Adjusting

Chapter 1

April

Tyler yawned. "No."

"Yes, Tyler." I picked him up, which meant taking Bear too. Carrying them around wasn't as fun anymore. Four year olds are heavy. Not that it stops me. "You know you want to see her."

"No."

I ignored him, carrying him into the living room, where Fang and Tabitha were waiting. Lucas was on the floor, watching them. He was a quiet baby. I mean, Kevin was quiet but not like Lucas. The first week, sure he would cry. But after that, it was only to be changed or fed. He didn't need to be held, he didn't need you to be around. It was creepy. Fang said Tyler and Tabitha weren't like that either.

"Okay, ready?" Fang looked at his son.

"No. I don't wanna go see her. She's mean."

I sat Tyler down. "Too bad. You have to go."

Tyler frowned. Fang took his hat off and put it on Tyler's baldhead. Tyler, the ever typical, ungrateful four year old, just looked at him. "Sunglasses?"

Fang sighed, letting him have those too. "Bye Max."

I kissed him. "Bye. Bring me back something, okay?"

Nodding, Fang walked to the door, the twins trailing behind them, off to see Lydia. Yep, she's back. Now, one Saturday a month, Fang takes them to see her. They normally go to eat or the zoo or something. She had to drive a little to get here but she does…most the time. She blew them off a few times. But I didn't want to focus on that at the moment.

"Well, Mr. Lucas, looks like we're alone."

He made a noise, rolling onto his back. I was going into the garage to do laundry so I picked him up, taking him with me. Lucas cuddled against me, closing his eyes. He never asks to be held, but once you do hold him, he lets you. I kissed his head, setting him down on the blanket we kept in the garage. I grabbed one of his stuffed animals off the table, giving it to him. He ran a hand down it before just looking at me.

"What baby? Huh? I don't know what you want, you never cry to tell me. Do you know how worried you make me? Huh?"

Lucas made a noise again, as if he was talking back to me. I started taking the clothes out of the dryer to fold them. I was almost done when I felt something touch my leg. I jumped before seeing that it was just Snickers. I scratched behind the cat's ears before finishing folding. When I stood up, the first thing I noticed was that Snickers was on Lucas's blanket, the second being that Lucas was no longer on his blanket.

"Lucas!" I turned, looking for him. "Baby, where did you go?"

I found him next to the dryer. "What were you thinking? Are you trying to make Mommy upset?"

He just looked at me for a second before trying to crawl away. I picked him up though, stopping this. He turned to me, closing his eyes.

"Baby." I sighed, kissing him. "Is this you trying to tell us you need a playpen? Huh?"

I carried him into the house and went to put him into his crib. I kissed his head before going to put the clothes away. I yawned. It was about five and I needed a nap. I laid down in the bed, falling asleep.

A dresser drawer slammed shut. I sat up in bed, glad that it didn't wake up Lucas. Fang was going through the drawers.

"What's wrong?" I asked him, worried. "You mad about being around Lydia?"

"No. I'm mad about not being around Lydia."

I frowned. "What do you mean? Did she not show up again?"

Fang ignored me, going over to Lucas's crib. He kissed the baby's head before going over to the bed. He laid down next to me, closing his eyes.

"How did the babies take it?"

Fang sighed, opening his eyes to look at me. "Tabitha was upset but then I took them to get ice cream and she's fine. Tyler isn't talking. He ate the ice cream I got him but only a little. I don't get it. He said that he didn't want to see her."

"He was lying." I stood up, walking out of the room. I went into to Tyler's room. He was on his bed, holding Wa-wa, Bear thrown across the room. "Hey T-"

"No! Go 'way!"

I sighed, going over to his tossed out teddy bear. "Tyler, why's Bear on the floor?"

"Bear's bad."

"What did he do?"

Tyler frowned more. "He made Mommy not come. She doesn't like Bear."

"Tyler-"

"No!" He turned away from me. "I'm sleepy. I'm going to sleep."

