#SBL01W12

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First thing I did was help Coraline paint her nails! We took some pictures to, immortalizing Byron's first lost tooth.

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Struck By Love

Sep 30th, SBL post 3

CW: Language - Guide to Content Warnings

Malcolm: Don’t you love me? Don’t you trust me?

Layla: Of course I love you! I always loved you, first and most! But trust... it’ll take time to build that back, if it ever comes again

Malcolm: Layla, please, please don’t let some fucking strange creep break us up. I was drunk and made some bad calls. If you leave our whole family falls apart, the kids will be miserable. You're still my favourite person

Watcher why did he have to say that? I had to put the kids first.

Layla: Malcolm Chester Landgrabb I swear if you EVER cheat on me again-

Malcolm: I haven’t-

Layla: IF YOU DO... I will take the kids and you will never see us again do you understand? I will not have them thinking it’s okay to stay with a person who makes them feel like shit

Malcolm: I’m sorry baby, I drank too much and I wasn’t thinking. I'm going to make it up to you, I swear

Layla: You can sleep on the couch until you’re sober, I don't want the alcohol smell disturbing Coraline. I want us to work more than anything but you need to put in effort Mal

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Struck By Love

Sep 29th, SBL post 5

CW: Language - Guide to Content Warnings

Layla: You keep saying I don’t understand, why don’t you fucking explain yourself then

Malcolm: After the bar we were bored so we went to the strip club. The guy is a stripper. My friend paid for him to give me a lapdance

Layla: Oh so because you were paying him it’s okay? It’s not cheating for you to be playing tonsil lacrosse with him in a club

Malcolm: It’s no different than the countless guys who get a stripper at their bachelor party. It didn't mean anything, I love you. Why would I risk our family for some random hookup?

Layla: And what about the blonde girl? The one whose tit you’re squeezing like-

Malcolm: Oh my watcher that’s just Sally! She’s a lesbian. It’s not like anything was happening, she wanted to impress some chick and asked me to help out. She left with a girl Layla! And I came home to you. You and our kids because I love YOU

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Johnny: Okay sweetheart. Now your Mummy said you weren’t sure about ice cream. Shall we try it again?

Coraline: Goo na ray jo jo

Johnny: Oh my your vocabulary is growing! Here comes the train, choo choo choo. Still unsure about it huh?

Coraline: Ne dodo ho

Johnny: No worries, you’ve been fed and that’s what counts. I think you need a fresh diaper then how about a nap until your Daddy gets back huh? How does that sound

Coraline: Lo lo nee

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Johnny: Sorry I've been busy, how are you?

Malcolm: I screwed up a while back with Layla. Johnny I was so worried she wouldn't forgive me, but it made me realise how much I need my family. I'm going to ask her to marry me just as soon as I think she'll say yes

Johnny: That's... that's great Malcolm. I'm glad you worked through- whatever it was

Malcolm: Hey could you mind Coraline for the afternoon? I need to go for a run and I don’t know how safe it would be to have her on my back while I do it

Johnny: Sure! Anything for my favourite niece

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*knocking*

Layla: Someone is at the door Coraline. Oh it’s Uncle Johnny, we haven’t seen him in ages

I put Coraline down and went to let him in.

Layla: How have you been? Has work been keeping you busy?

Johnny: Something like that. How are you? How’s the job going?

Layla: Well actually I have a feeling I’ll be getting promoted soon

Johnny: *smiles* Look at you go. I knew you could do it

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Things were steady for a while. In the mornings I would spend time with Coraline before work while Mal would go over Byron’s homework with him. Byron didn’t particularly enjoy it. He never told me how much he heard that night but he seemed to have a grudge against Mal.

Malcolm: And tell me how you spelled that

Byron: I spelled it fine dad, I know how to read

Malcolm: I’m just trying to help you learn

Byron: *scoffs* I need to go get dressed. Go save lives or whatever

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Sep 30th, SBL post 5. Bit longer than usual, I'd suggest reading yesterdays posts first as well as today's if you're not caught up.

Time passed and Mal tried to make amends. With his signing bonus he brought us a new house in a flashier neighbourhood, making sure I was there when he put my name on the deed alongside his. If someone will buy your affection it's probably a Landgrabb.

I was sad to be moving away from Jessica, and Byron was upset Will wouldn’t just be across the road, but we managed. Jessica met her man in San Myshuno and was soon spending most weekends there. Will only went half the time, other times he had a sleepover with Byron or another of their friends.

