#sims3creativewriting

[nonsimsical]

Chanting in Unison..

After a couple hours in the bath, with more love making as Faye had hoped, they finally emerged clean, dressed and ready to go to dinner. She couldn't fit into the red dress she knew he loved so much, so she opt'd for something more comfortable. He acted as if he didn't notice she wore jeans and a sweater and had also dressed in comfy clothes. Faye hadn't felt so alive, so good, in such a long time. It felt like it was before shit had hit the fan. When things were magical.

Dinner at La Comeda's was delicious, but Freeman had been right about him being able to whip up a finer Mexican fiesta for her. Though the food was tasty, it spoke millions of words that the cook clearly wasn't someone who had cooked Mexican cuisine his/her entire life. Growing up next door to Freeman's, Faye could tell a real Tamale from an impostor and the same says it for a Tostada! They joked about the food, but ate it happily. Everything just felt right. She was happy. Truly, unquestionably happy.

She was lost in thought before she realized Freeman was no longer sitting across from her, but was standing next to her by the table. "What are you doing?" She asked, smiling up at him.

"I bought this when you were still pregnant with Sophia. Once I knew my true feelings for you and made the decision that I was going to be Sophia's Father and love and care for her as if she were my own flesh and blood..." he paused as he shook what he held in his hand, smiling. "For eight years I carried this around with me. Waiting for that perfect moment magazines and everyone kept talking about, but I can't imagine a time with you and our daughters and our son, that was anything less than perfect and I swore to myself and to you and our children that next time, next time I was going to do it right." He looked up from the little black velvet box he held in the palm of his hand and dropped down on one knee in front of her.

She gasped, hand flying up to her neck as tears filled her vision causing everything but Freeman's face to become blurry.

"I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you when I was 4 years old. I fell in love with you the moment I felt Sophia kicking from inside your belly. You and I may have failed at doing so many things in life, doing things the wrong or opposite way has kind of always been our thing, but together we have conquered so much more. With you I know devotion, strength, honor, and I know love. This may not be the perfect moment, but with you every moment is perfect and I cannot imagine anything more perfect than being able to call you my wife."

He opened to box to reveal what was inside, but she couldn't see it. She could only see him. She sat there, not breathing, tears flowing down her cheeks. Everyone around them at the restaurant was staring at Freeman on bended knee and staring at her to see her reaction. No one moved. Everything was silent, even the band had stopped playing music in wait for him to ask her the big question. Then he said it.

"Faye Elizabeth Ross, will you marry me?"

She stared at him longer than she meant to. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming, but before she could someone had hollered from across the room, 'SAY YES!' She started laughing, wiping her eyes she looked back at him and smiled.

"Yes! Yes, I will!"

The entire restaurant erupted in applause and cheers. Some even hooted and hollered and the band began playing the wedding march as Freeman pulled the ring from the box and placed it on her left ring finger. More, and much louder applause erupted afterwards and Freeman stood pulling a sobbing Faye into his arms.

"KISS! KISS! KISS! KISS!" The restaurant chanted in unison.

Freeman and Faye looked around them smiling like fools, laughing. He turned and looked at her, "I love you."

"I love you, too." Faye stood on her tippy toes and pulled his face down to hers, kissing him.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

“It’s not.. a.. baby...”

"I know.. but I didn't find out until four months ago."

"You kept this from me for four months?"

"I was scared. I was scared to get attached to it," she absentmindedly rubbed her stomach as she spoke about their child growing inside of her. "I wouldn't even look at the monitor screen when they did an ultrasound. I couldn't. I couldn't get my hopes up let alone yours or the girls. After Angel.."

"Angel was different circumstances, Babe." He closed the space between them, leaning over to kiss her belly, then her hand, then her lips. "This baby isn't Angel."

"And it's not a baby."

"Huh?"

"It's not..a..baby." She raised her eyebrows. "I told you that I didn't look at the monitors, but it's not like I disregarded anything they told me about what was going on inside of me. We're having twins."

Freeman stood there, motionless. One hand over hers on top of her stomach the other cupped the back of her neck. She was afraid he'd gone into shock, but when she tried to move she felt the resistance in his response. He'd finally looked up at her. "Did you say you're pregnant with twins?"

Nodding slowly, she said, "Yes, twins. I just found out last week. I still haven't wrapped my head around it either." She paused to take in his facial expression, "I am really sorry, baby. I should have told you."

"I understand why you didn't, I can't be mad at you for trying to protect me and the girls and even yourself. Not after everything we've been through. But twins?"

She laughed out loud, "Yes!"

"Boys or girls? Or one of each?" He asked eagerly.

"I don't know. I didn't want to. Not without you present." She half-smiled at him.

He shook his head and kissed her. His lips were soft and warm, his tongue hot and intoxicating as it moved against hers. It was a heady thing kissing him. He filled her senses and her mind. She heard nothing, but the sounds he made. She felt nothing, but his touch. She wanted nothing, but to feel him moving against her, inside her. She ran her hand down his chest and wrapped her fingers around the shaft of his penis and began stroking his sex, not bothering to be gentle. He groaned against her mouth and she felt his body shake as he shivered. It'd been a long time since she touched him. A long time since he kissed her this way.

He grasped her buttocks and pulled her forward until she was half sitting on the table top and half off. Only thing from stopping her from falling off was Freeman. She stopped stroking him and wrapped her legs around his waist, gripping the edge of the table top with one hand and her other arm was wrapped around his shoulders as he continued to kiss her. She felt his hand slip down the side of her belly and eagerly waited for his touch. He'd barely started rubbing her clitoris before she came. She tipped her head back, gasping, Freeman's lips moving to her neck. He started to slip his finger inside of her, when she snapped her head up.

"Don't!" She pleaded, breathing heavily.

"What?" He seemed confused. He thought this is what she wanted.

"I want you, I want you inside me now. Please," she pleaded with him, tears filled her eyes. He was shocked by her reaction, but he also felt he understood it. "You don't have to be gentle with me. I know, I know that's what you're trying to do, but I can't wait any longer."

He kissed her once, twice, three times before he pulled her legs from around his waist and helped her to stand on her feet. He turned her around and with his chest pressed against her back he bent them both over the table, Faye's cheek pressed against the top. He grabbed her hands and guided them to each side of the table and with his hands he made her grab each side.

"Hold on tight, baby."

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

“Twins..”

Faye closed her eyes as he brushed her hair away from her face and off her back, where he trailed searing hot kisses down her back.

 He spread her legs apart and stood leaned back to where he could see her sex. Kneeling down behind her, he teased her clitoris with the tip of his tongue. He heard her gasp his name and hit the top of the coffee table, cursing. He chuckled before he said in a mocking serious tone, "Hey, I said hold on tight. Let go again and I'll really drive you crazy."

He heard her muttering things, but couldn't make out what she was saying. He wanted to take her to the bedroom, make sweet, hot love to her gently, but he saw it in her eyes and the way she bit her bottom lip that she needed the same thing he did. However, he also wanted to play with her. Taste her. Smell her. Feel her. He returned to gently circling her clitoris with the tip of his tongue as he gripped the back of her thighs to keep her from moving. It wasn't long before he felt her body tense and start shaking from the adrenaline the orgasm brought with it. He wanted to please her more, he wished to please her more, but she started moaning his name he almost lost it himself.

Standing behind her, he grabbed his sex and rubbed the tip of it up and down hers getting the tip wet with her cum before he positioned himself behind her. If it'd been anyone other than Faye he might have been embarrassed with how he was breathing so hard. He moved the end of his penis around the opening of her vagina. So wet. He licked his lips, grabbing her hips he slammed his sex into her. She screamed his name as he cried out in pleasure. She was so tight. So hot. He knew he only had a few more in him before he lost his. He moved in and out of her slowly, gently, pressing his hand to the upper middle of her back as his other hand gripped her hip.

"Please.." she panted against the table's surface. "Please, baby, please."

"God.." his voice was deep and raw.

He gently pulled out of her almost completely before he slammed into her again. She gripped the table harder, pressing her forehead against the tabletop, crying out his name. Pleading with him to do it harder. He pulled almost all the way out of her again, slamming into her so hard the table moved across the floor.

"AHH!" She screamed, gasping. "Again!"

"Faye!"

"Please!"

