Drifters Bar 5

I'm first!

Rook sighed, opening his eyes, at the sound of the alarm going off. He stared at the empty spot on Pet’s pillow then at the offending alarm clock. Ty, resting right against him, made a noise and he finally moved, climbing up on his knees to get over his son in order to turn off the buzzing. Ty flailed a little but soon settled, sprawling himself across the middle of the bed.

Rook eased his bulk out of the bed, grabbing up his robe then his night pants. He put on the pants first then slipped into the robe before leaving the room to search for his wife.

The twins were still fast asleep, Sheba sitting up. Rook signaled to her to stay down and she resettled. Taking a deep breath right before the yawn, he inhaled the sweetness in the air, an aroma that reminded him of tasty crusts.

That woman, he mused, grinning while shaking his head. It wasn’t even six-thirty and he was willing to bet that she’d made another couple of pies.

Not wanting to alert her that he was awake, he went to the banister and climbed over, easing himself down so that it was only a soft drop to the carpet below. He felt the bump into his back and turned to find Sapphire blinking up at him with wide eyes.

“Shh,” he smiled down at her and then pointed at the kitchen.

Sapphire nodded, starting to giggle. “Have fun,” she whispered then pointed upstairs.

“You too,” he whispered back and headed to the kitchen.

He could hear Pet’s humming, the silly lullaby that Cutty would sing to her. He leaned against the doorway, watching her and filling with different emotions as she moved. Eating and patting her tummy that was barely noticeable, she started to giggle as she pulled something out of the pantry. Flour, he realized when she put it on the counter before just stepping into the pantry itself.

Rook stepped in, expecting to walk over and ask her what she was fixing up when he saw all the prepped crusts lining the table, stovetop and counters. Just how many pies was she intending make?

He continued over to the pantry, looking to her when she came out holding the bag of peaches they had purchased just a few days before. “You’re up?” she greeted. “Where’s Ty?” She looked past him. “You didn’t leave him upstairs all by himself, did you?”

“He’s still asleep,” he answered, taking the peaches and finding the baskets of berries on the top inside the bag. “Honey? What’s going on?”

“I ran out of apples,” she shrugged. “The lemon meringue came out perfect,” she cheered, pointing to the pies cooling on the window sill. “We’ll have to give one to Heath. Along with one of the pecan pies.”

“He’ll love that,” Rook responded before catching himself. He took in all the fruit filled pie shells then frowned at her. “You didn’t sleep, did you?”

“I tried,” she shrugged again and he saw the strain under her eyes. “Then a craving hit me.” She pointed over to the cherry pie that sat with a fork inside of the pan, almost a half of it gone. “The experiment with pears and raisins was not a success,” she frowned. “I think I almost woke Saph up.”

Rook sighed, turning and walking over to the phone. He dialed Pet’s office, directly to Amanda’s line. “It’s Rook,” he greeted after the messaging system picked up. “Pet’s taking a personal day today. Fax anything she needs to see before tomorrow. If it’s important, use the cell. Thanks.” He hung up and looked to her, almost stunned to see the surprise in her expression. “You haven’t slept, haven’t rested and you look like hell. You’re in no shape to go to work.”

“I look like hell?” she pouted then suddenly burst into tears.

Rook practically ran to her, drawing her into his arms. “Love, that’s not what I meant. You’re beautiful to me. You always are.” He waited out the torrent of tears until she settled. “I made you cinnamon raisin bread,” she sniffed at him. “I thought you’d be happy.”

“I am happy,” he assured, lifting her off her feet and carrying her over to the kitchen table, kicking out a chair to set her on. Her feet were swollen and the exhaustion was looking to get a hold of her. “I just want you to take care of yourself too.”

“Taking care of you is taking care of me,” she answered, reaching out to touch his face. “I needed to do something, Rook,” she added in a low voice. “I have all this…I don’t know what it is, pent up inside of me. It’s fear, anger, loathing, desperation…everything. They want to take our baby boy from us.” She lowered her face. “I can’t think of what to do to stop it. And I have to worry about what’s going on with Enzo and Izzy and I can’t see a way out of it.”

She shook her head, leaning forward to settle her face against his chest. “Oh, Rook,” she cried. “I don’t know what to do.”

Rook sighed, holding her and kissing her cheek. He whispered soft promises, possible lies, that it would all get better. “How about we get out of the house today?” he asked, thinking they could put off getting Ty into school for one more day. “We can go hide out at the manor, maybe do some brainstorming with the Sterlings or your father?”

“That sounds great,” she nodded but then pulled away. “But my pies,” she pouted. “They’re not done.”

Rook chuckled, thinking of the pastry boxes they had stockpiled in the pantry. “I don’t think that’ll be a problem, love.”

She sniffed and frowned up at him. “You’re having fun at my expense, aren’t you?”

“Would it make you feel better if I called Luke so he can bring Kara to the manor with him and Max?”

Her smile was instant. “Yes. Then we can talk about you while we’re in the kitchen making a mess.” She nodded. “We have boxes, don’t we?”

“Yep.” He kissed her forehead, stepping away from her. “I’ll let you finish up in here and I’ll go get Ty ready for some playtime with Max.”

“He won’t be able to play with Max all day,” Pet reminded. “Max has classes.”

“Yeah, but I’m sure we can find him a few other playmates,” Rook assured. He started out of the kitchen. “I’m going to set up the viewer so I can see that video Ears sent me.” He winked at her. “Think we have any room in here to have breakfast?”

Pet smirked at him. “You mean you want something other than pie?”

Rook laughed heading back out and up the stairs. He could already hear the babies laughing with Sapphire and could only guess that she was playing with them. As he moved past the door, he could hear her voice and almost thought he heard one of the babies make a reply.

He would have stopped but he heard Ty’s little voice. “Daddy?”

“Right here, son,” Rook spoke, stepping into his room.

Ty was sitting up in the middle of the bed, his hair standing on end in the back while the front rolled all over itself. The boy smiled and Rook couldn’t help but grin back. While wondering if there was a barber at the manor, he sat on the bed.

“I know you were looking forward to getting into a new school but there’s going to be a slight change in plans,” he began. The boy started to look disappointed. “I was thinking we could go hang out at the manor and just have a fun day until I have to go to work tonight.”

“Is Max going to be there?” he practically shouted.

Rook chuckled. This wasn’t going to be as hard as he thought.