Mal kept saying his behaviour hadn’t meant anything. We had built a life together. We had two kids, if we split up what would that mean for them? Honestly I didn't want to imagine spending nights apart from them, they were so young still. They needed me with them.

Apart from that night he’d only ever been committed to me. He'd been there for me when my parents kicked me out, and stuck up for me when his parents wanted me to get rid of Byron. As much as it was inconvenient I was loyal, I didn’t want to leave him. I loved him even as he'd fractured my heart. He told me he loved me multiple times a day, and convinced me I was the only one he had eyes for.

Eventually with time and affection, I forgave him, and agreed to leave it in the past. With his work he became more happy and attentive on his days off. Helping out without being asked, committing to date nights, reminding me why I fell in love with him. And when he was working he made a new habit of calling me on his lunch breaks to check in. He knew he'd stuffed up, he was trying to be better. Didn't everyone deserve a second chance?

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Layla: How was school today

Byron: Boring but Ricardo said his Dad J is thinking of getting him guitar lessons which sounded fun

Layla: Come on Coraline, crawl here. Do you want guitar lessons honey?

Byron: Maybe? I don’t know that I’d be any good

Layla: I’ll talk to your Daddy and see, we should be able to afford it if you’d like so have a think okay? I’ve just got to get Coraline to bed

Byron: Night night Coraline, I love you! Mummy can you come tuck me in after please

Layla: Of course

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Will: Salim says next time I go for the weekend we can go to the flea market and get more marbles

Byron: But how do we actually play? Just knock the small ones out?

Will: Yep! If your main marble goes out then it’s my turn. Or if you don’t knock any small ones

Byron: Let me line up... okay... oh come on that was good

Will: Nope, my turn

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Struck By Love

Sep 30th, SBL post 2

CW: Language - Guide to Content Warnings

Layla: I love you! Which is why I can't believe you did that! You folding her around you helped her get laid by another girl? That's the stupidest story I've ever heard

Malcolm: Neither of them meant anything Layla. I wouldn’t cheat on you. Shit I love you!

Layla: Really because I have evidence to the contrary. Had you been fucking her behind my back while I was pregnant

Malcolm: I told you it was a few kisses tonight, I haven't ever touched her before. Baby, before tonight when have I not been on your side? Not here for you? Plus, you’re ignoring the bigger problem

Layla: What bigger problem? Enlighten me!

Malcolm: Some creep out there is taking photos of me. Who? Do they know where I live? Do they take pictures of you and the kids? Will they hurt them?

I faltered. I hadn’t thought about the person who sent them beyond someone in that place. Did they want to hurt us? They already had shown they were fine with hurting me, those photos had cut part of my heart.

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Layla: It’s so good to see you

Jessica: I’m sorry I’ve been so busy but I have news!

Layla: I take it it’s good news

Jessica: Sort of. Salim and I are getting tired of the long distance thing, he’s asked me to move in with him

Layla: You’re going to move to San Myshuno?

Jessica: I’m still thinking. Will has so many friends here plus how could I leave my bestie in crisis

Layla: I told you, Mal and I are fine... now

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Coraline was always well behaved during her baths, minimal splashing. She far preferred to watch and play with the bubbles while I got her squeaky clean. Of course she never stayed clean for long. While I was appreciative that Mal discovered she loved papaya paste and homemade hummus, I wished she could discover it with just a little less mess.

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Nannies were also hit or miss. Mal wanted to show me he believed in my dreams so insisted we hire some so I could still work. One particularly new one fed Coraline so much she got angry. Then put her on the ground to nap. When I came home and asked why she wasn’t in her crib the nanny simply said Coraline seemed to be fine on the floor. I fired that one and took my infant and her well used diaper for a bath.

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I finished the cake just in time for school to finish and Byron was excited to help me light all the candles.

Layla: You ready to grow up? I’m not sure I’m ready

Byron: Mummy, let her blow out the candles

Layla: Okay, okay. Big breaths honey

Coraline: *blows tentatively*

Byron: HOORAY

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Layla: There we go, all snug and sound

The pig onesie may not have been the most practical but it was so adorable on sale I couldn’t resist! Mal never told me not to buy stuff either. I snuggled my girl close and put her to bed before going to settle Byron. Coraline was athletic though and most nights did some solo tummy time before falling in to sleep.