He pulled out as far as he could go without losing where he needed to aim and slammed as hard as he could into her, causing the table to move again. Before she could ask him, he pulled out again and slammed into her. He felt her start to tighten and knew she was almost there. He grabbed the side of the table and walked forward, pushing it until it was all the way up against the wall. He grabbed her hips, pulled almost all the way out and slammed his sex into her.

"Mmmm.. faster!" She all but whispered.

He pulled out of her, pressing her legs together before grabbing his penis, guiding it to the opening. He gently moved his hips, easing his erection inside of her gasping at how tight she was. He began moving his hips, faster. Faster until he felt her tighten around him. As she came around him, he began moving faster. Harder. She was gasping, moaning, saying his name over and over again as he felt her pulse around him, her body shaking as another orgasm wracked through her.

He leaned over her, slamming his sex into her over and over again. Harder, faster, deeper. He ached with need. As he reached his peak, she cried out three words the was his undoing. He came inside her, collapsing on top of her. He laid there, kissing her back as his seed shot out of him inside her, filling her. It was the first time in a long time that he hadn't pulled out of her. Afraid of the outcome if she'd gotten pregnant and lost it. Now she's pregnant with his baby. Babies. He smiled, “Twins.” He whispered, his voice rough. He kissed her back.

He smiled as he pushed himself off of her, using the table as leverage. He eased himself out of her and then wrapping his arms around her rounded belly and her upper body, he gingerly pulled her off the top of the table and held her to his chest. She was shaking, her breathing was ragged and her eyes were closed. They were sweaty, sticky, and in very much need of a shower.

"So, you still want to go out tonight?" Freeman asked, his voice raspy. His breath hot against her neck.

She chuckled, "Yes."

"I'll run us a bath." He kissed the back of her head. "You ok?"

"Mm.. yeah, go 'head."

He carefully let go of her and walked, butt naked into the bathroom. Her eyes were closed as she was trying to catch her breath. She was pretty sure she was torn down there, but she didn't care.

'My GOD, that felt so good.' She bit her lip as she couldn't help but recall the feeling. Her legs began to shake from the adrenaline, so pulled a chair over to her and sat down. Leaning back against the chair she began recalling every second, every touch, every thrust. She secretly hoped that maybe the could do it again in the bathtub, so much so she let out an excited giggle.

Her eyes immediately flew open as she covered her mouth and looked around. Clothes everywhere, scuff marks on the ground from the kitchen table sliding across the floor from their love making. Her heart began to raise from panic, but then she remembered the girls were gone for the weekend and her sister, Jaymie, had Caleb her house for an overnight play date with her niece Brooklynn. She found herself smiling. Freeman walked back into the kitchen and swooped her off of the kitchen chair into his arms and carried her to the bathroom, easing her down into the hot water.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

“F-what..!!?”

Freeman let out a small, involuntary gasp as he moved his hands over it. He looked up at Faye for an explanation, but she couldn't think of any that could justify her silence. Especially not for this long. Even Freeman has his limits which she's seen time and time again in the past. She licked her lips, opening and closing her mouth as if she were a fish out of water, but no words came to her. Nothing. It was as if she had no voice at all. She felt him press his forehead against her stomach. Seconds passed and she thought she'd never be able to say anything until she felt her body shaking. She looked down to see Freeman was the one shaking, not her.

"Freeman?" She asked, unsure if she should even be allowed to speak to him right now. "Baby, are you ok?" She reached down and touched his shoulder. Immediately his hand grabbed her forearm, and slid down to grasp her hand. When he looked up it was as if someone had gripped hold tight on her heart that still beat inside her chest. He was crying.

"I know, I know! Oh God, I'm a horrible person." She started crying. "I-I never meant to keep it from you this long. I found out a few months ago and at first I didn't say anything because I didn't want to get yours, or my hopes up if I lost it. You remember the Doctor telling us that I may never be able to carry a baby to full term, if at all. If I lost our child again, I just.. I couldn't-wouldn't be able to live with myself if I see you go through that kind of pain again. I just, can't. I know it was selfish to keep this from you, I know it doesn't make me any better than Ai-.."

He stood up suddenly, taking her face into his hands, "Don't you ever, EVER, compare yourself to her ever again. Do you understand me!" He pressed his forehead against hers. "Don't ever."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, letting her body press against his for the first time in two months since her bump had became noticeable. She'd missed the contact. The feel of his body and if she were being honest with herself, she missed the sex. It'd been too long since they'd made love, but she was scared shitless of anything that might cause her to miscarry. So she feigned migraines, which weren't too far off from the truth, only usually those went away after a couple of house locked in their bedroom together. "I'm so so-"

He kissed her, but it wasn't gentle. It was hungry. He wanted her, needed her. His tongue caressed hers, his body pressed tightly against her crushing her tender breasts against his hard chest as he backed her up against the kitchen table. His hands slipped down the back of her between her buttocks and jeans, slipping them off of her as he gripped underneath and lifted her onto the table. He began trailing kisses down her neck and along her collarbone, to her shoulder. He pulled off her shirt, unsnapped her bra and tossed them both behind him onto the floor. He grabbed her jeans and the top of the belly band and pulled down her thighs and once those were off he kicked them aside, sending them flying across the tiled kitchen floor. She was completely and utterly naked.

He took a couple steps away from her, looking first to her rounded belly then to her face. He stared at her for so long she actually started to feel self conscious, but eventually he broke eye contact and slowly his eyes moved down her neck to her swollen breasts, to her rounded belly to the juncture between her thighs. "God you're so beautiful."

He took a step toward her, but stopped as he undid his jeans, pulling them down to his ankles, and kicked those aside. He never wore any underwear, he hated how it bunched up, always had ever since he was in middle school. So before he even pulled his pants to mid thigh, his erection was already exposed and the sheer size was enough to make Faye start panting.

'You're being ridiculous, Ross, calm down!' She chastised herself. 'BREATHE!'

"I don't want to hurt you," Freeman stood where he was looking at her, desire. Pure need and want etched his features and set his eyes blazing as he looked at her. She could literally see his body tensing as if he were restraining himself from stepping any closer to her.

"You couldn't hurt me." She said softly.

"I-I don't want to hurt our baby." Looking down at her bump, his hand twitched as if he resisted reaching out to caress her rounded belly.

Faye smiled at him, "I'm seven months, two weeks and a day pregnant. I think we're ok."

Freeman's mouth made a pop nose as his jaw dropped. "F..what?!"

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Cheese and Rice..

Faye sat on the bathroom floor across from the toilet with her head between her knees. She'd lost her breakfast, her lunch, and now not even saltine crackers and ginger ale was staying down. 

She pressed her left hand to her lower abdomen feeling the telltale bump of her uterus growing, adapting to her unborn child's size. Freeman's child. Their child. She started crying, as she easily did these days, letting the tears fall freely as she laughed out loud. Losing 'Angel' was the worst feeling she'd ever felt in her entire life. Not even the pain she endured during and after Eli beating her, almost killing her, could compare to losing hers and Freeman's baby. Finding out that Caleb somehow managed to stay safe in her womb still amazed her to this day. Her son. Her reason for pushing through physical therapy for over a year, rushing home to look upon his sweet beautiful face so much like her own, but also so much like his Father’s warmed and mended her broken heart. She remembered the evening after they buried Angel. Freeman was cooking, which he’d done a lot during that period and not just because it was still really difficult for Faye to stand for long periods of time, Sophia and Amora were snuggled up against either side of her and they were watching home videos of them together as a family before Aida and Eli and everything. Her body hurt from walking across the uneven terrain of the cemetery grounds, but she was determined to be there for her daughter.

Amora suddenly wrapped her little arms around her midsection, causing Faye to jump.

“Mommy,” she said quietly as she eyeballed her sister who was asleep. “Can I tell you something?”

“Of course, baby.”

“I think…” her brow furrowed as she looked up at Faye. Her deep chocolate brown eyes, filled with tears. “I think that my baby sister protected my baby brother and that is how I know he is going to be ok.”

“Oh, MoMo.” Faye pulled her close, breathing in her smell. She kissed the top of her head, the muted sounds of Freeman’s cell phone ringing drew her attention briefly before she pulled Amora’s face up so she could look down at hers. “I think you’re 100% right. Thank you for telling me that. Do you know that I love you?”

Amora’s bottom lip quivered as she shrugged her little shoulders. “I do. I love you, so.. So very, very much.”

“I love you, too, Mommy.”

