jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

He took a deep breath and rubbed her arms. "I know. I do." He understood fully where she was coming from and hated that he had given her a scare like this. "I'll be careful. I promise." He assured her before smiling himself. "If it helps, I have more of a chance dying in surgery tomorrow than driving this thing around." Which probably wasn't accurate as he never looked something like that up, but he wanted Solana to worry a less. "You'll be having to deal with me for a long time." @solanaxortiz

Solana was caught off guard by Jeremy's apology. She slowly shook her head, even if he said it was her business, she knew that it wasn't. Solana couldn't control everyone that rode motorcycles, even if she wanted everyone to stop riding them. It wasn't realistic and the brunette knew that, even if it was hard to wrap her head around at times. "The weather was fine too, on the drive from Portland, it was fine, until it wasn't." She shook her head again, "Please, just -" Solana paused, "if something happens to you, I'd bring you back to life just to kick your ass." The brunette attempted a joke, a small smile touching her lips. @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

He nodded. "That's great." He hoped it would end up that way, at least. If not for him, then definitely for Chantel and Houston. They needed Charlie more than Jeremy did at this point of his life. "Yeah. Let's." He said as he looked up when he heard their names being called. "Guess this is it, huh? Getting ready to go." He stood and waited for Charlie to do the same. @charliesxdavis

"No, I do. I am gonna be okay and be here longer... for you and Chatel, Chantel, and Houston." That did mean the world to him. He looked over at his son and gave him a soft smile. "It's a crazy thing... all of this. "He knew it was a lot for both of them to take in. "I guess when I was playing, they didn't care about when you got hurt as much." it was rest and ice and painkillers, and that was about it. "Well, let's hope this is the last for us both," he hoped so he didn't need another or Jeremy too. @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

Jeremy shook his head. "It's not too late for me if it's not for you." He told his son and smiled. "Going to college means nothing these days when there's video chats and whatever else. We can still get to know each other." He told him happily before taking a breath as Mabel reappeared. "Nougat. Got it." He said and took his drink before looking at what she got him. "Yeah. I haven't had them in a while, but yeah." He smiled at the remembrance and took a small piece. @mabelxhughes

END

Caleb shook his head at Jeremy's statement of not being made out to be a deadbeat. The teenager felt like it wasn't his place to say how things had gone. The frustration he had felt growing up and seeing classmates with two parents while he just had his mother, who wouldn't -- or rather couldn't tell him his father's name. At some point after they had told him the truth, he stopped asking anything at all. He noticed how sad it had made his mother. "There's still time. But I'd understand if it is too late-- I'm going to college sooner rather than later anyway, so." The young male shrugged his shoulders, diverting his eyes away for a moment in anticipation of his father's answer and later looked up again when Mabel walked towards them again, a carton tray holding the three cups into place. "They had nougat, so I got you some, honey." She told Caleb, pointing at the last remaining dent in the tray, holding three small pieces of nougat, wrapped in tinfoil, her eyes then looking at Jeremy, searching for a hint of how things had gone before she smiled. "Nougat is his favourite. I got you salted caramel sweets. I take it you still like those?" @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

He nodded. "You're welcome." He told his brother before pulling out his phone. "What are you in the mood for? I'll order us something." He asked and looked up at his brother. "Yeah. Feel free to rest as long as you need." He went through some food options and just ended up ordering them both some burgers. "Alright. Food should be here in a bit." @jcknxlibrm

END

"Thanks bro" Jackson nodded. Already assuming that his aunt had somehow found out already. Word had a habit of spreading fast in these little towns, and he wouldn't be surprised if it had gotten back to her that he was back. She probably wouldn't be so happy he hadn't visited yet though. "Food sounds great. I'm starving. After that I'm going to need to crash though, it's been a long couple of day." @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

Nodding, Jeremy let out a short laugh. "Feels like a loaded question these days." Jeremy said and rubbed the back of his neck. "Been fine, though, for the most part. Getting to know my kid as much as I can and preparing to donate my liver here soon." He shrugged. "How about you guys? How are you?" @wesleyxjames

Wesley had been working late, though not because Amayah had quit her job. He merely got behind on some documents and since she was out with her family tonight, he figured it were the perfect day to stay a little later than normal. And even then, it wasn't that late. Wesley was just putting his phone back into his jacket pocket, having texted Amayah that he was done with work when he heard his name. "Jeremy," he greeted with a smile in return, "I'm doing great, how are you?" He questioned in return to the other. "It's been a while." @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

He shook his head and took another step towards her. "I do know." He agreed and tired to meet her eyes. "I do. I'm sorry." He apologized to her. "You're a concerned friend so it is your business. I know how you feel about bikes." He glanced back at his and then at Solana again. "I promise you I'm being safe. The weather is fine, it's during the day, I'm not going too fast." He knew all this meant nothing, though, after losing someone. "It's all okay, okay?" @solanaxortiz

