Staged |Jack Avery|

Forty Three: Change of plans

Three Days Later

I wake up and look around, i see the boys passed out all scattered along the floor and couches and reece standing over Zach trying to wake him up.

"Hey girly, want some help?" I ask and she nods her head and laughs

"plug his nose when he breaths in." I laugh as she does so and he jolts up in a small panic

"Nikkiiiii" He whines as he sees us both laughing 

"What! She wanted you awake." I just shrug and he pouts

The boys begin to wake up because of the noise

"Hey." I smile as Jack slightly opens his eyes 

"Time?" He asks looking at me sleepily

"Time to wake up." I smile looking down at him

"No." He pouts as he buries his face in the blanket

"Yes! Today's the day we head back, remember?" I ask and he just groans 

"I knowwww." He whines as he gets up

"Besides i'm sure angel is wondering where we are and why we left. She hasn't texted me at all, she just leaves me on seen. She's mad." I sigh as i check my phone 

"No she's just giving you space, she's been texting me." Zach says through a yawn

"What do you mean? What'd you tell her?" I ask and sighs

"I just told her what was going on and why you left all of the sudden and that we all left too because we wanted to be here for you. She's not mad she's just giving you space to process i guess." Zach shrugs as he speaks then walks away

"She's back in town!" He yells from wherever it is he went 

"Really? Oh good." I smile as i speak 

"Here, i'll put all the pillows away. Jonah, Dani, Get the blankets." Corbyn stretches as he speaks and begins to put up pillows 

We get everything organized and situated, Mama wakes up along with the boys and we have breakfast.

As were sitting at the table eating the doorbell rings

"He- oh, Cindy! Come in, have some breakfast." Myta smiles as she opens the door and invites her in

"Thank you, myta! But i actually just came over to say goodbye to the kids, i know they're leaving today." She smiles as she looks at us

"Thank you." I smile as i walk up and hug her

"For what?" She asks in confusion with a slight laugh

"For everything. For this. For sticking around." I just shrug and she smiles

"Anytime, Honey." She assures be as the boys come running in

"Mom!!" They yell in unison 

Mom?

"Mom... have they always called you that?" I ask as i look at the boys, an almost sad look to my face

"Oh, uh, yeah..." She says as she looks at them sadly before telling them to go with Jack

"They  were so young when Nicole died that they never really had the chance to remember her...  And i've been around forever, i started as the nanny when they were only around two and here i am now. I guess they just assumed and honestly i didn't have the heart to tell them otherwise. I know i'm not their mother, nor could i ever or want to replace her, but they never had a father either. He was there but never there, if that makes sense. I always thought of them as my own, loved them, loved you like it. So i just let them think it." She gives me a sad, yet anxious smile 

"I, um... i... Thank  you." I once again pull her into a hug and she laughs a little

"You don't have to thank me for everything, Nik. It was my pleasure to do whatever i could for you guys." She smiles as she releases the hug  and the boys run back

"Mom! You pack?" Mason asks as he smiles up at Cindy 

"Pack? For what?" She questions him with a smile and he gives her a confused look

"Nikki said california." He says in a duh tone 

"I- oh..." We look at each other in slight panic

Did they think Cindy was coming with? Oh who am i kidding, they think she's their mom, of course they thought she was coming. How do i tell them she's not? how do i-

I'm taken from my thoughts when Jack pulls me aside 

"Jack, what do i do? They... they think she's their mom. Which is great! But how do i, what if i... what do i do? If they want to stay i can't make them go, i'm not going to take them away from the only parent they've ever had..." I try to find just one question to ask but it's impossible 

"Um..." He stops for a moment and thinks, you can practically see the light bulb go off in his head before walking to the boys

"Hey, Kyle, Mason, Come here for a sec." He smiles at the boys as he kneels down to their level

"Your mom isn't coming with us, Guys. She has to stay here, with her job and her family." Jack says looking at the boys for a response 

"... But Nikki said move." Mason says with sadness in his eyes

"I know, bud. But mama Cindys staying here. Now, before you get upset, i have a question for you, Okay?" Jack asks sweetly and they both nod

"Do you want to stay here, with Cindy? Go to the same school, stay in the same area, and what not with mom? Or do you want to go to California with your sister and I?" He asks and the boys expressions go from curious to panicked in a matter of seconds

"Hey, it's okay don't worry. Whatever you choose, we'll all still be happy. Okay? You do what you want." I reassure them and they just stand for a moment, looking between us all then at each other 

"I... I wanna stay. Be with mom." Kyle says as he looks to the ground thinking he's disappointed me

"I- I do too." Mason agrees as a tear  falls from his face 

"Hey, why are you crying?" I ask and pull them into a hug

"We make you upset, we chose wrong." Mason says sadly 

"Oh, no! Baby, whatever you choose is right. If you wanna stay with mom, then you can stay. You're not hurting my feelings at all." I reassure them and a small smile grows on each of their faces 

"Well, Cindy. Looks like they wanna stay with their mom." I smile as i look at the sheer joy on her face

"If you ever need anything, just call us. Okay?" Jack smiles as he speaks to Cindy

"Thank you. And i will! You guys be safe out there in LA." She wipe a few tears as she speaks 

"We will." I reassure her as the boys come running back with as much of their stuff as they can carry 

"We ready!" They yell happily and head for the door

"So am I." Cindy smiles. She says her goodbyes and heads next door with the boys 

As they leave my phone Buzzes, It's a text. "I'm pregnant. I'm so sorry."  

I quickly put my phone away and masque any emotion i may have shown before turning back to jack 

"Your sure you're okay with this?" Jack asks as he looks at me

"Yes, Jack. I'm perfectly fine with it. Besides... more room for us, right?" I give him a slightly forced smile and we all go back to breakfast and packing