She leaned her head back, taking slow deep breaths in through her nose and letting them out through her mouth. Something her Obstetrician told her to try the next time she was feeling nauseous. She had 'morning sickness' with Sophia, even a little with Angel and Caleb, but geez it was nothing compared to this! She sat there until her butt was numb, rubbing her bump and doing these breathing techniques completely losing track of time which is why she was startled out of her trance when she heard the front door crash open followed by the muted argument between Amora and Sophia. Their eighth birthday was coming up and they were not in agreement on what they wanted to do. So much so that Freeman and Faye even sat down with them and explained that this joint birthday thing can stop whenever they wanted. This only upset them more, of course. They like their friends to think they're twins. Faye smiled to herself and sighed.

She slowly got up off the floor, tugging on her new shirt that was a little more loose than what she normally wore. She was seven months pregnant. Though her bump wasn't as prominent as it had been with Sophia and most people would have just assumed she'd put on a little weight, if she sucked it in, last year that would have been an excellent excuse. She still was in the last few steps of recovery, mostly just seeing a Psychologist and she was still going to P.T. which could be done at home with Freeman, however now her bump wasn't so easily passed off to weight gain from depression or not caring for herself. She was working out regularly, still trying to lose the weight she'd gained while on bed rest recovering from her injuries. Freeman would notice this and would know she was pregnant and she wasn't ready to share with him just yet that they were expecting.. again.

"MA!" Sophia yelled as she ran past the bathroom door, "MOMMY! WHEERRRRE AAAARE YOOOU?!"

"COME OUT, COME OUT WHEREVER YOU ARE!" Amora chimed in, from what sounded like Faye and Freeman's bedroom.

Their home wasn't very big, though Freeman had offered to move them three years ago when Faye first came home from the hospital and had all that equipment that couldn't all fit into the bedroom so they had to set her up in the living room. She hadn't given it a second thought, though he asked her again after finally getting to bring Caleb home, but after that first day in their little home together..No. It was exactly what she'd always wanted. Something cozy that kept them all close even without being in the same room. The thought of having to move from here opened the floodgates of emotions.

'Uhg, not right now!' she thought as she splashed her face with cold water. She grabbed the pregnancy test she'd bought at the local drug store, needing the constant confirmation that she was in fact still pregnant, and stuffed it back into the box and stashed it at the bottom of the wastebasket underneath the sink. She stood up, ran a brush through her hair and pinched her cheeks to give them some color.

"It'll have to do." she said out loud to herself, sighing. She shifted her shirt a bit more and then threw up her hands in defeat. She should have really told Freeman months ago that she was pregnant after she found out, but at the time she'd convinced herself to just wait until she was past the safe zone and was least likely to miscarry. That was a little over two months ago.

"MOM!" Both girls screamed in unison, causing Faye to jump.

"CHEESE AND RICE! I'M IN THE BATHROOM!!!" Faye hollered, taking one last glance at herself in the mirror before opening the door.

She made it to the kitchen before the girls collided into her from behind, giggling, they wrapped their arms around her, one on each side of her, jumping up and down. She laughed as she gently pulled them off of her, twirling them both around in circles. "Ok ladies, what's got you so excited?"

"We decided on what we wanted to do for our birthday!" Amora sang.

"Oh and what is it you two think you'll be doing for your birthday?" Faye raised her eyebrows in question, the corner of her mouth turning up into a half smile as she watched both her girls exchange a conspiratorial glance before Sophie took off for the front door.

"TA DA!" Sophia wiggled her fingers as she waited for who was on the other side of the door.

She hadn't realised she was holding her breath until her Grandfather walked through the door with a very grumpy Caleb in his arms. No amount of cold water on her face could have stopped the tears from shedding now. He'd been off traveling since her Grandmother's funeral and except for a few postcards here and there, she hadn't seen or heard from him since. He smiled at her now, arms wide open.

"You going to make an old man wait all day?" he chuckled.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Munchie..

"Papa.." she said through tears, choking on the rest of her words as she all but ran to him. Caleb immediately burst into tears as she pulled on his Mother’s shirt, demanding her attention. Amora walked over and took him smiling. “Come on, Bubba. Sissy will get you some nomnoms.”

“Nom-nom-nom.” he hiccuped.

He grumbled as Faye’s body shook from her uncontrollable sobs. "Ahh, I missed you, too, Munchie."

She snorted at her nickname her Dad started calling her that, her Grandfather picked up, "I've missed you so much!" She sniffled.

"I know, I know," he sighed and kissed her forehead and patted her back. "Now let me get a good look at you." He gently pushed her back to look her up and down, an impish grin formed on his face. He pulled her back into his embrace and whispered softly into her ear.

"You should tell him, pumpkin. You're gonna pop soon and then there's no hiding it."

She gasped and pulled her head back far enough to look up at his face. His eyes the same color as her own, the same color as her Dad's and Caleb’s, just with laugh lines. "How?"

He winked at her, "You look just like your Mother did when she was expecting you."

She bit her bottom lip, as more tears made their way down her cheeks. "Thank you."

"Now!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "How about a big ole hug for your Pop-Pop, huh?"

The girls ran over to him and hugged him at the same time. She wasn't sure where he got the strength, but he picked both of them up and carried them over to the sofa just as Freeman popped his head in through the doorway. She looked at him and knew he'd been behind her Grandfather being here today. She shook her head as he waltzed into the living room, hands in his pockets, an huge grin on his face. She couldn't help but laugh as he took her into his arms and started dancing with her, spinning and dipping her only stopping to kiss her passionately before helping her stand back up. She was feeling a little dizzy and she hoped it was as noticeable as it felt.

"Happy Anniversary, baby." he kissed her again, this time drawing it out. He nibbled on her bottom lip, but didn't go any further. It drove her crazy!!

"Jerk." she said, looking at him through squinted eyes. He playfully swatted her butt, which was seriously getting bigger by each passing week.

"Ok girls, why don't you go get your bags ready and I'll load up up the tents in Pop-Pop's vehicle."

"Ok!" Sophia and Amora jumped off the sofa and took off running towards their bedroom, squealing with excitement.

“Go! GO!” Caleb dropped his crackers and his cuppy as he toddled after his sisters.

"Tents?" Faye asked, concern etched across her face. "Uh..” she paused to chase after Caleb who tried to follow his sisters, immediately arching his back as she did so. Freeman took him and kissed the top of his head. “Does anyone want to clue me in here on what's going on."

"I'm taking my Great Granddaughter's camping for their birthday, but you two will stay here and enjoy peace and quiet for your anniversary." Herbert nodded to Freeman, winking, he chuckled as ruffled the top of Caleb’s hair before turning towards the front door, stopping only to look pointedly at Faye when he said, "Remember what I said, Munchie. Soon." And with that he was outside. She knew he wouldn't come back in and would wait out in the car. He was never a man to be kept in doors.

"What did he tell you?" Freeman asked.

"Uh.." Faye was interrupted by Sophia calling for her to come help them, saving her from having to divulge anything to him just yet. She smiled at him apologetically before walking to the girls room.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Reservations..

They waved good-bye to the girls who had their faces pressed to the windows on the passenger side of the rented PT Cruiser. Freeman snorted, slapping his knee, before mouthing to them both to sit back in their seats and fasten their seat belts. They couldn't hear them, but saw their happy faces and soundless giggles as they hopped back into their seats following their Father’s direction. Faye shook her head, but kept waving. It made her nervous as a hen in a fox den to have her babies be leaving for the entire weekend with her Grandfather and his girlfriend, who according to Freeman was six years older than 'Ole Herb'.

"Don't worry," Freeman pulled her in close to him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, hugging her from behind. "They'll be completely fine with your Grandpa and Rose."

She sighed and leaned her head back against his chest, "I guess. It just feels wrong. Hey, why didn’t my sister call me and ask if she could come get Caleb to play with Brookie? Why would she call you?”

“I texted her first.”

“Why?”

“To see if I could borrow the twins’ sleeping bags from when they went camping a few years back, but then Sophia reminded me that we just bought new ones from when we went camping up along the coast.”

“Hmm..” Faye pulled away and headed back into the house, pouting. “This all still feels wrong. I miss my babies.”

Freeman stayed outside until he could no longer see their car before following Faye inside. She sat at the kitchen table that was covered in papers and a calculator. This was the fourth time he's found her like this. He knew she was stressing over something financial since she kept going over their bank statements and their current bills. He'd even seen her looking up stuff about houses on the market on her laptop when she wasn't aware he was there. He watched her until his phone vibrated in his pocket. He knew what it was without having to pull it out and check.