For the new room. You da bestest.

Lovely post, Pet. Guess I'm at bat, huh?

I said AT bat. Not A bat. Just to clarify for those needing clarification.  Not that there's anything WRONG with bats. I'm just not one. Almost as blind as one, though.

Will shut up now and post cause that's why you all come here anyway, right? Not to hear me blather nonsense.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Shady tugged her helmet over her head and heeled the kickstand back before revving the engine of her bike. That had certainly been a close call. Shady prided herself on her lack of family ties. No strings. That was the rule. Tate Landrum came with a slew of strings and by d@mn he was not going to sucker her into tying one around her.

Breakfast indeed.

As she raced across town toward her shack, she wondered what the hell she was going to do that day. Rafe, obstinate b@sta@rd, would probably send her home again after that disgusting little display of weakness the day before. And her temporary distraction had morphed into hearth and home.

She still couldn’t believe she’d let a kill get to her that way. She hadn’t reacted so poorly in ten years. Not since her first—a slimy little techno-weasel who’d hacked into the government database and threatened to expose all the CIA operatives within it unless his ransom was met. Fifty million, her @$$. They never had found his body, she thought proudly. In hindsight, she supposed she should have disposed of Dean in a likewise manner. She’d stupidly assumed she wouldn’t need to clean up her mess. Just one more indication that she was ready to throw in the towel. She was getting sloppy.

Now she had a hellova mess on her hands and at least one unhappy boss. Her other boss didn’t give sh**. Not that he knew who she really was or that she’d been behind his old buddy’s death.

Rolling to a stop in front of her shack, she killed the engine and knocked the kickstand back down before climbing off and removing her helmet. The man sitting on her porch registered in her brain but her hand was already moving toward her favorite knife before he moved.

“Is that the same knife you used to kill Velmont Dean?” he drawled, causing her to pause before she cold throw it at him.

Hanging her helmet on the handlebars, she clutched the handle of the knife and stalked toward the man. Standing at the edge of her porch she realized she recognized him from Drifters. One of Rafe’s new extended family. And the guy who’d been so d@mn curious about her bike, she recalled.

“Do you always skulk around women’s porches accusing them of murder or am I just special?”

He didn’t so much as blink. “Did you kill Mav, too?”

Mav, she let the name roll around in her head for a moment before it smacked her across the face. Maverick Charmichael, the man she’d only known as Mizery until he’d been “burned.” The man she’d loved but had never really known, as it turned out.

She knew it would be pointless to deny that she’d known Miz…err, Maverick. The man in front of her had obviously recognized the bike as having been Miz’s—the knife, too, if he was here confronting her about killing Dean.

“What’s it to you if I did?” she mouthed off.

“You’d be surprised what exactly it is to me.”

Trying to recall all Miz had ever revealed to her about his super secret past, sudden realization made her pause in her steps. “You’re Blackwind, aren’t you?”

“Delsin Blackwind,” he nodded once, rising from the step he’d been occupying. “Want to tell me how you ended up with his knife if you didn’t kill him?”

Shaking the cobwebs from her suddenly overtaxed brain, Shady sheathed her knife and continued up the porch steps until she stood toe to toe with the man Miz had once told her he’d considered a brother.

“I took it before the cleaners could get to it. Same as the bike.”

His brow creased, and Delsin looked from her to the bike. “The cleaners? Please tell me that’s code for collection agency.”

Snorting, she shook her head. Blackwind hadn’t been pro. Not back then, anyway. But Shady’s gut told her he knew more than Miz had ever given him credit for.  “I wish. A collection agency would’ve been easier to dispose of.”

“You’ve got some friends of mine in some seriously deep sh**,” he told her, his arms crossing menacingly over his massive chest. Despite the modern apparel, he looked dangerously close to his ancestral warriors, his stance so proud and unmoving, his longish black hair hanging on either side of his face and his strong square jaw ticking with disapproval and thinly veiled contempt. If hadn’t still been glowing from “Mr. Hearth and Home” right then, she’d have been very turned on.

“I’m working on cleaning that up,” she shrugged and moved to walk past him. He snatched her by the arm, his fingers only just slightly biting into her flesh.

“Who the hell are you? And don’t feed me any bull about being a lowly little ol’ bartender. Tell me, does Rafe know you’re a killer?”

Shaking him loose, Shady shoved past him to open her door. Apparently, Miz’s old friend had already been inside, if the tornadic display was anything to go by. “Leave Rafe out of this. He’s an innocent bystander.”

“Of what, Shady? An innocent bystander of what? Who are you and what the hell are you doing in Reeder?”

“You don’t want to know who I am, Blackwind. That privilege is reserved for my targets.”

He studied her for a moment before pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just tell me one thing. Good guy or bad guy?”

Shady thought about the sweet little baby she’d held that morning and the wounded grieving man she’d slept with the night before. She’d felt infinitely good back there. Almost like a real person, even as the panic had eaten at her. But there was no place for demons in heaven.

“Both. Neither.”

“If you told me you’d have to kill me?” he smirked.

“Something like that.”

“D@mmit. Tobias was right. You are trouble.” He turned to go but stopped on the edge of the porch and turned back to her. “Fix this mess you’ve made, finish your job and get the hell out of town.”

Sucking in a breath at an inexplicable stab of pain, Shady gritted her teeth and nodded. “My pleasure.”

Hell of a morning, she thought as he disappeared to God knew where. Maybe later she could have that snooty bi*** Izzy pluck her toenails out one by one. That would just make her f***ing day.

Yea but...Please. 

Great posties guys!  I gotta say I'm not really happy with Tate.  I can imagine Jana's reaction if she knew.  GO RAFE!  Wow he's lickable!    I can say that can't I?

Jana I wouldn't necessarily say I don't like Tate I just don't like his actions.  Does that make sence? 

We're supposed to have warm weather here today...we'll see.

I got the go ahead from our fearless ringleader so I'm posting...

While Gina dressed herself and Bella, Cordy prowled aimlessly around the little bungalow Gina and Russell shared. She’d been inside numerous times before but had never noticed exactly how homey it felt. Gina decorated with warm rich colors and sturdy fabrics. Toys were piled neatly in a box in the corner and nearly every available surface was covered in photographs. Photos of Bella, of course, but also photos of Gina with Russell as well as nearly every family member both immediate and extended. Even of herself with Delsin.