When Jeremy got up and set his helmet down, she stopped a few steps short of the bike. When he apologized, her heart continued to sink into the bottomless pit that she was considering to be her stomach right now. The way he tried to reassure her, that he was okay, it had her shaking her head. "Jeremy," she breathed his name, "I just- you know what happened to Vance. I don't -" she shook her head again. Solana held up her hands, "It's none of my business, I shouldn't have said anything." @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

He nodded. "I won't tell her. It'll be our secret." He faked like he zipped his lips closed. "You need anything? Want some food or something? I can order us some. Or run out and grab you whatever you need." He didn't care what his brother needed, he would go grab it for him if he wanted. @jcknxlibrm

Even if he was going to need time to really deep it all, nothing was going to change for Jackson with his brother. He was still his brother, their mom was still their mom(As much as he wished she wasn't) and their connection was always going to be strong. He just needed a little more time to get his head around the fact that Jeremy had a son now, that was the weird part. "Yeah I'll head over once I get settled here, and shower and stuff. Just don'tell her I'm here okay? I want it to be a surprise."

[jeremyxlieberman]

He smiled at him and nodded. "Got that right." If this was him just giving a friend part of his liver, he probably wouldn't have been nervous at all. However, he know had a son to worry about and this was for a man who was his biological father so it all was just nervous. "I'm sure she'll love to see you. She asks about you all the time." @jcknxlibrm

"You'll be fine bro" Jackson said walking up and patting his brother lightly on the back. "You're a Lieberman, we don't do scared." he tried to reassure his brother, but he could tell he was still a little worried. He couldn't resist rolling his eyes when Jeremy threaten him with Aunt Carol. He probably wouldn't have had a party anyway, since he didn't even have anyone to invite, but now he knew there was no chance with his aunt about. "Alright no parties, I promise. I need to go see Aunt Carol actually, it's been a minute."

[jeremyxlieberman]

"Sure you will." Maybe if Jeremy didn't have more on his plate, he would see there was more than what was being told by his brother. But there was just so much swimming in his head that made this all wrong. "In a few ways." He agreed about the surgery being scary. "Thanks. And don't even think about it. I'll have Aunt Carol come around too to make sure there's no parties or anything. Plus, the neighbors will know something's up." Jeremy lived a relatively quiet life so any loud knows from the house would be different. @jcknxlibrm

"I'll invite you to the next one." Jackson joked, trying to avoid the subject of college, hoping Jeremy would drop it. He didn't like lying to his brother, but he was in it now, and to tell him the truth would be too embarrassing at this point.

Jackson looked at Jeremey as he took another sig. Unable to help but feel a little worried. "Ah yeah man it's scary." he nodded "And of course, I'll take care of Rosie." As a smirk creeped up on his lips "Does that mean I'll have a free house for a week?" @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

Taking a deep breath, Jeremy shifted in his seat a little. "You don't gotta thank me." He said and sighed. "I'm happy to do it." He would've shown it better under different circumstances, but he was still coming to terms with everything. "Yeah. So they say." He agreed and smiled as the nurse took their papers and he sat back as he listened to Charlie. His dad. "I've had a few. When I was a kid at least." He didn't want to dive into the reasons why. "So not my first rodeo." @charliesxdavis

It was crazy that it was happening that the surgery, thanks to Jeremy, was happening. He knew he wouldn't be doing as well or would of found someone this soon if it wasn't for Jeremy. "I want to thank you again." he knew everyone wanted to be here for them. But it was check-in and prep everything. They couldn't have people with them. Chantel had to watch Houston and it was better for her to be at home on the farm. "But I am sure this will go great," he said as he looked over the paperwork. However, one of the nurses took the paperwork and said she would be back for them. "Even know I'd done a lot of shit over the years I've never had surgery before.... " he put things off or just never needed it. @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

Jeremy nodded, figuring that Mabel and her folks informed Caleb on everything. He wouldn't expect anything less. He gave a short laugh before nodding a little. "Yeah. I'm sure that would've been a clue. Just glad no one made me out to be a deadbeat or something." Though, he never would've taken Mabel as someone who would do such a thing. He always harbored respect for her. "You're right, though. It does still stuck. There's nothing more I would've liked than to be there for you." @mabelxhughes

Mabel gave both her boys a smile, her hand brushing her son's back before she walked away to get them their drinks. She threw a look over her shoulder but looked away when she saw that they had decided to immediately strike up conversation. Some things Mabel shouldn't involve herself in, and she had to give them a chance to get things straight by themselves. That was the fairest option to the both of them, after all. So she would take her time, slowly walking to the coffee stand.