"Babe," Freeman started after closing the front door. "I made reservations over at La Comeda for us to have dinner, why don't we go take a shower and afterwards you could slip into that beautiful little red dress that I like taking off of you so much and we'll go have dinner. What do you say?"

"I say, no." She stood, reaching to gather the loan statements she'd picked up from a few banks in the surrounding area.

"No?" He looked wounded. She felt instantly horrible for turning him down so hastily.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. "I just didn't know you'd made reservations and I have a lot on my mind right now. Can we just stay in and make dinner, maybe watch a movie or something?"

"If that's what you really want."

She looked up at him, she'd really hurt his feelings more than she'd realized. "Ok. We can go."

"No, you don't want to."

"Really, I do. I just jumped the gun. La Comeda you said?"

"Mm... but I can make you a better Mexican fiesta than they can. Why don't you pull up RedBox on your laptop and see what's new and we can go pick it up and get some snacks for later also."

"Or, I can just go get dressed and we leave now to go eat at La Comeda's." She dropped the stack of papers on the table and headed for their bedroom, but Freeman grabbed her around her waist and pulled her against him. She immediately went tense.

He held her firmly against him, his chest against her back. He didn't move, but she could feel his heart beating and his breathing changed. She stayed very still, his hands were so close to her belly. Too close. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together as his hands moved slowly from her midsection to her lower abdomen where they met with her rounded belly. A single traitorous tear escaped from the corner of her eyes that were still squeezed tight. He moved his body to her side and slowly eased himself down to the floor, lifting the hem of her shirt up. Underneath was a belly band, the ones you buy at the Maternity Stores. He broke the rubber band that held her pants fastened together, unzipped her jeans and grabbing the top of the belly band he pulled it and her jeans down until it released her swollen abdomen.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Can I be annoying and ask for “What are you doing? You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding!” and "Are you drunk? Oh my god you're drunk" for your choice of character? 😬 please and thank you ❤

She gasped, her eyes flew open, her heart beating fast as she took deep calming breaths in through her nose, clutching the fitted sheet beneath her. She turned her head and looked at the clock on her nightstand, the red glowing numbers stated it was 2:01 AM. She frowned as she propped herself up on her elbows, looking around her room. Boxes were stacked to the left side, clothes hanging out of her dresser off it’s drawers. She’d been living here for just over a month and the place still didn’t feel like home to her. What had woken her though?

She kicked her feet until the sheets that entangled them lay in a crumpled mess at the end of her bed, pushing herself up into a sitting position she ran her fingers through her hair before standing upright and walked barefooted across the cold, hardwood floors to her living room which was in a slightly better state of living than her bedroom. It was pouring rain outside and her sliding glass door was open.

“Shit.” She muttered, as she sighed, walking to the bathroom to grab a few towels to clean up the water that’d found its way through the open door. Clutching the fluffy maroon colored towels her Step-Mother bought her as a housewarming gift to her chest as she ran towards the living room on the balls of her feet trying to not wake up her neighbors below her. Maddox shook out the folded towels before tossing them on top of the puddle of water as she reached over to shut the slider, clocking it. Using her feet, she pushed the towels around until she was satisfied that she’d gotten most, if not all, the water off the floor. Fluffing her hair out of her eyes, she reached down grabbing the towels with both hands she then turned and tossed them onto a dining chair when suddenly a loud banging sound coming from the front entrance of her apartment caused her to jump and clap her hands over her mouth to stifle a scream.

Clutching her throat, Maddox walked slowly until she stood at the entrance of the darkened hallway leading to her front door. It was like a scene out of a scary movie. She knew better than to call out who was there and alert whomever or whatever it was on the other side of the door that a possible lone female resided inside the apartment, instead she looked again around her living to see if anything was amiss. She didn’t recall leaving her sliding glass door open, but then again she also didn’t remember turning off her TV or climbing into bed. She’d been sleeping on her couch since she moved in here. Biting her bottom lip she glared at the front door just as more banging caused her to jump back. She ran to her room and dove to the floor, feeling around underneath her bed for the baseball bat that her cousin Jordan had brought her when he came to visit her a week ago. She felt the cold metal, gripping it tightly, as she pulled it towards her.

Standing up she looked around her bed to see if her cell phone was under the covers when she didn’t find it on her nightstand. More pounding caused her to whimper. This area was supposed to have a low crime rate. It would be just her luck for danger to come literally banging on her door. She tried to control her breathing as she inched back towards the living room. Squeezing her eyes shut, she turned down the dark hall, making her way towards the front door. She wished like hell Emily was here right about now. She did not handle these type of situations very well. She managed to muster enough courage to make it to the front door, but when she looked through the peephole she saw only darkness. Pressing her lips together, she slowly backed up until her backside hit her couch. She rolled over the top of it and popped up into a sitting position. She placed the bat on the coffee table and began searching the couch cushions until she found her phone. She hit the power button, but the screen stayed black. Sighing and muttering curse words her Mami would tan her hide for, she grabbed her bat and crawled over to the nightstand where her charging cord was last. She felt around on the floor until she felt the thin cord and thrust the metal piece into her phone and held her breath as it got enough of a charge for her to turn it on and call emergency services.

She heard an odd deep moaning sound before more pounding on the door. Her eyes filled with tears, her breath caught her in chest as the scratching sounds of what Maddox assumed was someone trying to pick her lock reached her ears. She dropped her phone and flew over the couch and down the hallway, not caring if whomever was on the other side heard her or not. She slammed her body into the front door as it began to open and threw the deadbolt Kathy had installed upon her Father’s request. Her phone started buzzing behind her, and as she ran towards it, she let out a frightened whimper. Grabbing the phone, panting, she looked at the caller i.d.

“Saxton?” She frowned, pressing the talk button. “Hello?”

“Maddy, open the door.”

Blinking, she looked over her shoulder, before slowly standing up and walking around the couch. “What?!”

“Open the damn door, Maddox.”

She ran to the front door, throwing the deadbolt back before cracking the door open.

“Maddy..” he whispered, as she reached his hand in through the small opening to touch her face.

She cried out, throwing the door open and her arms around his neck. “You jerk! You scared the crap out of me!” Traitorous tears began flowing down her cheeks. She sniffled as she remembered herself and let go of him, pushing him back as she moved to the side to let him in.

He tripped as he walked past her, causing her to frown. “What’re you doing here, Sax?”

“I was at a party and got into a fight. I remember Gabe telling me you lived over here, so… when the cops were called..” He turned around to look at her.

“Are you drunk?” She took a step towards him, her arms folded across her chest. “Oh my god, you’re drunk!”

“Don’t be mad, Maddy.”

“Mad? Why would I be mad. It’s not like we’re dating anymore.” She let out a huff before turning and locking the front door. She pushed past him and walked into the kitchen, poured a glass of water before pulling out a box of cold pizza. “Here. Drink this and eat something. You can crash on the couch, but only for tonight.”

“Thanks, Maddox.”

“I’ll get you a pillow and blanket,” she paused before adding. “I’ve got work tomorrow, so you need to either be gone or find a ride before I have to leave..” She left him standing in the brightly lit kitchen as she made her way back towards her bedroom where she pulled on a pair of pajama pants before turning and grabbing a sweater. She made her way back towards the hall cupboard and pulled down an extra blanket and pillow, shutting the door with her elbow. She placed them on the couch, grabbing her cell phone and it’s charger cord along with her baseball bat and made her way back towards her bedroom.

There was a soft knock on the door that caused her to sit up a little straighter. Slowly she turned her head, forcing herself to stare him dead in the eyes.

“I just wanted to say goodnight and thank you again for letting me crash here.” He paused before adding, “And thanks for the food and water.”

“No problem.” Her voice dead even to her own ears.

He cleared his throat, jamming his hands in his pockets. “Maddy, I-”

“Goodnight, Saxton.” She said, her eyes closed, her face turned away from his eyesight.

“Maddy…”

“Good-night.”

“Night.”

After she was sure he was no longer in her bedroom doorway, Maddox stood and walked over shutting her door firmly and loudly before throwing the lock. She didn’t trust him to stay on the couch and she didn’t think her emotions would stop her from letting him into her bed. She crawled across her mattress, hugging a pillow to her chest as she buried her face into it letting the tears flow freely as her quiet sobs eventually rocked her to sleep.