Picking that particular photo up, Cordy studied it, trying to recall when it had been taken. Her hair had been pulled taught in its usual bun and Delsin was glowering. Typical, she snorted and ran a fingertip over his image. Smoldering, she corrected herself. He was smoldering.

“That’s my favorite photo of the two of you,” Gina sighed as she and Bella hurried into the living room toting a large diaper bag and a stroller.

“When was it taken? I don’t remember anyone ever photographing us together.”

“I think it was a couple of months ago when ya’ll were out at the ranch. Russell used his long range camera. The one he uses on stakeouts. He said Delsin would kill him if he knew he was taking it.”

Laughing as she replaced it on the table, Cordy agreed. “Yeah, he never has liked being photographed. Refused to be in any of our yearbooks. I mourned that for years after he ran off. I didn’t even have a picture to clutch to my bosom while I cried,” she teased, though she was only half joking. That first year after he’d left her behind in Memphis had nearly killed her. He hadn’t left her anything but her broken heart to remember him by.

“He’s good at running off without telling me,” she mused, still a little miffed that he’d left before she’d woken and hadn’t bothered to even so much as leave her a note. “Would it kill him to just, I don’t know, think that I might like to know what would drag him away from our bed so early in the morning?”

Gina paused in the middle of chasing her daughter and shook her head. “Honey, don’t waste your time trying to figure him out. Delsin’s still learning. He’s not used to being accountable to anyone who might actually care what happens to him. Trust me. Russell and I went through the same thing. He’ll eventually catch on.” Baby caught, she plopped onto the couch, tickling the little girl who squirmed to get away.

Staring a little enviously while Gina struggled to put Bella’s shoes on the little girl’s feet, Cordy grumped, “And what am I supposed to do until that happens?”

Gina looked up from her task, grunting a little when Bella head butted her in the stomach. “You remind him that he has you to think about whenever he takes a notion to disappear. Gently, remind him,” she added with a grimace. “And I say gently because I learned from experience that screaming at them only makes them angry.”

“Gently. Right,” Cordy repeated and squatted down on the floor in front of Bella and Gina to help Gina get the shoes on the Bella. The baby paused her struggle and grinned widely at Cordy, clapping her hands. “You little precious,” she giggled at the girl and mimicked the applause once both shoes were secured on her tiny feet.

“Okay, I think I’m ready,” Gina declared. Cordy stood and moved away, taking Bella from Gina when the other woman remembered some things she had to get from the kitchen. Bella patted Cordy on both cheeks and jabbered away in her little baby language. Cordy nodded and talked to the little girl feeling the knot of envy grow a little bit more.

“Patience,” she whispered to herself. “We’re getting there.”

“Let’s go!” Gina called cheerfully, two sippy cups and a couple of bags of snacks in her hands.

“Go!” Bella declared and bounced in Cordy’s arms.

Cordy laughed and followed her friend out the door, pausing only long enough to glance briefly back at the photo of herself and Delsin.  

She was an effing agent, Delsin fumed. A sloppy effing agent, leaving her target out for speculation by local authorities. Had she been working for anyone like Rickshaw, she’d’ve been skinned alive for leaving an evidence trail. And hell, Cutty’d have skinned her as well. There wouldn’t be a Shady riding around on Mav’s bike as thought she owned the thing.

An ache bloomed in his chest at the thought of his old friend. Cleaners meant that Mav had been a hit. Not just some random accident like the coroner’s report had said. Which meant—Delsin slammed his hand on his steering wheel and cursed under his breath. Chances were, his brother from another mother, as he’d called him, hadn’t been at all who Delsin had believed him to be.

“What a mess,” he muttered as he turned the truck toward home. He desperately needed to hold the woman he loved. Some days he thought she was the only real and true thing in his whole confusing complicated life. He should have stayed in Memphis and married her all those years ago. She’d have said yes, they’d have had a couple of kids and he’d have settled into some boring eight to five job.

And he’d have been bored to hell, he thought with a heavy sigh. Rolling to a stop outside his—no, their house, he rubbed at his temples. His phone buzzed just then and he grimaced when he saw it was Pet’s office. How could he not tell Pet what he knew? He was obligated, wasn’t he? Except, he thought, Cutty probably already knew.

“Yeah,” he barked into his phone.

“Oh hey, Delsin.”

It was Amanda, not Pet. Thank God for small favors, he mused and leaned his head back against the headrest.

“What’s up, Mandy?”

“I told you not to call me that, Del,” she gritted and then laughed when he chuckled. “Meanie. Pet’s right. You’re a big ol’ bully.”

“You know it. So what’s the boss lady got for me to do today?”

“Well, she’s taking a personal day. But her calendar says that you’re full time on the Dean investigation so I just wanted to check in with you, see how things are going on that front in case she calls in for a report.”

Sighing heavily, Delsin raised his head and stared out the windshield to the house he now shared with Cordy. The place looked dark and he wondered if she’d woken up yet and missed him. Hopefully she was still snuggled deep beneath the covers. He’d give his eye tooth to strip his clothes off and climb in beside her. A personal day sounded pretty d@mn great to him.

“Delsin?” Amanda prompted.

“Nothing to report. The coroner’s sending over his report today but he’s still waiting on some lab results to come back from the state lab. I’ll let you know anything else I come up with,” he lied and bade her good-bye before clicking off and replacing his phone in it’s holster.

The house was quiet when he finally made his way inside. No coffee brewing, no breakfast cooking. Perhaps she really was still in bed. His body lept at the thought as he made his way down the hall to their bedroom. As he passed by his brother’s room he wondered briefly how Jacey was faring with Kaitlin these days.

But all thoughts of Jacey and Kaitlin fled when he reached his bedroom to find the bed empty and the covers drawn up all fancy like. She’d left. But her car had still been in the drive, he recalled.

“Cordy?” he called out and peeked into the adjoining bathroom. It too was empty, though still a little steamy and smelled of her. “Cordy?” he called again, pacing down the hall, peeking into all the bedrooms as he passed. Nothing.

He checked the counter in case she’d left him a note and growled low in his throat when he found none. “D@mmit,” he swore. “Where the hell is she?”

Storming back outside to the porch, he surveyed the yard for unfamiliar tire tracks. Nothing appeared to be disturbed. It was only when he glanced over to his brother’s house that he realized she might be over there. But no, both vehicles were gone. She wasn’t there.