Caleb found himself looking at his father, fidgeting with the insides of his jacket pockets. He found himself nodding rather uneasily. Caleb was never unreasonable, and though he had been an angry child towards the absence of his father that had eventually triggered Mabel to tell him the truth, he'd found a place to keep it and come to terms with it. So when his identity was finally revealed, it made place for excitement and nervousness. "I know. That's what they told me." Caleb told Jeremy, referring to both his mother, grandparents and aunt. They had all been fond of Jeremy when Mabel was dating him and though Mabel's father had been angry at her unexpected pregnancy, he'd never spoken ill of his grandson's father. "I did give mom a hard time for it but.." Caleb shrugged, lowering his gaze. "Kind of always figured that if I wasn't to post pictures online, it had something to do with why you weren't there. Still sucks." @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

Her words made his breath catch and he quickly got up and put his helmet down on the seat. "Hey, I'm sorry. I just wanted to ride it a little more before winter." He walked over to her. "I'm safe, okay?" He knew that wasn't going to help anything. It didn't matter if he was a safe or not. It was the fact he was on a bike in general. "Let's take a beat, okay?" @solanaxortiz

Solana stared at him as he sat on the bike, asking her what was going on. The bike, it caused her whole body to tense up just looking at it. Vance had been riding one the night of the accident, the storm taking them all by surprise. Especially all the other drivers. She hated that anyone could ride them and while she knew she had no right to tell Jeremy what he could or not do with his life, she found herself approaching him anyway. "I don't know how you can ride that thing." @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

Jeremy shook his head. "Big thing or not, I would've liked to be there for you." He would've liked to show his brother some support and did hate that he missed this. He took a deep breath and shrugged. "A little. It sounds complicated and I'll be in the hospital for about a week after before I get to come home. Now that you're here, I can count on you to feed Rosie, right?" He asked hopefully. @jcknxlibrm

Jackson's brain practically short circuited for a sec when Jeremy asked why he wasn't invited to graduation. Quickly grabbing a beer and turning back to his brother "-I, It wasn't a big thing really, my class was small, so there was barely a ceremony" he shrugged, cracking the beer open, and taking a long swig of it. Knowing everything he had just said was a lie, and not even a good one.

"The liver thing? are you scared?" Jackson asked, taking the chance to change the subject and move things away from his bullshit graduation.

[jeremyxlieberman]

Jeremy couldn't believe how fast this all had seemed. First he found out Charlie was his biological father and then agreed to do this surgery. He didn't regret it, he'd happily save the man, but he was nervous for the surgery. He got to the hospital early and was filling out the paperwork when Charlie approached and he took a breath. "Yeah it is." He said as he flipped through the papers to make sure he signed everything. @charliesxdavis

It was such a crazy ride the past few months with Charlie. He started to get sick and did fight it a bit. He wasn't the type that liked to admit he didn't feel good and needed help. But after he did his liver was failing from his years of drinking. That led to a DNA test thanks to Chantel and finding out a friend was his son. That lead to soon finding out he just found out he had son, a teenage son too. So add the fact he was helping care for a baby he had a lot going on.

It was time to prepare for the surgery with Jeremy. They went to the hospital for tests and treatments. The surgery was approaching, so they both had to get ready. He smiled as he met up with Jeremy. "This is going to be something," he said as they walked inside.

@jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

"You know me." He grinned down at her for a moment before turning away. He couldn't just stare at her like that. Times had changed and as far as he knew, there weren't any feelings that she was feeling and he was just dealing with old feelings from when they were teens. He just needed to focus on the relationship with his son and that was it. "Then after you." He said and gestured to follow their son and he walked next to Mabel. A laugh came from him and nodded. "It'll come in for sure soon enough. Mine started filling in not too long after you... left." He swallowed before getting in line. "But glad he thinks it's cool." He laughed and smiled down at her again. @mabelxhughes

END

"How gallant." Mabel smiled, meeting his gaze that got her to momentarily freeze into place. It was a certain sense of familiarity, a look that she was familiar with but around the same time he cleared his throat, she had turned away her eyes. Wishful thinking happened to be a thing sometimes too, and she didn't want to come in between father and son with her getting her hopes up. "Yes, before we end up standing here for the entire evening." Caleb already seemed to have the same idea, starting to walk ahead of them to the line for the hayrides. "He asked if he would have a beard like yours." She spoke softly to Jeremy so that Caleb wouldn't hear. "In a tone that told me he thinks it's a cool beard." @jeremyxlieberman

[jeremyxlieberman]

closed starter for @wesleyxjames location: downtown

Jeremy threw his bag in the back of the Bronco and took off his work jacket before grabbing out another. He was done with work for the day and it had been a long one with preparation for the winter season. He figured he'd just stop and get something to eat downtown since he was already there and wouldn't have to cook, so after closing the door, he turned to walk towards one of the restaurants and he spotted Wesley. "Wes, hey. How are you?"

[jeremyxlieberman]

closed starter for @lancexbrowne location: carousel coffee

It'd been a minute since Jeremy had been able to talk to Lance. Both had been busy in their lives and he felt there was so much to tell him. He had already laid it out for his other best friend, Amayah, and his brother and now he had to do the same again. It was a lot of news and exhausted Jeremy to tell, but he wanted those close to him to find out through him and not anyone else. He drank his coffee as he waited before he looked up as the door opened and he spotted his friend. "Hey. Glad you could come."