@charsimatic

@wanderlust-pixels

[nonsimsical]

She stood off in the distance, hidden by the shadows watching as she left them broken on the pavement not even bothering to look in the review mirror. For if she had she would have seen a small light from the lighter as Aida set the family photo of what they had built together being burned. A smirk slowly spread across Aida's face turning into a wicked sneer. "Bye Bitch." A soft giggle escaped her lipz before tossing the picture to the ground leaving it to turn to ash. @charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Once they arrived back at Palms Pals Animal Shelter, Penelope had Buns bathed and ready to go home with them.

“Would you mind if I took a picture?” She asked.

“Sure!” Freeman stated. Faye was back to giving him the cold shoulder. She was so hot and cold lately, he sighed. He put the girls in the back of his hummer, handing Buns to them as he turned and pulled Faye over close to him.

“Say BUNS!” Penelope sang.

“BUNS!” They all said together, smiling. Buns barked in response to her new name, or at least that’s how it would seem.

“Call us if there is any infection near the injection site, other than that she’s got all her shots as you requested and her micro chip. Here’s a list of signs or symptoms to be concerned about as well as her name tag as well as yours to carry on you and our letter as well as the letter from their psychiatrist for her to be listed as a companion animal. Congratulations on your newest addition to your family, Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez! Take good care of her, girls!!”

“Bye Penelope!!”

“Bye Penny!!”

“Thank you, for everything.” Freeman shook the red head’s hand, before pulling her into a hug. “We’ll be in touch!”

“I look forward to it!” she smiled at him, turned and waved at everyone, her smile faltering for a second before turning and heading back inside.

Freeman turned around to see Faye standing next to the back of his hummer. Her arms crossed and a look of disgust on her face. “What?”

“What do you mean, what?”

Freeman laughed nervously, looking at the girls before grabbing Faye’s elbow and pulling her closer to the rover. “What is wrong with you tonight?”

“’We’ll in touch,’ ‘I look forward to it.’” she said mockingly, fluttering her eyelashes up at him dramatically. “What you do, fuck her for the dog?”

“What?” Freeman stepped back, stung by her words.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I know you’d never..” she sighed, rubbing the goose egg on her forehead.

“How did you get that?” Freeman asked, not bothering to step closer to her. She clearly was upset and needed some space.

“I lunched into the car and hit my head on the roof,” she looked at the girls and then dug into her pocked handing him a folded piece of paper. “After I found this on my windshield.”

Freeman opened it while looking at her, then looked down read it and looked up at her again. All color from his face drained. “This is bullshit. She’s delusional. You know this is trash, right?”

“Is it?” Faye asked.

“Faye,” Freeman said softly, taking a step forward taking her face into his hands. “Baby, there is no one that could ever compare to you or take your place in my heart. My soul is yours.” He pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes.

He stepped back, pulling his phone out of his pocket and pressing the number 3 down. “What are you doing?” Faye asked.

“I’m calling Madlaina.”

Faye stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his midsection, pressing her ear to his chest.

“Mads, it’s Freeman. We got a problem.”

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

“Please forgive me...”

Freeman sat in the dark cradling Faye’s phone in his hand as tears streamed down his face, a few landing on the dim screen that showed her last text message she’d sent. He toyed for hours with the idea to check her voice mails, finally giving in he held down button #1 and punched in the four digit password when prompted. Glass cups could be heard clinking in the background along with muted conversations and music. When he spoke his voice immediately made his entire body tense.

“Hey Baby, I just wanted to thank you for having dinner with me tonight. And to tell you how grateful I am that you’re willing to give me another chance to be by your side and be a Father to our beautiful child. I can’t wait for us to be a real family. I love you. Call me. Bye.”

He replayed the message over and over again. Each time pressing the screen harder and harder until he finally threw the phone across the room. He ran his hands through his hair a few times before burying his face in them and broke down sobbing.

‘Not her. Not. Her.’  He kept thinking over and over. ‘No, no, no, not Faye.’ “No. No. No. Please God, no!” His sobs echoed off the walls of their apartment. He stood and started pacing the floor. Shaking his head, his hands clenched into fists, he turned suddenly and punched a hole in the wall by the patio door. “FUCK!” He screamed. “FUCK. FUCK. FUCK!” Freeman dropped to his knees. Pain. Undeniable, blinding pain ricocheted through his chest. Gasping for air, but he couldn’t quiet fill his lungs, he clutched at his shirt with one hand and the other gripped the back of the kitchen chair with the other. He began hyperventilating, sobbing harder as reality settled in. She’d lied. She’d been with HIM. After all these years they’d spent together, years of promises and love making. Years together as a Family and she lies and runs back to him as soon as he shows up after abandoning her. “Daddy?” The soft whisper came from the entry way to the hall. He turned his head and saw both Amora and Sophia standing there. His girls. His world. Their lives about to be ripped apart. “Daddy?” He stood and walked over to them both, wrapping his arms around them and kissing them both on their foreheads before picking them up and taking them back to the room they shared. He put them back into bed, tucked them in, kissed them both on the cheek and smiled at them reassuringly. He didn’t trust himself to speak out loud. Their eyes slowly closed and he backed out of their room not taking his eyes off them. He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame for hours when he heard the sound of her keys unlocking the front door. Buns perked up, letting a tiny growl escape from the back of her throat.

“Hey..” he croaked, she settled back down onto Amora’s bed where the girls slept.

Gently closing their bedroom door, he walked back over to where her phone landed after he threw it. He took a couple slow, deep breaths to steady himself before bending down to pick it up. He walked over to the front door and opened it, startling her. “OH GEEZE!” Faye gasped. “I didn’t think you’d be awake.” “How was work?” His voice was thick, raspy. Freeman walked over by the sofa, but kept his back to her.

“Oh,” she started. “Same ole, same ole. You know.” “Yea.” “Hey, are you ok?” “Sure.” She stood behind him. He could feel her staring at him, waiting for him to turn around, but he wasn’t ready to face her. He stared down at her phone in his hands, “Did you get my text?” “Oh.. yea, I did.” “How come you didn’t respond?” “Because I was busy..” “You didn’t get a break today or a lunch?” “What’s with all the questions? Look, I got your text, I’m sorry I couldn’t respond it was just really busy and I had to cover Kari’s shift.” Freeman turned around, still looking down at Faye’s phone in his hands. When he spoke, his words were dull, like her was the droning teaching who spoke in monotone calling out for Ferris Bueller. “You left it on the kitchen counter. The girls got a hold of it and were fighting over it..” He held it up for her to see more clearly, looking at the floor as he did. “I was calling your sister from my phone when yours started ringing. I thought maybe it was you calling from work trying to find it, but funny thing…. caller ID showed that it was ‘Eli Gardner’.” He finally looked up at her and it was confirmed. She’d been seeing him. Tears were rolled down her face that was partially covered with both hands. She was shaking her head back and forth as if she were trying to get rid of a bad thought or dream. He felt them then. Hot tears pricking at his raw eyelids. He didn’t think he could muster any more tears, but they slipped silently over his eyelashes and down his cheeks. “Look..” Faye began. “Don’t.” He held up his hand, stopping her from saying anything else. “Just tell me that you’re not going to take him back. That you’re not going to take my daughter and break apart our family.. not for him.” She openly started sobbing. “Please… its.. he’s..” “Are you sleeping with him?” He asked her, his eyes closed, face turned away from her. “No!” “Have you.. kissed him?” She pressed her lips together and cocked her head to the side. He squeezed his eyes shut. “Please, just listen to me. He’s her Fa..” “NO! I AM HER FATHER! I AM HER FUCKING FATHER. I RAISED HER. I LOVE HER.” She pressed her hands to the sides of her face, shaking her head. “I am her Father, Babe. Her Dad.” “I’m sorry,” Faye said shaking her head. “But Eli.. he wants to be apart of our lives. He loves us.” “The fuck.. he doesn’t fucking love you. He left you. HE FUCKING LEFT YOU. Left you as soon as he found out your were pregnant.” “HE WAS SCARED!” “OH BULLSHIT! SCARED?! Is that want he’s trying to sell you on?” “I’m not arguing about this. I’m sorry if I hurt you..” “Hurt me? Hurt me, really Babe?” He scoffed. “Don’t you think it’s a little late to be concerning yourself whether or not me or anyone else involved is hurting or going to be hurt?” She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away from him. “I love him, Freeman.” “You love me.” Faye wiped the tears from her face and looked Freeman in the eye, “And I always will, but I have to do this. Or I’ll never know. I’m sorry.” Turning on her heel, she marched into the girls’ room and picked up her daughter that he’d raised as his own since birth. That he’d loved since he felt her moving inside her Mother’s womb. She turned, brushing past him in the hallway and headed towards the door. He glanced back at Amora, still fast asleep before turning and marching after them. He reached out and stopped her from opening the door all the way. “Don’t do this. Please.” He begged her. “Ba-Baby.. please.. don’t.” She hesitated, only for a second, then pulled harder on the door with more force than he anticipated causing him to stumble backwards and walked out the door. Freeman ran after her, pleading with her. “We can work through this. It doesn’t have to be like this, God please! PLEASE! STOP!” Faye put Sophia in her car seat and covered her with the pink blanket he’d bought her the day she was born. He got down on his knees, put his hands together as if he were praying and tried once last time. “If it’s something I did. If it’s.. it’s something I didn’t do, I’m sorry. I’ll do better. Please stay. Please don’t take our daughter. Don’t.. don’t tear the girls apart.” He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her down towards him, placing it over his heart. “Please, don’t leave me. I love you. I love you so much I cannot bare the thought of living without you and Sophia. I need you. Both of you. WE need you.” The sound of little feet could be heard running behind him. He saw it in her face, love mixed pain, and knew that Amora had woken up and come outside. She turned away from them and headed towards the driver side of the vehicle. “DAMN IT!” he yelled. “MOMMY!” Amora cried, reaching out with her tiny hands. “MOMMY, DON’T GO!” “Come here baby,” he scooped up his daughter and held her tightly to him. He could feel her tiny body resisting, trying to push him away. She screamed and cried. “I WANT MOMMY! I WANT MOMMY!” She beat on his neck and shoulders with her tiny fists. “MOMMY! MOMMY! MAMA!” She pulled out of the parking space, her headlights illuminating them both. His eyes were red and puffy, his face stained from tears that continued to streak down his face. He could barely make out Faye’s face through the tinted windshield, but he could see her shoulders shaking as sob after sob wracked her body. She inched forward until he moved out of her way. She rolled down the passenger window, muffled cries could be heard coming from the backseat. He pictured Sophia crying into her favorite blanket, reaching out for him and Amora, her sister, through the tinted back windows. “Please.. forgive me.” she whispered.