Reaching for his phone, he quickly punched in her number, anxiety building in his gut. What if some nut had taken her. There were people, he knew all too well, who would and could get to her without making a fuss and would love doing so just to get at him. There were still plenty of his father’s men running loose out there who would likely love to exact a little revenge against their boss’s traitorous son.

“Delsin?” Cordy answered on the third ring.

“Where the hell are you?” he barked and cursed under his breath for being so short with her.

“Where the hell are you?” she barked back, though her words were a little hushed. “You’ve got a lotta nerve, buster, sneaking out before dawn, not leaving a note and then yelling at me for not sitting around waiting for you to reappear.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Delsin sank to the porch steps. “I’m sorry. I thought I’d be back before you woke up.”

A snort was her only answer.

“Cordy, I—“

“I know, Delsin.” She was quiet for a moment and he held his breath. God, what an @$$ he was. “I’m with Gina,” she finally told him, her voice all breathy. “All completely safe and innocent. We’re just doing some shopping. Are you okay?”

Grunting, Delsin squinted up into the trees in the front yard envying the squirrels that were playing there. “I’m fine. I’m an @$$ but I’m fine.” He swallowed, hating the words he was about to usher but knowing she deserved them. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

She giggled a little in his ear and breathed, “Did you survive it?”

Snorting at her, he shook his head as he grinned into the phone. “Just barely. It’s going to leave a scar, though.”

“Good. I’ll kiss it and make it better when I get home,” she teased, all traces of anger gone from her voice. “I love you, you big dope. See you later, okay?”

“I love you, too. Be safe.”

Clicking off, Delsin slapped his forehead with the heel of his hand. Stupid. Why did he think he could ever be bored with her? Grinning like an idiot, he vaulted to his feet and loped back to his truck. No time to spare, now that snuggling back under the covers with his girl was off the table. He had to think up some sh** fast before he ran into his brothers. To tell them or not to tell them, that was the question.

“Ugh,” Jana groaned. “I look like death. Worse, I look like what death threw up.”

Blake rolled his eyes and noisily kissed her cheek. “You do not.”

 They were standing in the tiny bathroom that adjoined their hospital room. Walking had been the tiniest bit easier than the day before as her left leg was finally regaining a lot of its mobility. As was her left arm. Her right side, however—Blake sighed and helped her ease down to the toilet.

“Do you think they’ll let you shower with me?” she looked up at him while they waited for her bladder to kick in and empty. The nurse had come by at dawn to tell them that she would be able to bathe that morning—a real, honest to goodness shower instead of the spit baths she’d been receiving. Ever since, his wife had been lit up like a Christmas tree.

“I don’t know, darlin’. Might be against hospital policy or something. But you know I’m game if you are,” he teased, waggling his eyebrows. “Wanna break some rules?”

She laughed and motioned for him to help her stand when she was done. Reaching around her to flush, he closed his eyes and nuzzled into her hair as she held on tight to him. “I can’t wait to get you home,” he confessed. “We can sleep together in our own bed and snuggle with both of our babies and  little to no interruption.”

“Sounds like a dream,” she breathed.

Helping her back to the sink, she sighed again when she caught sight of her reflection. “Honestly, I look like death’s vomit. How have you been able to stand looking at me?”

“You know, I don’t know,” he teased and accepted her awkward swat. Pulling her closer to him as he walked her back to the hospital bed, he murmured, “You know you’re always the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sweet talker,” she accused with a little grin. “You do know it’s going to be at least six weeks before Wag’ll okay us to do the horizontal Mambo.”

Playfully clutching his chest, Blake looked at her in mock horror. “Six weeks. But I’ll be dead by then. Shriveled up into nothing.”

“Oh, I think you’ll survive, cowboy. You’ll be too busy helping me to the potty to miss sex.”

“Gee, since when did you become such a romantic?”

Shrugging her good shoulder, she gave him a lopsided grin as he helped her back into bed. “Since I got split in half delivering your spawn.”

“So it’s my own d@mn fault, I’m facing a long dry spell, huh?”

“Yep. But we might could work something out. If you’re nice to me.” She batted her lashes at him and his breath caught in his throat.

It was getting d@mn ridiculous, the number of times he’d caught himself all choked up with emotion at the thought of how closely he’d come to losing her entirely. He’d live without sex forever if it meant she’d be there fluttering those lashes and sassing him. He’d sacrifice anything to keep her.

“What?” she frowned. “I’m not suggesting a hooker or anything. Just maybe a little or—“

He cut her off with a soul searing kiss that he felt all the way to his toes. His tongue sought hers and he greedily clutched at her, wishing he could take all of her into himself. Heal her as completely and as wonderfully as she’d healed him the moment he first laid eyes on her. When at last, he found the strength to pull away, she stared at him a moment as her lips curved up into a dreamy smile.

“What was that for?”

“I was being nice. For, you know, later,” he winked and rubbed his thumb over her swollen lips.

“Well hell, I’d pretty much do whatever you asked after that kiss,” she declared and bit his thumb.

“I’ll remember you said that.”

“You might have to remind me several times with more kisses like it.”

“I could arrange that.”

Gina pushed the stroller around another display table and lifted up a cute onesie. It declared, “I didn’t do it, nobody saw me do it, and I want to talk to my daddy.”

Holding it up for Cordy to see, she asked, “What do you think? Too cute?”

“It’s precious,” Cordy smiled, and delightedly took it from her, adding it to the pile they’d started.

“You know, I’ve still got a lot of Bella’s old clothes, too, I could loan him for Mia. If he’s not too eeked out by hand-me-downs, that is. Kids clothes are outrageous,” she shuddered looking at the price tag on the dress she’d just picked up.

“Oh I’m sure he’d love that. They grow so fast, it’s ridiculous to spend a fortune on clothes you’ll just have to replace a couple of months later.” She checked through the small pile they’d collected and nodded. “I think we’re doing pretty good, though. I mostly just want to find something special for her to wear to Ryleigh’s funeral. She’ll probably never wear it again but—“

The other woman stopped to wipe at the dampness that had gathered in her eyes. Gina hung the overpriced dress back on the rack and gave Cordy a hug. Her friend clung to her for a moment before pulling away, wiping at her eyes again.

“I’m sorry,” she warbled. “Every time I think I’m done, something sneaks up and hits me. It’s not like we were best friends or anything.”

