had all been a mistake.

"Sit with me..." Nick spoke in a soft manner, whirling Marty out of her thoughts as he patted the spot beside him.

Marty sighed but did as he said, sinking into the soft cushions. Lukas shifted on her lap so that he was now looking at Nick, but continued cuddling against her--content to stay as close as possible to her. He must have been really scared of Mr. Peters.

She'd been scared too. Marty was still sca-

"How- How have you been?" Nick's dark brown eyes were piercing as he quietly observed her.

She couldn't help but wonder what he saw. Did he see the bags forming under her eyes or how tired she was? Had he noticed the belly that was forming under her sweater despite her arms and legs being more toned than ever? Did he hate her new haircut? It was a big change from the long dark locks that had once reached the small of her back, now it was even shorter than the neck-length mane of hair that Nick was sporting. Had he missed her? Did he hate her for throwing him out? Was it only the years of loyalty that made him call Marty and warn her of the shit show that was happening outside?

"I've been better." she admitted after a moment. Marty hummed nervously and softly scratched her nails on against Lukas's scalp--her brother predictably shuddered before melting against her, "We saw one of our neighbors in the parking garage. He had a bunch of blood on his... person."

It had been everywhere, really. Seeping from his shirt, making it stick to his skin, his hands dripping with it, and it'd been smeared all around his mouth--something had been hanging from the corner of his lips, like a chunk- a chunk of flesh.

Nick stiffened, his entire body coiled, as he stared at her intensely, "What happened? Did he hurt you?"

"No." Marty denied immediately, she kept her finger running lightly through her brother's locks, "I got in the car before he got too close. But he was banging on the windows before I peeled outta there. Scared us, right Lukas?" Marty asked her baby brother in a soft voice. Nick had relaxed at the denial, but he didn't look happy.

Lukas nodded, "Yeah. I didn' like it." his body had stiffened a little, but the continuous motions of her fingers relaxed him once more.

"I can only imagine squirt," Nick placated, he gently ran his hand down Lukas's arm until he was holding the smaller hand in his own, "You've been pretty brave today, huh?"

"Yeah," Lukas agreed seriously, "I gotta be. 'Cause I need to protect the babies."

Great.

One of Nick's eyebrows rose incredulously, "Babies?" a side of his lips quirked, finding amusement in her brother's seemingly non-sequitur, "What babies squirt?"