I kissed the back of his head. "Good night Tyler. I love you."

He mumbled something.

"What was that?"

"I said I love you too."

"What?"

"I love you too!"

"Alright then." I kissed him again, laying Bear next to him. "Have you taken a shower?"

"I'mma take one in the morning."

I sighed. "Fine, but you better take one."

"Okay!" He turned to face me, glaring. "Max, you need to go."

"Why?"

"You made Mommy not come too. You and Bear."

"Tyler-"

"Go!"

"Don't yell at me."

"G-"

"You want me to get Daddy?"

He shut up. I walked out of the room, sighing. When I went into Tabitha's room, she was on her bed, drawing, her Naruto headband around her head.

"Hi Tabs."

She looked up, smiling. "Hi Max!"

I went over to her, kissing her head. "What are you drawing?"

"A picture for Tommy."

"Did you like the necklace he sent you?" It was made out of seashells he found at the beach while he and his parents were in Malibu…God I hope that she marries him.

"Yes!" Tabitha giggled, looking up at me. "He's the bestest husband."

"Yeah." I sighed, sitting down next to her. "Fang said that Mommy didn't come."

Tabitha nodded, going back to her drawing. "It's okay though. Daddy got us ice cream."

"Did he?"

"Yeah. And hamburgers."

Snickers, who was sitting on Tabitha's bed, got up, stretching. The cat jumped down before walking out of the room.

"Max?"

"Hmmm?"

"Tyler said that you're the reason Mommy didn't come." She grabbed a different colored pencil, now coloring Tommy's hair. "But I know that's not true."

"No, it's not. I…like Mommy."

Tabitha kept coloring. "Are you going to work tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"And we're taking Luke?"

"Yeah, Daddy has to work at the gas station."

"Is Luther gonna be there?"

"I think so." I untied the headband.

"Hey-"

"Time for bed." I kissed her head. "You need a bath first."

Tabitha frowned. "Can't I tomorrow?"

"No, you're brother is taking one tomorrow." We had just recently decided that they were too old to take baths together. Tyler, who like his sister, had never really noticed the differences in their body was starting to ask things so…

"So?"

"So, I have work in the morning. I don't have enough time to shower and make sure that you both shower."

Scowling, Tabitha got up. "You're mean."

"And you're four. Don't talk back or call me names."

Tabitha got her nightclothes before walking out of the room. I followed her into the bathroom.

"Max, I'm old enough to bathe myself!"

"I know. Trust me, I don't want to bathe you." I turned on the water. "Shower or bath?"

"Shower!"

"Okay." I turned on the shower before moving back. "Hurry up."

She undressed, getting into the shower. I walked out of the bathroom, going into the kitchen. I went out back to get Tank's bowl. He was laying in the middle of the yard. When he saw me, he jumped up, running full blast towards me. I ran inside, not wanting him to run me down. I fed him before feeding the cat. Then I remembered I didn't eat. I went back into my bedroom.

"Fang. Fang."

He groaned. "What baby?"

"You didn't bring me food."

Fang sat up. "Shit. I'm sorry baby, I forgot because of all that stuff with Lydia."

I frowned. "Well, I guess I'll-"

"Eat a sandwich or something." Fang laid back down, not concerned. "You put the kids to bed?"

"Yeah. Tabby's in the shower."

Fang closed his eyes.

"Night Fang."

Nothing. I sighed, going out. I went back into the bathroom. Tabitha was getting dressed.

"Max!"

"Calm down." I put her towel on the rack, something she constantly forgot to do.

Tabby scowled at me, finishing getting dressed. "I don't walk in on you getting dressed."

I thought for a second. "Yeah, Tabs, you do."

Grabbing her dirty clothes, I walked out of the room, headed to the garage. I put them in their assigned pile before going to Tabitha's room. She was now drawing again.