“But you are best friends with Tate. And you’ve got such a big heart, Cordy. It’s okay to grieve. It’s healthy. And I don’t mind you crying on my shoulder. Shoot, we all need it sometime or another.”

Cordy smiled and gave one last swipe at her eyes before she resumed sorting through the racks of dresses. “It just tears me up when I think of that poor baby growing up without her mama. And Tate—“ she paused and shook her head. “I think he’s losing it, Gina. I really do. He loved her so much and I don’t know how to help him through that. Jana would but—“

Nodding her understanding, Gina agreed. “Jana and Tate are so weird, aren’t they? They’re like this little old married couple except they’re not married and they love other people. But the way they talk to each other—“ she shook her head again and chuckled. “I think it kind of hurt her that he waited so long to tell her about Ryleigh. And then there was the whole issue of who Ryleigh was and their strange past and well,” she trailed off, shrugging again.

“Tate didn’t handle that very well, either. It’s so weird that they’ve been estranged. And at the very times they need each other most,” Cordy supplied. “Ooo, how about this one? Perfect, right?”

She held up a dainty pink dress, light on the frills but pretty and sweet. Elegant white roses were embroidered along the neckline and a feint bit of white lace peeked out from the bottom. “It’s perfect,” Gina agreed. “Don’t let me look at the price tag,” she laughed. Though money hadn’t been an issue in a long while, she still recalled all too clearly the lessons learned at her adoptive parents’ knees, not to mention the consequences doled out by her ex, Mic, whenever he’d deemed her frivolous with money—which was more often than not.

Some things stuck no matter how hard a girl tried.

“We’ll need some stockings and some shoes to go with it. Maybe a little sweater or something for the graveside portion of the service,” she suggested and Cordy agreed. They headed over to the shoe department and browsed around.

“Any idea what size she wears?” Gina asked and Cordy shrugged, her eyebrows dipping into a ‘v’.

“Not a clue. I could call Tate but he probably wouldn’t know, either.”

“You know what?  I think I still have some white dress shoes of Bella’s in a couple different sizes. We could try those first. So stockings and then we’re done, right?”

Cordy nodded but bit her lip. “Actually, maybe you could help me find something to wear to the service? If you have time. I don’t like anything in my closet for it, and like Mia, I’ll probably never want to wear it again afterwards.”

“Of course, hon,” she nodded, checking her watch. “We’ve made excellent time. How ‘bout we hit the food court first and then we’ll head on over to one of the women’s boutiques?”

“Sounds perfect. I was so mad at Delsin this morning that all I’ve had is coffee.”

Gina grinned and pushed Bella’s stroller towards the check out desk. “I thought I heard your tummy grumbling,” she teased.

Great posties!  Tate's back in my good graces for the most part as long as he leaves Shady alone.  Totally loved the scenes with Jana maybe now that he knows just how bad things got for her it'll give him something else to focus on for a bit.  So Tobias has decided to be after Delsin huh?  Don't like it not one little bit and making Jacey & Russell freeze him out.  Oy vey.  Is he just being stupid or is he suspicious of Delsin because of his past or all of the above? He's not willing to accecpt the fact that Delsin's changed.  Totally funny that Cordy gave it right back at him. 

BTW!  THE SUN'S OUT & IT'S WARM! Lissa's doing happy dance glad no one can see it. 

“What’s up, darlin’?” Blake asked as he lifted little Brady up to snuggle against his shoulder. He gently patted the little boy on the back and chuckled when the tiny baby issued a noisy belch.

 “You boys,” Jana rolled her eyes at the display of manly pride on her husband’s face. “It’s a belch. We all do it. You’d think he’d just recited the Gettysburg Address.”

“It’s a guy thing,” Blake returned, lifting his son away enough to look in his tiny little face. “Ain’t it son? Belching and farting and bathroom humor. Stinky old girls just don’t get it, do they?”

Jana rolled her eyes again, but laughed gently. She loved that her husband was such a goofy dad to his kids. It would make the world of difference as they grew up. No staunch unmoving man to stand over them, dictating how things would be. She could almost picture the giant cowboy rolling around in the grass with his children, laughing and roughhousing and doing all the fun things Jana had only ever thought happened on television.

Something, certainly, she nor any of her siblings had ever had. Not even any of her extended family. It made her sad for them all but extraordinarily happy for her children, niece and baby cousins. They would have everything that she and the others had been denied.

Thinking of her siblings brought a little pang of regret to her heart. Perhaps if they’d had happier childhoods they wouldn’t all have so many issues. Would that she could go back into the past and beat the living daylights out of their father. How dare he abandon them all, but worse, how dare he have allowed anyone to do whatever had been done to make Jami so insecure?

“What’s the frown about?” Blake asked, settling Brady back into his arms to rock him to sleep. The baby’s lips worked into a slight little smile and Jana shook her head. Rile was already asleep on Jana’s chest, snuggled sweetly between her breasts.

“Just thinking. You know how dangerous that is. Have you heard anything from Jami lately? Someone needs to let her know that we’re likely coming home today.”

Blake shook his head, his lips dipping into a frown. “I’d have thought she’d be here to see you every day. I’m a little surprised she hasn’t been here at all since Sunday morning.”

Sighing heavily, Jana awkwardly lifted her left hand and gently smoothed it down Rile’s back, loving the feel of the tiny body breathing so sweetly on top of her. She would never tire of this.

“I don’t know. I would have thought so, too. But you know, everyone has lives. She’s probably holed up with Ryder enjoying the peace and quiet.”

“Avoiding the rest of the family, you mean,” he shook his head. “I would have thought she’d have folded right into the rest of them by now.”

“Jami’s a prickly pear,” Jana shrugged, wishing she could understand her sister better. “Anyway, maybe you should call out to the ranch and make sure someone knows we’re coming home. The nursery isn’t even finished.

He grinned and shifted in his chair. He still looked so tired. She’d be glad to get him home and get him an honest night’s sleep. She hated seeing him so tired and Lord knew there wasn’t any such thing as real rest in a hospital. “I’m already on it. The crew said they’d get it the painting finished and the cribs moved soon as they finished the morning chores. Said Ryder’s been a big help since I’ve been gone.”

