The Things You Give

Part 39

5 months later...

"Steven, honey, are you almost ready?" Y/n called from the across their apartment. She had been in the living room, finishing packing hers and the twins' suitcases. The babies laid on the floor beside her, playing with toys and giggling. "We're gonna miss our flight!"

"Yeah, I'm coming," he announced and walked out of their shared bedroom with a bag slung over his shoulder.

She finished zipping up the suitcases and looked up to see his small bag plopping down beside hers. "This is all you're bringing?"

"Yeah? I'm a guy, babe, we don't need much," Hyde responded and sat down on the couch.

"We're going to be gone for two weeks. You're going to need more than just a few T-shirts and a couple pair of jeans."

"Hey, I also got socks and underwear in there, too," he said. "Besides, they've got a washing machine that we can use."

"Okay, but we're driving the El Camino back and it took us fifteen hours last time. So, pack at least a few more shirts and another pair of pants."

Hyde rolled his eyes at her. "Okay, mom."

"Steven!"

"Okay, okay, geez," he said, chuckling and stood to go back to the bedroom. "Ever since you became an official college student, all you've been is nag, nag, nag."

"Nag?!" she laughed at his joke attempt. "How have I been a nag?"

"You know, you come home from class, and I hear, 'Steven, you didn't take dinner out like I asked.' And, 'Steven, don't play with the babies like that, they're still really fragile.'"

"Hey, if I ask you on your day off to take chicken out of the freezer at noon and I come home at five, and it's still not out, yeah I'm gonna nag," she said lightheartedly.

"Hey, my hours aren't as consistent at this store like the other one was."

"It's the same store!" she argued. "You just opened a new location! With the help of Angie!"

"It's not my fault this store is a lot busier than the one in Wisconsin!"

"Are you seriously complaining about getting more money?"

"No," he said causally and came back out with a few more shirts and a pair of jeans in hand. "What I'm complaining about is I have to see Angie more than before now."

"Hey, be grateful you're actually having help managing the store," Y/n responded and grabbed Kat to put her jacket on her. "At least Donna and Randy are handling the store well."

"Speaking of, did Donna say anything about Randy?" he asked and grabbed Leo to help dress him as well.

"She did. Not much of besides he reminds her a lot of Eric...and not in a good way," she laughed. "He's a nerd, but—"

"No, I don't care if she's jumping his nerd bones," Steven said, cutting her off. "I mean between her and Markus."

She gave him a look. "Steven Hyde, do you care about our friends?"

"No," he said bluntly. "I just want to hear the drama so I can laugh at them."

"Uh-huh sure," she laughed. "No, nothing has happened since the funeral. But, she and Jackie are on speaking terms again."

"What about her and Markus?"

"From what Donna told me, they're talking again, but taking it slow."

"So, they're back together?"