“If you leave..” he said through the tears, “I’ll never, never forgive you.”

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

9:00 PM

“Girls! Pizza’s here!” Freeman called as he got up to go meet the Pizza Delivery guy outside the lobby. He paid the man, thanking him and giving him a tip which he was thanked countless times for. It always made Freeman sad whenever they thanked him like that. People just don’t realize that the delivery fee has nothing to do with the people delivering the pizza. They don’t get any of that money.

He set the alarm before walking back into their apartment, shutting the door with his foot. He set the pizzas down on the coffee table, turning to walk into the kitchen to grab some plates and a couple cans of sodas to go with dinner when he heard them bickering. He looked into their room, only their door was closed. Not against the rules, but still odd. They never closed their bedroom door, even before the park. Setting the plates and sodas down on the counter by the stove, Freeman walked over to their door and knocked.

He opened it when he heard them stop talking, poking his head through the crack. “May I come in?”

Sophia and Amora looked at each other, Buns yipped at him from on Sophia’s bed. “Why thank you, Buns.” Freeman walked in and sat down on Amora’s bed looking from Sophia back to Amora, his hands clasped in front of him. “So, what’s going on girls?”

Amora sighed, “I told her not to go on there.”

“I just wanted to know if they found them!”

“Of course they haven’t found them! Otherwise Mommy wouldn’t be so upset all the time!”

“Whoa, hey. Mommy isn’t upset, she’s emotional right now. And found who, Sophie?”

“Don’t be mad at me Daddy.”

“I promise I won’t be mad at you bugs.”

She sighed and pulled Faye’s iPhone out from under her pillow. “Mommy left her phone in the bathroom. I wanted to see if they caught those bad people who took us.”

Freeman reached out and took Faye’s phone, tapping it against his other hand before standing and waving his arm towards the door. “Come on, let’s go eat dinner, ok?”

“Ok..” they both said.

Amora grabbed Buns and handed him to her Dad when he held his hands out for her. “Go wash your hands, both of you.”

He waited until they were in the bathroom to go let Buns out on the patio. She was an odd one, she liked to poop in Tonto’s litter box he left out there in hopes that one day the old cat would come back. He glanced back at the girls, they were only on H in their alphabet so he had a minute to place a call to Faye at work. She must be going crazy looking for her cell phone. He scrolled through his contacts until he found ‘Babes Work’ and pressed call.

He listened to the Kohl’s jingle and ads as he waited for someone to answer when  Faye’s phone started ringing, he reached down to answer it thinking it must be Faye calling from work to find it. He looked at the caller ID as someone picked up on the other line.

“Thanks for Calling Kohl’s, this is Rosie how may I help you?”

“Uh, Rosie?” Freeman asked, clearly confused. Didn’t Faye say she was covering Rosie’s shift? Freeman stared at the name on Faye’s phone until it stopped.

“Can I help you?” she asked, he wondered how many times before he heard her.

“Uh, yeah, sorry Rosie. It’s Freeman, I was, uh, I was calling for Faye.”

“Faye? She’s not here, is everything ok?”

“You know what,” he laughed, or at least he thought it sounded like something similar to a laugh, “I think I just got confused. Sorry about that, Rosie.”

“Are you sur-”

“Yeah, thanks, Rosie. Bye.” He hung up his cell phone, putting it in his pocket.

“Daddy, we’re all washed now!”

“That’s-That’s great, baby. Can you grab the plates off the counter?”

“Are you ok?” Sophia asked.

“Yea, bug. I’m.. I’m fine.”

He brought up Faye’s recent call log and stared again at the name he hoped he was hallucinating. Sure enough in bold black letters the name practically bounced off the screen as if it were in 3D.

‘Eli Gardner’

“Mother fucker..” he breathed the words as the realization set in.

1. Faye lied about covering the shift at Kohl’s for Rosie. 2. She was talking to Eli and hadn’t even told him.

Her phone chirped, he looked down not even meaning to and the text message showed in a tiny pop up window that lit his blood to boil.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

7:45 PM Thursday

“DAMN IT!” Faye screamed from their bedroom. “FREEMAN!!!”

“Daddy’s upstairs at Granny’s, Mama.”

“She’s not your Grandmother, Sophia!” Faye hopped from her room to the bathroom, sticking her foot into the bathtub and turning on the hot water. “Bring me a washcloth from the cupboard, please.”

“Here Mommy.” Amora handed her one and turned to leave, but Faye reached out and stopped her.

“Could you go upstairs and get Daddy for me, please?”

“Ok.” Amora smiled slightly at her before heading through the kitchen to the front door.

Faye sighed outloud as she scrubbed the dog poop off her bare foot. She looked at her daughter who stood in the doorway of the bathroom holding Buns, the dog that ‘Ms. Jody’ told Freeman that they ‘needed.’

‘What does she know about what my kids need?’ she thought to herself, sneering down at her foot as she scrubbed with soap and scalding hot water.

“Sophia, take Buns outside please.”

“It’s too cold, Mommy.”

“Please, don’t.. don’t argue with me, ok? Buns needs to go outside every few hours until she knows it’s what she’s supposed to do when she needs to go potty, ok? So she doesn’t pee or poop on the floor.”

Sophia mumbled something under her breath, but headed into her bedroom instead of doing what her Mother told her to do. Faye called her name several times, but was ignored. When Freeman finally came inside, Faye was pissed and in their room on her hands and knees with a bottle of Resolve carpet cleaner, a bucket of hot soapy water and Febreeze.

“You needed something, Babe?”

“Yeah,” She sat up, wiping her brow with her forearm. “You can start by, I don’t know, helping out around your own damn house instead of helping others first.”

“What?”

“Nevermind.”

“Faye, it’s my job. I’m the property man-”

“I KNOW!” she yelled, huffing, pressing her lips together. “I know, I’m sorry. It’s just.. Why the fuck wouldn’t you talk to me first before you bought a fucking dog!? Don’t we have enough stress to deal with without adding a damn dog into it.”

“It’s for the girls.. not us and I could have cleaned it up, you didn’t have to.”

“Well, yeah, actually I kind of did. I stepped it in.” Faye bent back over, spraying resolve on the spot that was already wet.