Nodding, Jana smiled. “Yeah, that one’s a keeper. I hope Jami remembers that.”

~~~

If there was one thing Jami Sutton knew, it was that of all of her siblings she was by far the most selfish. The whole sharing thing hadn’t stuck back in kindergarten and it sure as shootin’ wasn’t sticking any better now that she was grown.

Climbing down from the driver’s seat, Jami looked around the parking lot not seeing any familiar faces.

What did you expect? It’s a parking lot, not a night club. If that disembodied voice had eyes, she was certain it would have rolled them.

Shaking her head she continued across the paved patch of land hoping she’d managed to time things just right and nobody else would be there. She didn’t want to deal with the DA or Libby or Bridget or any of the half a dozen other visitors her sister and her new family were likely to have that day.

Right now she wanted her favorite sibling all to herself.

Unlikely.

“Oh, get lost,” she grumbled entering the double doors, earning an offended look from a man in scrubs and crocs as she continued on her way to the elevators.

So far, so good. You’ve only managed to disgruntle one perfect stranger.

Jami stepped through the elevator doors and pressed a button careful not to speak out loud again. The last thing she needed was to be mistaken for a psyche patient. With her luck, it could happen.

The doors opened again letting in a nurse and a woman carrying a small bouquet of pink flowers.

“Visiting family?” the woman asked her voice pleasant sounding. Jami nodded.  “I’m visiting my daughter-in-law; she just had a baby- A girl.”

Again, Jami nodded. “Congratulations,” she smiled as the doors slid open once more. Stepping out of the elevator the blue haired girl turned to the left and past the nursing station toward the room her sister occupied.

“Hey, sis, ya’ll up for another visitor?” The happy face was set firmly back in place. She could grump later in the privacy of the Hunter’s guest room.

Jana looked up from the baby in her arms and grinned, relief pouring through her. “Jami! You came! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been in here for three d@mn days and you haven’t showed your gorgeous mug once.”

Jami’s smile faltered a little, not enough that anyone else would have noticed but Jana knew her sister’s face almost as well as she knew her own. Something was up.

“I’ve been busy. You know, getting the house ready for you to come home. When will that be, do you think?” her sister flounced into the room, flopping into the chair beside Blake.

“Today, we think,” he answered, giving the girl a sidelong glance.

He’d seen the slip in her façade, too, Jana mused. Her husband was nothing if not observant. A trait that made her want to alternately hit him and kiss him. More than that, he cared enough about her sister to pay attention. That made her really want to kiss him.

Jami perked up at his words, her eyes lighting up a bit. “Really? Today? Oh sh**,” she hopped up. “The house isn’t ready. The cribs need to be moved in and the nursery hasn’t even been painted yet.”

“I thought you said that’s what you’ve been doing? Getting the house ready,” Jana teased. “You and Ryder have been making out like bunnies instead, haven’t you?” she accused with a giggle. “Can’t say that I blame you. Ryder’s one hot ticket.”

Blake snorted and shook his head. “Oh he’s hot, huh?”

“Definitely. Not as hot as you, baby, but if I’d met him before I met you, I’d have jumped him.”

“Eww,” Jami grimaced. “I’ll be sure and tell him that. I’m sure he’ll, uh, appreciate it. Anyway, no, we haven’t been making out all over your house. We limit that to the barn.”

“Ah, the barn. That place gets a lot of use, huh?” Jana mused to Blake, who grinned.

Jami covered her eyes and groaned. “Please don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. Seriously. Eww.”Jana giggled but she wondered what was really going on with her baby sister. She seemed too perky. And she wasn’t really saying much of anything which worried Jana. Whenever Jami got twitchy and stopped really talking it always spelled bad news.

“You’re getting ready to run, aren’t you?” Jana blurted, realization dawning on her. “I thought you got over that? What in Heaven’s name happened while I’ve been in here?”

“Jana, I’m not—“ Jami started but shook her head and paced to the window. She stared out silently and Jana shook her head at her sisters back.

Blake stood and replaced Brady in his crib, turning to do the same with Rile. “Want me to bring you anything back?” he whispered as he leaned down to kiss Jana softly on the lips.

“Some sanity?” she quipped.

“I’ll get right on that,” he teased, kissing her again before looking pointedly to her sister. Jami’s shoulders were rigid, her posture tense. She looked like she might crack from all the tension. “Go easy on her?”

“I’m always easy,” she hissed back. “Too easy. What I need to do is take a stick to her. Maybe a little flogging might—” Blake cut her off with another kiss. “Okay fine. I’ll be nice.”

“Good girl. If she’s still here and not crying her eyes out when I get back, I might bring you some frozen yogurt.”

“Chocolate?”

“Is there any other kind?”

“You’re my hero,” she crooned, batting her lashes at him. He merely chuckled, kissed her again, and swaggered out the door.

“Good, you’re done talking about me like I’m not standing right here,” Jami turned from the window, her forehead scrunched up in disgust. “Honestly Jana, you don’t whisper all that well. A flogging? Really? That’s supposed to entice me to stay?”

“No. I shouldn’t have to entice you. You should love being here with your family enough that you want to stay. That you don’t—that you constantly feel this need to run away from me, well, it kinda hurts my feelings, little sis.”

Jami’s shoulders slumped and she sank to the edge of Jana’s bed, drawing her knees up to her chin. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Honestly, you’re my favorite person in the world but I just can’t seem to make it stick. This—” she waved her hand around, “sticking around stuff.” She sniffed a bit, all traces of that phone baloney smile she’d brought in here with her gone. “Do you hate me?”

Sighing, Jana fumbled with the button on the side rail to raise her bed a bit. Jami automatically reached around and punched the button for her. “I can do it myself,” Jana snapped and immediately grimaced. “Sorry. I’m a little touchy about the whole needing help thing.”

Jami nodded but she looked away, her gaze going back to the window.

“Awe, Jamsie, you know I adore you. There’s nothing in the world you could ever do to change that. I just wish you knew the you that I know. The gorgeous, nutty, vibrant little blue haired minx who brings sunshine and joy and pains in the @$$ wherever she goes. Somehow I don’t think you see all that, do you?”

Jami shook her head. “I think I might be crazy,” her voice trembled and she rubbed at her temple.

