Shameless, Reckless Love (GirlxGirl)

Part 2: Chapter 13

The Gallaghers have never experienced what people have called the "normal" family lifestyle. A life where the kids were able to sit down to a hot dinner, watch classic family movies together, or even being able to be tucked in at night for bed. But, somehow, Mel was able to give the kids a taste of what that life was like.

He was behaving with extreme responsibility for the time he was staying. It surprised both Eden and Fabian each time they'd arrive home to see Mel cleaning, or doing laundry. Eden believes that his generosity will run out, but Fabian, on the other hand, was becoming more faithful. This was different as well.

Thursday afternoon, Eden storms into her house, slamming the back door behind her. Her afternoon had been a bad one, but she couldn't even focus on that clearly since there were huge boxes surrounding the couch and TV in the living room. Eden's mouth gaps open a bit at the sight of Mel rummaging through them all, and sees Declan sitting on the only empty space on the couch. There were boxes full of action figures, toy cars, and plastic, gigantic dinosaurs. Eden was convinced that the whole Toys R' Us was robbed by Mel.

Mel finally notices Eden standing in the middle of his big mess.

"Oh, hey, sweetheart!" Mel excitedly says. He had been saying those words to Eden for almost a week by now. Eden let it come to her naturally.

"Hi, Eden." Declan then says, picking up one of the cars. Eden raises her eyebrow, still wondering if she walked into the right house.

"What's with all the toys? I can't even see the floor." Eden says, getting straight to the point.

"Oh, this!" Mel says, looking around. "Well, I know I missed Declan's birthday the day I left. Or a couple of birthdays." Mel adds. "So I decided to buy him a little something!"

"A little something?" Eden asks, looking around at all the clutter.

"There were so many things to choose." Mel explains further. He was so excited that he just about sounded out of breath. "So, we pretty much got 'em all!" Mel says excitedly.

"Yeah, thanks, Dad." Declan says, but it sounds too forced. Poor Declan, Eden thinks. "I'll get the other load." Declan then says, and gets off the couch and steps around the mess as if the floors were covered in mines.

"Wait, there's more of all this?" Eden asks. Suddenly, Declan makes his way to Eden, and pulls her arm to take her to the side.

"I really didn't have the heart to tell him I don't play with wrestlers or dinosaurs anymore!" Declan speaks in a whisper. Eden chuckles slightly. "I mean seriously! He left when I was 6. I'm starting to think that he thinks I'm still that same age."

"What's going on with him?" Eden asks, sneaking a peek at Mel, who is still looking thrilled with all of the boxes.

"I know right! This house is so different now. And I don't even know if I mean that in a good, or bad way." Declan says, slightly concerned.

"C'mon, Declan, go and get the other bag. It should be in the trunk." Mel says in his hyper tone.

"Trunk of what?" Eden then asks Declan anxiously.

"His car." Declan replies.

"Car?" Eden asks. Declan shrugs, feeling the same kind of confusion, and then he walks out the front door. "You bought a car." Eden says, making it more of an unbelievable statement rather than a question. Mel somehow doesn't catch on though. There was something extremely off about everything in the house. The culprit of it all undoubtedly pointed to Mel.