Smile (Kris Bryant)

Chapter Twenty Nine| Tight Knit Family

Alexandria

"You're cheating" my sister yells trying to knock the controller out of my hand as I try to catch my breath from laughing so hard.

"How do you cheat in Wii bowling" I ask and she finally lets me go.

"I don't know. But this is fake bowling, you're freakishly strong physique shouldn't give you advantage here" she claims and I shake my head.

"Don't be a sore loser" I tease and she sticks her tongue out at me. How mature?

After the Cubs got taken care of in four straight games with the Mets we got moved into our new house. Things finally started to settle down and I was excited to start a new chapter in our life. It gave Kris a chance to cool down and take his mind off things and me a chance to move forward. We didn't have to do much to the house but bring over our personal things but we've been busy adding our own touches to the place. It didn't take but three trips in both of our cars to fill this house up. The place was fully furnished so it was just a lot of clothes and stuff for the kitchen from our end. I was still working on the basement and it was about halfway done so no one was allowed down here quite yet. But it was almost halloween and I hadn't seen my family in a while so Kris and I invited them over. He liked talking to my brother anyway and it gave me time to catch up with my sister.

After a few games my brother and Kris take over and play and my sister and I join my parents on the back porch. They were enjoying the quiet and the view of Wrigley from here. It was a warm October night so we could sit outside in whatever clothes we were wearing and just stare out at the sights.

"This view is killer" my dad says as I sit next to him.

"It was one of the many reasons we wanted this house" I admit.

"Hell, I want this house" my sister claims.

"I'm sure you do" I say patting her knee. She goes inside to use the bathroom and get a refill of water and my mom sits next to me on the porch. She scoots in close and I can tell she was about to say something.

"You know, it's been really nice seeing you these past few months" my mom starts and I groan. I know where this conversation is going. I hated having this conversation but it was a important one to have, no matter how much I disliked it.

"I'm serious Al. I've seen you more in the last six months than the last six years. We missed you... so much" she claims.

"I missed you guys too. And it's not like I didn't want to see you guys. I just... I just couldn't" I sigh.

"I know honey. It was just hard, not only for you but for all of us. The only time we could talk to you is if we called Spencer first. Even then you would actually speak to us but once a month, if that. We never know if you were alive or okay or going to be okay. It was scary. I just don't want to lose you again" she says grabbing my hand and rubbing the back of it.

"I'm not going anywhere mom. I am free from all of that. Spencer will always be in my head, taunting me, reminding me that I have failed so many times before. Yet I'm no longer a victim of that hell house. I have a new house that I can actually make a home and just look at this place. I share the bed with an amazing guy who does entirely too much to take care me. He has shown me such an immense amount of love in a short amount of time, I have no doubts that things are only going up. I no longer have to clean my own blood off the floor or off the walls. I don't cry myself to sleep at night. I talk to you guys daily and see everyone all the time. It's nothing like that anymore. And I know you're still scared, I am too. I always will be. But Kris is more that good for me. I can't explain it" I say starting to get all flustered.

"That's true love. It's scary and exciting and so much more. And it's not going to be perfect but it's going to be worth it" my mom smiles.

"Thanks momma. I love you" I say leaning my head on her shoulder. She pats my leg and I smile to myself.

"So are you guys going to fill the pool up" my dad asks ruining the sweet moment. But I expect nothing less from him.

"Not until the spring. No use in filling it up now" I admit.

"I want to see the basement" my sister claims sitting down in front of me.

"No one can see it, not until it's done. Are Kris and Sam still playing in there" I ask.

"Yeah. Kris is kicking ass in there. Is all you guys do is play Wii bowling" she asks.

"No! Sometimes we do skiing" I giggle and she rolls her eyes.

After a while I order pizza and we all watch the Mets take on the Royals in the World Series. Kris claims he wants to watch it so he has motivation for next year but I'm pretty sure he just wants to watch the Mets lose. Honestly I did too.

"I hate the Mets" my dad mumbles and that makes Kris smile. I sat under his arm as my brother sat beside me. He kept smiling down at me and I really wanted to punch him in his stupid face. My dad and Kris start listing off why they hated the Mets and I confront my brother.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that" I finally ask.

"You just look really... healthy" he says and I smile.

"Aww are you getting soft on me" I tease pinching his cheek and he swats it away.

"No. I just think happiness is a good look on you" he claims and I start to blush.

"Thanks. But you're still a butt head" I assure him.

"And you're still a dweeb" he smiles.

And just like that we were on our way to being a tight knit family once again.