The Book Of Me & You

"Let Go Like I Hold Tight - Sell Myself A Bad Lie"

Now knowing something was amiss, he took another step forward, brows knitted, and voice starting to get rougher, "Tell me what - what's going on?" Not waiting for the answer, he took off into the living room, stopping dead in his tracks when he reached the hutch.

It was like a dream. The familiarity sending all kinds of emotions and thoughts through him.

"Da!" Emma squealed tiredly, reaching out towards him, snapping him out of the trance.

He blinked a few times to register what his eyes were witnessing to make sure it wasn't going to disappear right in front of him.

Amy moved some hair away from her eyes, turning around, and giving a sheepish smile as she blushed at the sight of him, "...Hey, Ricky..."

His breath hitched, swallowing roughly as he countered the greeting, "... yeah... hey..." Emma reached for him again, both arms outstretched as she whimpered. Hiking her further up her hip, Amy moved in, exchanging the baby awkwardly into his arms; their hands brushing briefly at the handoff. He swallowed again, feeling a slight tightening below, "What are you doing here?"

She sighed, pushing on her lower back with her left hand, while her right flipped the hair from her eyes, "I can't just come see our kids?"

"Uh-huh..." Ricky replied skeptical, moving the baby from his left arm to his right. Amy shifted her feet on the carpet. "Does John know?" Shaking her head, she opened her mouth to speak but closed it just as quickly. He nodded, taking a few steps toward the staircase, "Good, let me go upstairs and tell him - I think he should hear it from me-" But before he could finish his sentence, or turn around to step onto the first step, squeaky footsteps clomped down the hall quickly.

Stopping in his tracks, John cocked his head at the brunette at the bottom of the stairs before his eyes widened, "MOMMMYYYYYY!" And he ran full sprint-screaming - colliding into the back of her legs and grasping them for dear life.

She chuckled, almost falling back from the force of his body smacking into hers, "Hey buddy!" Lifting him into her arms, she kissed his cheek, "I missed you!"

Ricky's lip tipped up slightly, seeing their son grasp onto her neck as he repeatedly placed chicken-peck kisses on her cheek; the sight shooting a pain through him.

Following behind on John's heels, Robbie grinned, running to his niece who was being held by one of his favorite people, "Wicky! Wicky!" He squealed, wrapping his small arms around his right leg in a hug.

Ricky smiled back at him, "Hey, little man -" holding out his hand for a high-five, which Robbie gladly accepted with a hearty slap to his palm.
-----------------------------

Closing the door behind him, "Why do you look like that?" His brow furrowed, watching as Kathleen stood by the kitchen island, biting her nails, "What happened?"

Unstuffing his hands from his pockets, "Y-ou did it!" Tom shouted, pointing at him.

"What are you talking about?"

Lowering her hand to her neck, her eyes cut towards the living room, sighing, "Amy is here..."

George's eyes widened, flying past her in a huff with his hands clutched at his sides. Stepping into the living room, he paused by the couch, pushing his tongue into his cheek at the two of them standing in awkward, tension-filled silence. "Ames..." He deadpanned, keeping his eyes directly on her

Amy clicked her tongue, "Dad..."

Sensing trouble, Kathleen ran into the room, putting her hand on George's shoulder, and looking between the three young children present in the room, "Why don't we go into the kitchen and get some of those cookies I made yesterday?" She suggested, taking hold of Robbie's hand, as George took the baby from Ricky, lingering a moment. "John, are you coming?" Shaking his head, John burrowed it into Amy's shoulder, holding her neck tighter - afraid that if he let go, she'd be gone again. "I have ones with big chocolate chips - the soft kind too..." Kathleen continued, softening her eyes at them.