“Babe,” Freeman knelt down in front of her reaching out to grab one of her hands, but she jerked back and put her hands up by her head. “Hey, what’s the matter with you? You won’t let me touch you. Kiss you. Hell it’s like you don’t even want to be in the same room as me anymore.”

“I just need some space. I feel like I can’t breath half the time and you’re not making it any better!”

“You should have told me.”

“You need to get rid of the dog.”

“NO!” Sophia screamed from behind Freeman. “SHE’S MINE AND MOMO’S!”

“Sophie, sweetie, go to your room. Ok?” Freeman asked, turning around to coax her out of his bedroom. He waited until she was in her room sitting on Amora’s bed next to her sister before he closed the door to his bedroom. Turning back to Faye, he looked down at her. She had her eyes closed and it looked as if she were meditating. “We’re not taking the dog back, Faye. Buns is doing wonders for the girls. She gets them out of the house and they laugh more.”

“You don’t think I notice that?” She opened her eyes, looking up at him. “I see that she makes them happy, but I just can’t take care of a dog and two little girls and go to work.”

“Then.. don’t worry about the dog, ok? Let the girls do it. Give them the responsibility and just monitor that they’re doing it right and cleaning themselves correctly afterwards. Eventually they will be able to do it themselves.”

“I don’t ..” she sighed. “Nevermind.”

“Don’t be like that, babe. Come on, talk to me.”

“I’m just, I’m tired. I have to get ready to go to work.”

“Isn’t it your day off?”

“It was, yes, but Terrance needs someone to cover Rosie’s shift so I said I’d do it.”

“Can’t you call him back and tell him no? I mean you just got off work a few hours ago.”

“N-No, I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“BECAUSE I FUCKING CAN’T FREEMAN!” She stormed out of their room and into the bathroom slamming the door behind her and locking it.

Freeman stood there running his fingers through his hair in complete bewilderment. Maybe Jody was right. Maybe they needed to go into therapy, too. He picked up the bottles of cleaners and the bucket, carrying them into the kitchen and placing them in the sink.

“Daddy?”

Freeman turned around to see Sophia standing behind him. “Heeey, sweetheart.”

“Is Mommy mad at me?”

“No, no sweetie. Never.”

“Is she mad at you?”

Freeman pressed his lips together, kneeling down to be at eye level with her. “Mommy is just.. Mommy is scared. And sometimes Mommies and Daddies, they don’t know how to act when they get scared so they yell, or they clean.”

“Do we have to take Buns back?”

“No, no..” Freeman petted the top of Bun’s head, leaning forward he kissed Sophia’s forehead. “No, Buns is apart of the family. She stays, ok?”

Sophia nodded. “Can I call Ms. Hank, Granny still?”

“Of course.”

“Mommy said she’s not my Grandma, though.”

“That is true, but sometimes family or people we love like family aren’t always related to us, like Uncle Fawn.”

Sophia nodded her head and smiled at him before throwing herself and Buns into his arms. He hugged her tight before releasing her, booping her nose before she headed out the front door to go up to Patty Hanks apartment where Amora was currently enjoying Homemade Dutch Apple Pie, with Buns in her arms.

“Be careful on the stairs, Sophie.”

“Ok, Daddy.”

He walked over to the couch, not bothering to shut the front door and plopped down on the sofa facing the kitchen under the picture window. He waited for Faye to come out of the bathroom so he could apologize or try and talk to her again or anything, something! He’d only seen her like this when she was little after her parents died. She’d pushed out all her friends, her sisters. No one could get through to her, only Freeman, but it seems this time not even he could penetrate the walls she was surrounding her heard, building them up to protect herself. He leaned his head back against the sofa, closing his eyes.

He’d thought only a few minutes had passed, but he he leaned forward his neck was stiff and it was dark out. He looked at his watch, 7:45 PM. He stood and walked over to the front door that was now closed and stepped out into the lobby. “Amora, Sophia!” He called up the staircase.

“Coming Daddy!” they said in unison.

He walked back into their apartment and over to the bathroom, knocking on the door. “Baby? You ok in there?”

No response. He turned the knob, the door opened with ease. No Faye. He checked the bedroom, the girls’ room and then walked outside. Her car was gone. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. Nothing. He called, but she didn’t pick up.

“Daddy?”

He looked over at Amora standing in the lobby. He smiled at her, turning to head inside. “What do you want for dinner tonight, little one?”

“Pizza?”

“Pizza sounds great, go see what your sister wants for toppings ok?”

“K!” She took off running inside calling for Sophia. He turned back and looked around the well lit parking lot and sinking feeling weighing in the pit of his stomach. Something bad was coming, he could feel it.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Buns!

“Where we going, Daddy?” Amora stopped in the middle of singing with Sophia to ask him from her booster in the back. She was looking out the window and noticed they weren’t headed back home.

“A surprise.” Freeman smiled widely at her in the review mirror, winking at both the girls who giggled and squealed.

There weren’t many happy surprises as of late and they were all still riding the euphoria of a milestone passed. Freeman switched lanes, flipping his blinker to signal drivers he was turning right. “Do you know what this place is?”

“A-aaa-n-an-i-i-mmm-a-ANIMAL?!” Sophia sounded out the first word on the sign.

“Animal, is correct. What about the second word?”

“Sss-h-no, Sh! Shhh-e-Shel-Shelter!” Amora chimed in.

“IT’S AN ANIMAL SHELTER!” Sophia squealed.

“Daddy! Are we getting an animal?!” Amora asked, her eyes twinkling for the first time in weeks.

“Well, that depends.” Freeman said as he steered the hummer he now drove into the parking lot of the Palms Pals Animal Shelter parking lot. “If you guys can decide together on what Dog you want.”

“WE ARE GETTING A DOG!” They screamed in delight.

“A small dog! Remember we live in an apartment.”

“Ok, Daddy!” Sophia clapped her hands together.

He parked right in front, jumping out to unbuckle their boosters letting them out of the same side of Sophia’s carseat was. He took their hands and the three of the skipped together to the front door. Freeman held it open for them to go inside, they held eachother’s hands as they walked up to the front desk.

“Hello girls!” The small red head said in a sing song voice. “I’m Penelope! How may I help you?”

“We’re getting a dog!” Sophia squeaked, jumping up and down.

“Freeman Rodriguez, I called about 10 minutes ago.” He reached out shaking her hand.

“Hello Mr. Rodriguez! Right this way girls!” Penelope sang as she rounded the desk and walked down the hall to the viewing room. “These are all the small dogs that are available for adoption.” She stated.

Amora and Sophia exchanged looks before letting out high pitched squeals and running for the cages that held puppies, and small sized dogs of different breeds and sizes. “What kind of dog is this?”

Penelope walked over to stand by Sophia, Amora joined them at the same time. “That is a dachshund. Also known as a ‘wiener’ dog.”

The girls started busting up laughing. “It looks like a hot dog!”

“I like him.”

“It’s a girl.”

“Daddy can we have her?”

Freeman walked over and looked over the top of his daughters heads at the dachshund. She stood on her hind legs locking his daughters hands through the fencing. “Can we see how she is with them?”

“Of course!” Penelope tucked her clipboard under her arm and unlatched the cage, reaching in to pull her out. The girls eased down onto their knees and hands and started playing with her.

“We can call her Buns!” Sophia said.

“Buns?” Amora’s brow furrowed.

“Yah, get it.. like hotdog buns!?”

“Hahaha, yah! Buns!! Do you like that Buns?!” Amora crooned as Buns licked her face before running over to Sophia to lick hers.

Penelope, smiling and with raised eyebrows looked at Freeman who nodded. She walked over with the paperwork and they began filling it out. “Do you have dog collars and leashes available to purchase here?”

“We do! I’ll be right back.” Penelope left Freeman to watch his daughters playing with their soon to be comfort animal and the sight brought tears to his eyes. When she returned, she had an assortment of collars on her wrist and up her arms.

“The red one!” Amora called.

“Like ketchup!” Sophia giggled.

“Red it is!” Penelope walked over, unclasping the red collar from her arm and put it on Buns.

“I’d also like her chipped, if we could do that.”

“Absolutely. It’s an easy process. We can do it while you guys go do some shopping or eat whatever and you can come pick her up when you’re done.”