"Tabitha-"

"Okay, okay." She sat her drawing on the floor, along with her art kit. She mumbled how much of a mean person I was, pulling the covers up around her. I pushed her hair off her forehead, kissing her.

"I love you Tabitha."

She just turned onto her side. Great. They both hate me. And for what? I sighed, walking out of the room, not even eating. I checked on Lucas before getting into bed. Cuddling against Fang, I closed my eyes.

"What's wrong?"

I opened them to look at Fang. "The babies hate me."

"Maybe it's because you still call them babies."

"They are babies!" I huffed. They're my babies… "Tyler thinks that I'm the reason Lydia didn't show up."

"He's wrong. Being a bitch is the reason that she didn't come."

"Did she at least call this time?"

"Yeah, about an hour later. They had already eaten and I was letting them play in the playground." Fang laid on his back, running a finger down Kevin's name. "You eat?"

I paused. "Yeah…"

"Max."

"Shut up Fang."

"You shut up and go fucking eat."

He never has patience with me. "I'm not hungry."

"Seriously?"

"Yes! My babies hate me."

Fang sighed. "You never told me why Tabitha hates you."

I laid my head on his chest. "She's just mad at me because I made her go to bed."

"Did she say she hates you?"

"No. Neither did Tyler."

"Then what the hell are you whining about?"

"I don't know. I just like talking to you."

"Yeah? Well, I like sleeping."

I wrapped an arm around him, holding onto him. "I love you."

Fang ran a hand down my back. "Go to sleep before you wake up Lucas."

"He never wakes up. He'll sleep through anything." I smiled against his chest. "He's perfect."

Fang looked down at me. "No more than Tabitha or Tyler."

"I didn't mean it like that!"

Closing his eyes, Fang said, "Go to sleep. I'm done talking."

I sighed, moving away from him. Fang didn't like this. He pulled me back to him, against my will. "Fang-"

"Shhh. Sleep."

And I did.

I picked up Lucas's carrier, closing the car door. "Come on, babies."

Tyler and Tabitha followed me into Anime Any Day. Tabitha immediately ran to Luther. "Luther!"

"Hey little girl." He picked her up, setting her in his lap. "Hi Tyler."

Tyler just carried Snickers into the back. I heard the office door open and close. He wasn't feeling well today. I don't think he's sick as much as upset about the Lydia thing. I sighed, setting Lucas's carrier on the ground behind the counter. Bone got up, letting me sit down. I pulled off my sunglasses, giving them to Tabitha. She smiled, setting them on top of her head. Bone leaned down, looking at the baby. He ran a hand down his face before going to restock.

"How are you, my sweet, little princess?"

Tabitha giggled. "Good."

"Are you still wearing that nasty boy's ring?"

"Tommy's not nasty!" Tabitha looked at her hand. The ring was just a plastic pink one that he had given her on Valentines Day. Fang got me a pack of diapers and that new binky Lucas needed. Ah, young love. "He's the bestest husband ever."

"Ever?" Luther frowned at her. "Well, I guess I'm going to have to find a new girlfriend…"

Tabitha patted his cheek. "I'll help you."

"You will? Thanks, you're the best."

She smiled, leaning against him. I rolled my eyes. "Fang work tomorrow?"

"Yep. Night shift."

"Do I?"

"No."

I sighed; running a hand down my neck until I got to the necklace Tyler gave me my first Christmas with him and then Fang's.

I walked out of the office after laying Tabitha and Tyler on the couch for a nap. Fang says they're too old for naps but he doesn't have to deal with them all day. When I got back into the other room, Luther and Bone had moved Lucas's carrier up onto the counter, watching him intently.

"Guys, put him back on the ground."

"Why?" Luther looked up at me.

"Because it looks trashy to have a baby carrier up on the counter."

Bone had a plushie in his hand, making it's hands and legs move in front of the baby. Lucas was not amused. When I walked around the counter and Lucas saw me, he brightened.

