Growing Love

18

Time have passed since that eventful Christmas. Izzy and Freddy have started setting up their own baby room next to theirs. They even added an extra crib for Nick. Freddy kept saying something about no god-son left behind. Izzy is now showing, and she looks so happy. Hungry every five seconds, but happy. Though not as happy as a grinning Freddy. I worry that his face will slip in half any day now.

James and Mickey have officially started going out, but they are taking it slow. Mainly James is. He said he wants to give Mickey time to adjust to everything, since the hospital okayed it for him to move in with us. His rooms is between James' and Freddy's, just in case. But I have noticed that his bed goes untouched a few nights. I'm glad to see things are going well for those two, looks like we worried for nothing.

"No! Baby I want red!" I covered my ears as Jenny started shouting. She and Marcus have been planning the wedding, and Jenny has become the queen of all bride-zillas. If we thought she was bad before, she set her meter at full blast. But Marcus still looks as love struck as day one. Honestly, he keeps staring at her with this love struck look in his eyes. She might as well be a walking goddess who can do no wrong. However, the wedding planner is the true saint. I think the wedding planner is unintentionally making her mad again, but she doesn't seemed faced by Jenny's welling. She just keeps smiling at the two.

"Ms. Evans. Pink is a much gentler color, and very pretty." She was holding a color sample of the pink she was telling her about. I thought it was pretty.

"Woman do I look gentle to you?!" I had to laugh at that one. Gentle is one thing Jenny is really not. "Screw it! I want tiger lilies. Fuck the roses!" I heard James yell at her to watch the language, which only made her cuss more. And that in turn caused him to cuss at her, which led to a cuss war between those two. I tuned them out as best I could, and just kept on doing what I was doing. It's the only thing we can really do to stay sane in this house sometimes. I head to my office, and finish up some leftover, ignoring the extra noise as I do.

"Carter." I looked up from my desk, and saw Ethan enter with Nick next to him. Nick has gotten used to walking more. He has even started trying to run, but he still needs some help. He doesn't fall as often as he did before, and if he does, he gets right back up.

"Dada!" I got to my knees as Nick walked to me. I caught him before he fell, and lifted him up into my arms. I kissed Ethan's lips, and we walked out the office. Our dad's took control once again. Saying they weren't ready to hand the office over just yet. I think they just don't want to feel old. That accident really scared the hell out of them, and now I fear they'll kill themselves trying to be young again. Thankfully Val keeps them in check for us.

"Are you going back to the shop?"

"Yeah, Monday morning." I can't wait to feel the oil and grease between my fingers again. Gross I know, but I don't care.

"I'm glad. You seemed to be getting a little anxious being in the office for so long." We walked passed the room Jenny, Marcus and the wedding planner were in again. I feel bad for that poor lady, but she seems like this isn't affecting her in the least. I guess she's used to crazy brides. But it worries me if Jenny isn't considered the craziest of the bunch. I kind of want to meet the one who is.

"Thank god we didn't have to deal with that." I turned to look at Ethan, who was staring at the scene in horror and sympathy. Nick was even covering his ears. He's so smart, he knows not to hear dirty words like that. I kiss his cheek, and he giggles.

"I agree." One of the entertaining things about living in a mansion like this with so many people, is that there is always something going on in the house. We passed Freddy, covered in paint after having failed to paint the baby's room. Izzy looking through a mountain of baby clothes with Val. Alastor practicing his golf swing in his office. Even when he knows Val would kill him if she saw. My old man, reading a book in his study. James, passed out at the edge of a sleeping Mickey's bed. Always something different. "Thank you again, for letting everyone move in." I kissed his lips, and then Nick started to giggle again. We both kissed his cheeks this time.

"Thank you for suggesting it." I'm really happy everyone is together. The once silent and lonely house, has become loud and lively. But that's also thanks to Jenny yelling every chance she gets. But hey, at least that's how you know this is really a home.
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Mickey

I woke and saw James sleeping at the foot of my bed. He was sitting on a chair with his head on my bed. I watched his back rise and fall from his breathing. I still don't know how someone as amazing as him can want to be with me. Or I should say, how I can be okay with it. As a little boy, I saw how people like me were treated. How people like my brother Carter were treated. They were beat, made fun of, and sometimes even killed. The memories alone still scare me, and it makes me worried about how people will act when they see me with James.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" I was so deep in thought, that I didn't even notice he had woken up. He pushed my hair away from my face, and kissed my forehead. Little things like this almost make me forget my fears. And the feel of his big hands on my head make me feel so safe with him, that it makes all the fears seem meaningless.

"N-n-nothing." I don't want him to think I don't care for him. While the thought of getting hurt does scare me. The thought of losing him terrifies me more. And that's a feeling I know all too well.

"Hmm. Well, if you're sure." I hate lying. "You wanna try walking again?" I nod my head and he helps me to my feet. Dad had a my room set up with some medical equipment. After waking from my coma, I realized my legs wouldn't work right. They said that because I was not using them for so long, my legs became weak. So I am learning to use them again. "That's it. You're doing better Mickey." I can see the encouragement in his face, but that did little to boost my strength.

"I-i-i am, g-g-getting ti-ti-tired." I still can't do it for long. Even with the aid of the equipment. He comes, and helps me back on my chair. He kisses my lips, and my cheeks start to feel warm. Wrong or not, it feels right. But there is something I need to ask someone right now. "C-c-can i-i s-s-speak to m-m-my bro-bro-brother?"

"Of coarse you can silly. Freddy should be in his room with Izzy." I shook my head. That caught him by surprise, but his face looked so cute when it did. "No? Then do you mean, Carter?" I slowly nodded my head. It's strange, since I have only ever spoken to Carter a few times. Even though he is now my brother, and we live together. "Uh, sure. I think he is in his office. I'll take you."

He wheeled me to the elevator they had built for me. And apparently Freddy and Jenny as well, who became lazy with the stairs once it was made. He knocked on the door, and Carters low 'come in' was heard. He opened the door, and there he was with Nick on his play mat. It still amazes me that a man as big and scary looking as him, is actually really kind and gentle. His smile changes his features, and makes him look almost child-like. It's not hard to see why so many people want him. "Hey you two, this is a surprise. What do you, Nick don't bite that, what do you need?" He pulled a toy car out of Nick's mouth as he spoke. Never really taking his eyes off of us. His daddy skill were on point.

"Actually. Your brother wanted to speak to you." I felt nerves as he said that. I am still getting used to calling him that myself. But I don't know how Carter feels about it. He may not even really like me calling him that. I looked up, and see him smile, which helps to calm me down. I guess that gives me my answer.

"Sure thing. James, can you watch Nick for me?" I watch as he goes to pick Nick up. He kisses me on his way out, and I hear him shut the door. I look to Carter, and he is sitting on one of the couches in his office. "So, what's up?" Should I be nerves? There's no backing out now. I hope I can do this without stuttering too much. But one look from his smiling calms my nerves, and reaffirms me. I can do this.