“Great!” Freeman handed her his credit card and the clipboard before sitting on the ground next to Sophia to play with the dog. They stayed another 20 minutes before the Vet came in and said it was time to put in her chip. They stopped at the bathroom to wash their hands and walked outside to the car.

“When can we pick her up?” Amora asked as Freeman buckled her into her booster.

“As soon as Mommy meets us for dinner. Where do you want to go?”

“Grandma’s?”

“How about Casa Vieja?”

“OOO! Yea!! Can we, please?!” Sophia pouted.

“Sure!”

Freeman got behind the wheel of the car, buckled his safety belt before putting the car in reverse and driving back out on the road heading towards the closest restaurant with fine mexican cuisine. They were there long enough to order drinks and chose what they wanted to eat when Faye called him.

“Is Mommy coming?” Amora asked.

“Yup, she’ll be here in about five minutes.”

“I can’t wait for Mommy to see Buns! She’s going to love her!” Sophia smiled up at him.

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Faye parked five spaces away from Freeman’s Hummer and all but ran inside Casa Vieja. She stopped short of plowing into a tiny waitress, apologize profusely before searching the crowded restaurant spotting Freeman and the girls and working her way over to them.

“You said La Comida!” Faye said accusingly.

“I know, I’m sorry. The girls corrected me after I hung up the phone.” Freeman stood up, pulling a seat out for Faye and leaning in to kiss her, but she sat down too fast. He knew something was up, but he didn’t want to spoil such a great evening so he decided to wait to ask her until after the girls were asleep.

“Mommy, guess what?!” Sophia smiled brightly at her Mother.

“What’s that baby?”

“Daddy let us pick out a dog!” Amora said softly, smiling sheepishly at her Mother.

Faye turned to stare at her, her eyes glossing over with tears. Blinking them back she smiled at her. “Did he?”

Amora nodded her head, but Sophia spoke up, “Yup! We named her Buns! She’s so cute, Mommy!”

Faye glanced at Freeman, but he couldn’t pin what emotion or silent message she was trying to relay to him. “What kind of dog is she?”

“A wiener dog!”

Faye nodded her head as he reached across the table to grab a chip and scoop up some salsa popping it into her mouth. The waiter came back over taking her drink and food order before leaving only to return with her drink and refills for everyone else. It was only another 20 when their food arrived. The girls chatted freely with Faye and Freeman, but neither of the two had passed a single word between each other the entire dinner since Faye first arrived. When it was time to leave, Freeman stood and walked to the front to pay for their meal, dropping a $5 on the table for a tip for the waiter.

He grabbed Sophia and Amora’s hands and walked them back out to the car. “I’ll take Sophia in my car.”

“But I want to ride with Daddy and MoMo, Mommy! We’re going to pick up Buns!” Sophia pouted, tears slipped over her blonde eyelashes and fell freely down her cheeks.

“Let’s go together, babe.”

“No, I’ll..” Faye sighed, looking around before turning back to her family smiling. “I’ll just follow you there in my car, ok?”

She was really on edge, but he couldn’t place why. He leaned down and picked the girls up, walking them over to his Hummer and placing them in the drivers seat to climb over and get into their boosters. He shut the door and turned to Faye. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Faye. Don’t,” he pleaded.

“Don’t what? I said nothing is wrong.”

“Don’t block me out, baby.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned down, kissing her for the first time since they’d come home from the hospital. He felt it when she finally gave in to him. Her body tense, soon relaxed. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her body. He felt the eagerness, the want, the need. God he wanted her. He pulled back, breathing heavily. “We have an audience.” He whispered her in ear. “Laters baby.”

Faye licked her lips before smiling up at him, shaking her head. She climbed into the back seat to buckle both girls, kissing them on the forehead before jumping out and shutting Sophia’s door. She turned and standing on her tip toes, kissed Freeman one more time before waking to her Range Rover. He stood on the inside of the car, watching her until she was inside and had it started before he sat down, closing his door and starting his own vehicle.

“Ready to go get, Buns?”

“YEA!”

@charsimatic

[nonsimsical]

Second Session

He flipped the turn signal on sitting in the middle lane waiting for the line of cars to break so he can get over into the parking lot of Dr. Jody Morris’s office. He’d waited as long as he could for Faye to call or text him, but she did neither and she wasn’t answering her phone. Drumming his fingers against the steering wheel, he pressed the call button that accesses his phone through the speakers of the car. The automated voice filled the almost silent vehicle.

*Beep* ‘Hello, Mr. Rodriguez, who would you like to call?’

“Babes!” He enunciated loudly.

He was rewarded with a click and the sound of Faye’s ringback tone which lasted three seconds before going to voicemail. ‘Huh, she forwarded me.’ He thought. He listened her to chipper voice and could recall watching her as she set up her voicemail when he’d finally caved and upgraded their cell phones to iPhone’s and had put Faye on his family plan. The little things always made her so happy, now nothing did.

Clearing his throat, keeping an eye on the line of cars, before he spoke, “Hey babe, I tried waiting for you as long as possible. It’s five minutes until they have to be there as it is with this ridiculous traffic they might be late as is. If you get this, call me or head straight over to Jody’s office unless I text or call you otherwise. I love you, drive safe.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes, Bug?”

When Sophia didn’t say anything, Freeman glanced in the review mirror and saw Sophia chewing on her thumbnail while twisting a piece of her hair. He sighed, pressing his lips together. He looked to Amora who was watching him, he smiled as best he could at her and she looked at Sophia before turning back to him nodding her head. He nodded back, but couldn’t help thinking that she had matured far behind someone turning five years old. The thought saddened him deeply.

Finally able to pull into the paring lot, Freeman parked as close as he could to the front door. The media wasn’t as bad as it had the first week after they’d come home, but it was still bad and they congregated at the oddest locations. He had a feeling someone was watching their apartment and was following them alerting media to where they were at. It pissed him off more than it should. He knew they were just doing their job, but he was doing his as a parent. Trying to shield and protect his four year old daughters.

He turned the car off, unbuckling, he turned around in the drivers seat to look at both of his girls sitting in their booster seats. “Ready?”

Amora nodded her head and Sophia shrugged. Freeman got out of the car and opened Sophia’s door which was on the drivers side. He leaned in and unbuckled her booster straps before leaning over her and unbuckled Amora’s. He stepped back letting the girls climb out through the open door before shutting the door, hitting the button on the automated lock and set the alarm before reaching down to pick both of them up, kissing them both on the cheek. He stopped at the door to Jody’s office and looked up at both of them.

“Last chance to say no.”

“Will you be here the whole time?”

“Glued to my seat until you call me.”

He could see Sophia struggling, but her eyebrows were furrowed and she had a set expression across her tiny features, “Okay Daddy.”

He looked at Amora who half smiled and nodded. Sadly this was the biggest response he’d seen from her since she woke up and saw him sitting next to her bedside. He pushed pressed the call button by the door and waited for Anita to answer.

"Do you have an appointment?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Name?”

“Jody Morris.”

There was a loud buzzing as the door came ajar and opened by itself.

“This is new?” Sophia asked, honestly intrigued.

“Yes, it is. Jody and her partner had it installed last week. Do you like it?”

Sophia and Amora both nodded in unison.

He walked into the doorway into a little room and waited for the door the shut and lock before Anita came and opened the second. “Hello girls!” She said smiling up at Sophia and Amora.

Freeman walked past her, smiling as he did. He walked across the lobby and sat the girls down before turning to sign them in at the front desk. It wasn’t long before Jody came out of her office.

“Sophia?”

“And MoMo!” Sophia squeaked, clutching both Amora’s hand and Freeman’s.

Jody looked at Freeman, eyebrows raised in question. He nodded which caused a big smile to spread across Jody’s face, “This is a pleasant surprise. I’m very excited to meet you, Amora. Why don’t Sophie and MoMo hold Daddy’s hand and he can walk us to my office, hmm?”

“Daddy?” Sophia looked up at him.

“Always, Bug.” He leaned over and kissed the top of her head, before standing and taking both his daughters hands walking them to Jody’s office. He stood in the doorway, smiling as Jody instructed them to take a seat allowing Freeman to close the door instead of her. She didn’t want the girls having a negative reaction to their sessions and found that giving their parents the power to leave on their own dismissal helped.

“I’m very pleased to be seeing you again, Sophie.” Jody said smiling at Sophia from her seat across from theirs. “And I am also pleased to finally get to meet you, Amora. Sophie’s told me lots about you.”

TO BE CONTINUED..

@charsimatic