Haunted

"So you lied." - UNEDITED

Disclaimer: This chapter has not been edited from the original as posted on JBFF. There will be mistakes, typos, continuity problems and other issues.

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"This is Aiden Bieber's first season in San Diego and-"

Maddox didn't catch the rest of what the announcer had to say. He had to focus on Emma who was telling him all about the day she spent with Kylie. Though Emily and Kylie were happy being "special" aunts, they each had a close relationship with Emma and Avery. Emma looked more and more like Kylie the older she got.

"Look," Emma held her wrist out so Maddox could see the stack of silver bracelets. "She bought me three more."

"That was really nice of her," Maddox tried not to cringe. The bracelets had probably cost Kylie $75 each. "You better take really good care of those."

"Obviously," Emma rolled her eyes. "I won't get to see Aunt Kylie like ever when we move."

"Yes, you will," Maddox promised. "We'll make sure. She can come visit us or you can visit her."

"I can't hear!" Avery shouted. "Can you go away?"

"Be nice," Maddox ordered.

"Dad," Avery gave him a serious look. "I need to know what's happening. They don't teach this in school."

"Thank god," Emma said. "I hate sports."

"Football is my life," Avery looked so offended.

"Is it now?" Maddox laughed.

"Yes, I'm going to play when I get older," Avery said. "I just need a girlfriend first. Or a boyfriend."

"You make no sense," Emma said.

"Look," Avery pointed to the TV. Chelsea was sitting in the stands with a few of the other players' wives and girlfriends. "Uncle Aiden has Aunt Chelsea to be there when he plays. I need that too, that's how it works."

"You don't need anyone but yourself," Maddox said. "If you find a girl you like, or a boy, great, but right now I think you should stick to football."

"Uhuh," Avery said but he'd gone back to watching the game so Maddox figured he hadn't really heard him.

"Okay, Em, I have to switch the laundry," Maddox said, standing up. Emma followed him, back to talking about Kylie and their shopping trip.

"Do you think Avery is gay?" Emma asked a few minutes later. She was helping Maddox fold clothes.

"No," Maddox said. "I think he just says stuff about boys to see how I'll react."

"But what if he was gay?" Emma asked.

"That would be a surprise, but obviously Dad and I would be totally fine with it," Maddox said. "It might be nice for him if he was because I know Colin thinks we can't help him with girls and I don't want Avery to think that too."

"Colin doesn't need help," Emma rolled her eyes. "Girls love him."

"That's because you and your sisters have him trained," Maddox smiled. He had a feeling Colin hadn't yet figured out that the girls always hanging around him wanted more than to be friends.

"Dad, what if I hate New York?" Emma asked. "Can I come back and live with Kylie?"

"Was that Kylie's idea?" Maddox glanced at Emma.

"She said maybe," Emma said. "What if I don't like it? Or my new school?"

"If you hate it, we'll figure something out," Maddox said. "But we'd never take you if we thought you would hate it, Em. I think you're gonna love it. You've always liked it when we went on vacation."