"Hi baby. Are they annoying you? Huh baby?" I picked him up. Luther sat the now empty carrier on the floor before getting up.

"Alright, I have to go decide the paychecks."

I rolled my eyes, sitting in Luther's spot. "You make it sound like you chose how much we get paid."

"As far as you know, I do."

"Just don't wake the babies when you go in there."

Luther nodded, walking away. Bone looked at me. "Night?"

"My night was good. Yours?"

Bone shook his head. "Bad."

"Why?"

"Girls."

"Isn't that normally a good thing?"

"Found out."

"About each other?"

Bone nodded. "Fang?"

"What about him?"

"Good?"

I frowned, trying to understand. "Yeah, he's good."

"To you?"

I sighed. "Bone."

He just smiled at me before getting up.

I was washing dishes when I heard the front door open in close.

"Max?"

"In here."

He walked into the kitchen, kissing the back of my head. "Where are all of them?"

"The baby's asleep and the twins are in their rooms." I kept washing the dishes. "You missed dinner."

"What did you eat?"

"Pizza."

"Ty ate?"

"A little."

Fang kissed my head. "They take their baths?"

"Tyler did but Tabby didn't."

Fang kissed me again before moving away from me. "I'm going to bed."

"'Kay. Don't wake Lucas. It took me forever to get him to go to sleep."

Nodding, Fang walked out of the room. I finished the dishes before going to check on the kids. Tyler was laying in bed but wasn't asleep.

"Night baby." I went over to him, kissing his forehead. Tucking him in, I added, "I love you."

"I love you too."

I walked out of his room and into his sister. Tabitha was rolling on the ground. "What are you doing, Tabby?"

She looked up at me, embarrassed. "Go away Max! It's a secret training mission!"

I rolled my eyes. "Finish it tomorrow. It's time for bed."

"But Max-"

"No, now go to bed."

She frowned. "I didn't take a bath."

"Then I guess you'll have to take one tomorrow."

"You're mean."

"Did we not go through this yesterday? You don't get to tell me what I am."

Scowling, she changed into her nightclothes. "I don't like you!"

"Good, I'm not that fond of you at the moment either." I crossed my arms. "Now get into bed."

"I want to sleep with Daddy."

"Too bad. Go to bed."

Tabitha got into bed. "I hate you!"

"Watch your mouth."

After turning off the light, I walked out of the room and went into Fang and mine. He was laying on the bed, Lucas on his chest.

"Hey."

I walked into the room before changing clothes. "Hey."

Lucas was awake, patting his hand against Fang's chest. I laid down on the bed, smiling at him. He smiled too, reaching for me.

"Ba ba."

I kissed his hand. "Hi Lucas."

"Ba ba."

Fang ran a hand down his back. "He won't go to sleep."

"I told you not to wake him up."

"I didn't try to."

Opening my wings a little, I rolled onto my stomach. "My wings hurt."

"You don't use them enough."

"You don't use yours at all!"

"Yeah but I don't complain."

"My back's tight too."

"Max, are you wanting a massage or something?"

"No, I'm just telling you that-"

"Shut up, you're upsetting Lucas."

Lucas picked up a little stuffed bear that was also on Fang's chest. He smiled, making a noise.

"You're a jerk." I turned away from him.

It was silent for awhile, save Lucas's little noises. After awhile, Fang asked, "When can we move him into Tyler's room?"

I shrugged. "Not any time soon. I want to wait a year at least."

Fang got up, taking the now quiet Lucas to his crib. When he got into bed, he pushed me onto my stomach again.

"Hey-"

"Shut up." He pulled off my shirt, hurting my wings as they were through the slits in the back.

"Fang, I'm serious-"

"Shut the fuck up."

"We are not doing that right now."

"Who said that I wanted to?"

"You-"

"Shhhh." He started rubbing my back.

"Fang, I thought-"

"Damn, Max, do you now know how to shut up?"

I closed my mouth.