“Of course you are, silly. We all are. Me with my PTSD and Gina with her battered women’s syndrome. Rafe with his—well, Rafe doesn’t really have an excuse. He was just born crazy,” she teased, grateful for the tiny smile on Jami’s lips. It was small, for certain, but it was there and it was real. “But we love you. I love you. But hon, ultimately, you’ve got to do what’s best for you. If sticking around is too much, then go. It’ll break my heart to see you leave but hon, I’d rather have you happy and somewhere else than here and miserable.”

“I don’t know,” Jami shook her head and sighed. “I don’t know that I’d ever be happy anywhere.”

And that’s what scared Jana the most for her sister.

Happiness was for people like Snow White and Cinderella, and any other number of fairy tale princesses that bore no resemblance to Jami Allison Sutton whatsoever.  Well- maybe the wicked step mother part, she mused, but that was where all similarities came to an abrupt stop.  She swallowed down a short laugh at the thought, causing it come out as a none-too-lady-like snort.

 Looking at her older sister, the youngest Sutton offered a small, tired smile. Yeah, maybe it really was time to get her act together. Besides, what harm could come from setting down some roots?   

Those were great thanks!  Good morning people! 

My weekend was Ok, until I went to my mom's and hijacked her computer and read all the posties that were waiting for me.  YEAH!!!  Loved them all.

My week is starting out like last week, crummy.  I've got an off site user that has been having printer issues for the past two weeks and now PC software issues.  Oy!  I think we're just going to send her a new one.

Well I've got werk to do.  See ya ladies later

Amina ;)

Amina~Hope your week gets better, hon. (((hugs)))

Lissa~So the hubby gave in and got a full on cold, huh? Sux. There was something else I can comment on but I forgot what it was.

I hope nobody goes through my trash before it's picked up today. lol Sis2 and her dh and Lyssa came over last night. BIL musta had a bad day. He brought a six pack of Bud and only went home with one. Yikes! (I don't drink beer and neither does Sis2. Lyssa tried to, though. LOL) Trash felt like it weighed 20lbs with all those empties.

Today was the court date and the kids are with their father for at least the next six months. It wasn't totally unexpected but I kept getting the feeling that things weren't being reported to the judge. Got big hugs from all the kids and got to comb Binka's hair.

Since I stayed up most of the night making sure I got everything done at Dee's and all my stuff packed into the van since we were leaving so early to come out here for the court hearing, I'm in deep need of a nap. 

I do have a post but I'm going to hold off on that until after I wake up so I can read through it again to make sure I dotted all my i's, so to speak. 

Hope everyone's having a great day. 

xoxoxo, Pet

... bob. ;)  Make sure you get plenty of rest Pet.  We don't want you exhausting yourself.  We can be patient... some of the time. hehehehe

Well today is shaping up a little better.  We'll see how things continue

Amina ;)

Just lurking.  Totally agree with Jana & Amina take your time Pet we'll wait. 

Hubby feeling better thank goodness.  Now DD is getting it (again). 

... that would be a might interesting.  Especially with Deslin.  We could see what he went through that made him the man he is now.  It might also showcase some things about Shady since their pasts and people they have in common have crossed each other.

Looking forward to whatever you decide.  I too am happy that it's almost Friday.  I have tommorrow off and am definitely looking forward to it.  I'd love to lazy around and read all weekend too, but I don't think the girlies would let me.  There might be a revolt and mutiny if I tried it.  I think DD#2 is already planning my demise since I'm holding her favorite thing in the whole world ransom.  Her blankie.  She can't have it back until there are no accidents while at school or daycare.  She even woke up in the middle of the night and came to our room and asked for it and about 3 times just this morning before I got to work.  So *crossing fingers* that she has a good day today.  I hate taking it from her, but it's the only thing that works.

Amina~That might work. I hope that it does. And heck, it might make her a little less dependent on the blankie in the process. Fingers crossed for you both.

Lissa~I know, it's terrible, ain't it? So far today no rain here but apparently it came a storm last night. I slept through it, though, so I wouldn't personally know. lol Supposed to pick back up with rain tomorrow and all the way through to Sunday. Blech!

Thanks for the input on the scenes from the past. I've already gotten one written. Muse is still contemplating more. She's trying to get Delsin to open up about his past. I say, "Good luck with getting that stubborn @$$ to talk." hehehehe

The sunlight was almost blinding as he climbed the hill. It sparkled like diamonds on the dew covered grass and Dan slipped twice before reaching the area Carter had told him Joker was. As soon as he entered the clearing, he sighed shaking his head, this was going to take longer than he'd thought. Sprawled on his back, one arm flung over his face, Joker lay on a wrinkled and damp mat he'd made from his gear. Remnants of MRE's scattered the ground around him and a squirrel sat a few feet away holding what was left of a chocolate bar.

Dan took a deep breath, looking up into the sky with puffy cotton ball clouds hoping to reign in his temper. While he was completely enjoying his time with Celia, he was still angry about the games Joker had started. He stepped over to the sleeping agent, kicking his foot with his. "Get up, you @$$," he called seeing Joker stir.

He groaned, pulling his arm away from his face wincing at the bright morning sunlight. "Go away," Joker said, rolling to a sitting position and starting to work out his kinks, "I'm not going back until I talk to Liz."

"Then you'd better get your sorry @$$ presentable and go talk to her. One's pissed and so is half the d@mned agency. What the h3ll were you thinking, taking off like that?" Dan wondered, planting his hands on his hips, feet shoulder width apart.

"I'm due some time," Joker said, cracking his neck and back before standing and heading toward the tree line, "Sphinx said so."

Dan bent, gathering up Joker’s trash as the rasp of Joker’s zipper filled the silence between them. "I'm pretty sure she didn't mean an unauthorized leave, you dumb @$$," Dan informed, stuffing the garbage back into Joker’s pack, "If you had gone to One, he'd have let you have your time. You had to know that. He's not some kind of monster that wouldn't let you take the time to grieve your parents."

Before he knew it, Joker was on top of him, both of them rolling in the wet grass, Dan taking a few shots to the ribs. "What the h3ll are you doing?" Dan asked, using his best maneuver to pin Joker to the ground, mashing his face a little harder than necessary just for the joy of it.

"Trying to make you leave," Joker managed, only sounding half slurred.

"I can't go back to the manor without you, you @$$, this is my new assignment."

"Sucks to be you," Joker struggled some more, Dan's feet slipped on the grass and Joker tossed him off his back.

