Walking Fragile Lines

Silver Linings

It was a Saturday evening and Brian was setting up his living room ready for a movie night with the kids. He had three separate bowls set out across the coffee table with candy, popcorn and chips, a cosy blanket ready and draped across the couch and he had three movies for them to choose from.

"Guys! Movie night commences in 10 minutes!", he called as he sat down. Zac was the first to appear, looking a little shifty Brian thought, as he stood in front of the TV set twiddling his thumbs. "Everything okay buddy?", Brian asked. Zac only shrugged his shoulders silently. "What is it Zac?", Brian asked further.

"Maci doesn't wanna", Zac finally told him. Brian furrowed his brow, wondering what was wrong as he got up off the couch.

"Pick a movie buddy, I'll be back in a sec", he said as he headed to his daughter's room.

Knocking before entering, Brian poked his head around Maci's door to find her curled up in a ball on the top of her bed, her knees right up to her chest and she had a look of great discomfort on her face.

"Zac said you didn't wanna watch a movie", Brian said as he entered her room. "Everything okay cutie?", he asked.

"I have a tummy ache", she said sadly, furrowing her brow as she became a little upset.

"Oh sweetie", Brian sighed as he sat on the end of her bed, placing a caring hand on her lower leg as he smiled sadly. "It's okay. Let me check your temperature", he said. Maci nodded as Brian got up and made his way to his own bedroom, taking out a thermometer he kept in his bedside drawer before heading back and sticking it in Maci's mouth. "Well, you're not burning up. Do you feel like you're gonna throw up or anything?", he asked her as he gently ran his fingers through her hair. Maci simply shook her head. "I'm gonna give you some medicine anyway to see if that helps and you try and get some sleep for me, okay?", he told her. Maci silently nodded as she sniffed, not even flinching as her father disappeared to get her some medicine before giving it to her and kissing her goodnight.

The next day, Maci seemed to be in better spirits and Brian was convinced the medicine and a good nights sleep had done the trick. He was on his way to drop the kids off back with their mom before heading off into the city to film a challenge with the guys.

"Mama!", Zac greeted Liv excitedly, as he always did, running towards her before hugging her, careful to avoid her bump as he was a little perturbed by it.

"Hey little bear!", Liv grinned, managing to lift him up so that she could kiss his cheek. "Did you have a good time with your dad?", she asked. Zac nodded happily.

"We watched X-Men", he told her proudly.

"Wow!", Liv responded, matching his enthusiasm. Brian could stand and watch them like this all day, he thought to himself as he smiled warmly at Liv with their son. Putting Zac down, Liv turned her attention to Maci who had silently perched herself on the arm of the sofa. "Maci honey, are you okay?", she asked, approaching their eldest child. "You look a little peaky", she said, feeling her forehead.

"I'm okay", Maci muttered. Brian really had thought she had perked up a little, but Liv was right, she did look a little peaky.

"Come say goodbye to your old man before you go ahead and put your stuff away guys!", Brian suddenly interrupted. Zac threw himself at his father, allowing him to scoop him up for a hearty hug and a kiss on the cheek. Maci then dragged her feet over, wrapping her arms snugly around him as she rested her head against his stomach for a moment. "Take it easy if you're not feeling so good, okay?", he told her. Maci simply nodded as Brian kissed the top of her head before he watched his children disappear up the stairs with their overnight bags in tow.