Dan recovered, charging like a bull, head on into Joker’s gut. They fell again, Dan rolling to his feet while Joker struggled for air. "I'm guessing that it sucks to be you right now, and that's okay, Joker. It's okay to miss them, to be angry even, I'm sure the doc has told you all this, but you can't run away from your responsibilities. That's not going to make things better."

"You don't know $#it," Joker wheezed, coughing as he managed to get to his knees, "just leave. Tell One you couldn't find me."

"Oh, man, don't tell me you've forgotten who you work for?" Dan said, shaking his head, "One's known exactly where you were about three hours after you left." He bent dusting off some of the grass and dirt on his jeans.

"You've got a big mouth," Joker accused, falling back on his butt, feet flat on the ground, arms propped on his knees, "I never did like that about you."

"It's called ‘he hijacked a CIA sat to find you with Infrared’. Man, has all this fresh air and MRE's rotted your brain already?" Dan watched Joker stare into space for a moment before heaving a sigh. "He’s just her boss, man. There’s nothing going on there, trust me."

"What are you talking about?" Joker asked, turning to look at him.

"The guy, the pansy," Dan said, moving to flop down beside him, "he's Liz's boss. I'm not sure exactly what he's doing here, she says helping, but I'm starting to get the feeling that he's just a buffer between her and Margaret. Tensions are high in that house, man."

"I don't care," Joker said, shaking his head, "She can do what she wants to do, that's what I told her when I left."

"You didn't mean that and everyone knows it, even Liz. Give her a break man, go talk to her."

"She doesn't want a government man," Joker reminded him of Liz's comment when they'd first met, "we're evil, remember?"

"Are you going to be this big a baby until someone kicks the $#it out of you and hopefully put some common sense into that thick head of yours?"

"No thicker than yours," Joker replied, flashing a grin.

"Look," Dan said, straightening a leg to dig into his pocket, "Liz still has it for you, man, trust me on that. I don't know what happened between you two when you got back from Missouri, but," he sighed, shaking his head and tossing the earpiece onto the ground between Joker’s knees, "but you should probably apologize and tell her the truth. Tell her why you did it, why you said whatever stupid things came out of your mouth and why you were gone. If she still balks at you then," Dan shrugged, nudging Joker with his elbow, "we'll go to Meira and look for some gentlemen's clubs, how about it?"

"You think beer and boobs are going to solve this?" Joker chuckled, palming the earpiece and staring at it.

"Nope, but it sure is distracting, isn't it?" Dan laughed, watching Joker nod his head. "You going to be a man or what?" Dan asked getting to his feet, "I got bosses to appease, man."

"Yeah, yeah," Joker said, putting the earpiece in, "gotta have tip money, right?"

Dan laughed, offering Joker a hand to help him up, "D@mned straight," he agreed, pulling his friend up into a quick one armed man hug before letting him go, "plus you owe me a round for having to do this bull$#it."

"You wish," Joker said, shaking his head, "If I'm the dumpee, then I get free drinks for the night, maybe even a lap dance or two."

"You better have better paid friends you're inviting," Dan chuckled, "I don't carry that much dough on me and I’m not using my ATM card either, no way, Nero's taught me that."

"Sometime we're going to have to have a talk, Dude," Joker said, shaking his head as he pulled off his shirt, "ever hear of restraint?"

Dan tossed a pinecone at him, hitting his chest and watching Joker kick it towards the wildlife, "I was getting shipped out and blowing off steam. Not like you've never done it."

"I didn't get this name ‘cause I like Batman," Joker said, pulling on a wrinkled but clean shirt.

"So you're back on the good guy side, what about Liz?" Dan finger combed his hair back into submission watching Joker's gaze turn to the house in the distance.

"Proceed with caution?"

Dan chuckled, "With speed, I'd say, Sin's about ready to call her out. She's got this thing for the pansy and she doesn't believe me that Liz isn't after him. She wants to snap her in half, her words, but Joker-"

He was already nodding, "She can do it, I know." He spat out a few cuss words, jamming his hands on his hips, "I don't want to rush this with her, I'm afraid that I'd scare her off."

"I can try to hold Sin off some, but I don't know how long that's going to work to be honest. That woman’s got a real hair up her @$$ about this."

"Try, that's all I'm asking."

Dan nodded, "And what about Liz?" he pressed.

Joker faced him slowly shaking his head, “fear of repercussions?"

"You can't very well lie to her, not after what you already let her see, Joker," Dan reminded him, "Get permission if you think you need it, or be honest but vague if you have to, but ask yourself this," Dan held out his hands at his sides, "What's more important? Your career," he lifted one hand, "or the woman you love?" he raised the other hand lowering the first. "Only you can answer that."

“How would you answer it?" Joker asked, pushing a hand through his hair.

Dan grinned dropping his hands and nodding, "I'll see if Cecilia will help me get Liz up here so you two can talk without the distractions."

Joker smiled his thanks, "I'll stay up here and work on finding some courage."

Dan laughed, moving to go back down the hill, "I always knew you were chicken$#it."

"Takes one to know one," Joker shot back earning him a parting gesture from Dan before he left the clearing.

He was glad that Joker was finally listening to reason and that he could report that he was fine, but he couldn't let go of the niggling thought that he had just put an end date on his time with Cecilia. He wasn't making as much headway as he had hoped being here would get him, so he'd have to up his game if he wanted her to be his. Dan grinned as he rounded the back of the house, already the smell of breakfast was wafting through the open windows.

This was going to be fun.

Jana--Not sure if you found it yet, but I sent you an email.

Hehehehehe

xoxoxo, Pet

Pet~I did finally find it and replied.

Lissa~You can take this with a grain of salt...The secret to dieting is...Eat when you're hungry. That's the only way you'll stick with it. Eat something small, like a handful of peanuts or a cracker or three or five. Drink plenty of water with whatever you eat, too. But never let yourself get miserably hungry. If you do, you're more likely to binge later and undo all the good you might have done. If you're starving, you're not doing your body or your diet any good. Just my little 2 cents from all those dieting articles I've read over the years. 

I've lost 27lbs since January. Did I tell ya'll that? I had gained back half of what I lost a couple of years ago so I'm trying to get rid of those pounds again. Five more pounds and I'll be there at which time I'm going to "step up my game" and try to lose another 30lbs or so. It's haaaard but not as hard as I thought it would be.

Anyway, I'm for home, ya'll. See ya'll tomorrow.