"Hiiii! Oh. An' a'hola. You called Daddy. Daddy not here...huh?..say how?..Daddy not here, leave a mess' an' he call you back....like that? Noooo! I wanna taaalk! Daa-[Beeep]."


(Reach us all here.)

(Lani = stillunwrittn, Nina = det_beautyqueen.)

Avery was just getting in from working at the fitness center. His phone had been ringing as he tried to get in to door, so he tossed his gym bag down and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. He flipped it open as he headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Yo," he said, not bothering to check the ID.

( .... )

349

I don't want a lot for Christmas//This is all I'm asking for//I just want to see my baby//Standing right outside my door//Oh I just want you for my own//More than you could ever know//Make my wish come true//Baby all I want for Christmas is you


"Here Daddy, this for Hope." Lulu handed him a doll. "She likes that one."

"Okay, I think you got presents for all your cousins. And for Mommy. Are we ready to go?"

"No Daddy. Gotta get somefin for Nia."

"I got something for her, baby, it's okay."

"No! From me! Somefin from me!" She ran down the aisle way and Avery rolled his eyes, but followed. He watched his daughter closely survey every object before grabbing one. "This one!"

( .... )

287

~pasta
~really big sandwiches
~pie
~macaroni and cheese
~pizza
~chips
~popcorn
~m&m's
~ice cream
~chili
~soup
~stir fried veggies
~anything my Mama makes
~anything my Papa makes
~anything my sisters make
~any meal I get to eat with my two favorite girls

(picture prompt)

Lulu skipped beside Avery as they walked through the department store. "Mommy say nofin' scary, Daddy."

He smiled and shook his head. "Mommy obviously doesn't understand Halloween. The whole point is that you can be scary, but it's not scary."

"I wanna be scary," she nodded and stopped at the racks of costumes.

"Like what?"

"Like Gamma."

( .... )

395

(Follows ongoing storyline revolving around his sister Evie [a_badapple] all of which can be found in her journal. This piece happens after she is brought home to the town they grew up in to get help she needs with problems in her life. Nina = detbeauty_queen and referenced with permission of her awesome mun.)

Avery could hardly remember the last time he and his siblings had been in one room at the same time. Of course, he hated what had brought them together, but looking around at everyone...

The girls had gotten in earlier that day. Avery hadn't been around much for the initial homecoming. Partially because he had Nina home with him and partially because he knew he didn't want to be around for what would obviously be a long and hard talk with their parents. He came over that evening though to see them. They'd all planned it out. He'd wanted to include Nina, but he really didn't want her meeting the entire family under the circumstances they were in. And it was a time for him to be with his brothers and sisters.

( .... )

363

Avery hadn't slept well the night before. He'd waited impatiently at his apartment until a reasonable time to get to the airport without being there too early. He parked and made his way in the small airport. He knew Nina wouldn't have a hard time finding him, because it was a simple airport to navigate.

He took a seat in a big chair just in front of the security gates. Over the next while, he got up and walked around, stood still, sat down, and did it all over again. He glanced up and jumped to his feet when he realized her plane had landed. His heart was pounding.

(I wanted to write something more with the Pete storyline, and something not from the drama Avery and Beka storyline...and I almost wasn't gonna go here, but I'm gonna suck it up anyway. This piece is in honor of my precious lovely kitty who passed away this week.)

Avery was sitting on the couch, reading a magazine, and waiting for Rebeka to show up with Lulu. Pete was sitting on the back of the couch, watching her over her castle. As she so thought it was.

A knock sounded at the door and Avery jumped up and went to open it. The moment he did, Lulu shot through the door and passed him by shouting a loud, "Peeeeete!" He stepped back to watch her go. She jumped onto the couch and stood on it to reach up and pet Pete. Pete looked scared enough to run for a moment, but then relaxed and began to purr. Lulu giggled.

Rebeka stepped inside and crossed her arms. "That cat is all I've heard about all week," she commented.

"Sorry," he groaned.

"It's not so bad. I think it's good for her."

"Good enough that you wanna take her back with you when you have Lu?" He grinned at her, hopefully. She just laughed.

"No." She went over to the couch and leaned over to kiss her daughter. "By honey, Mommy's going."

"See ya, Mommy," Lulu said distractedly as she tried to pick up Pete. Pete did a somersault out of Lu's arms and ran off. Lulu laughed and ran after her. Rebeka smirked and went back to the door.

"Have a great weekend with them, Av."

"Yea, I will," he smirked back, shutting the door behind her. He shook his head and went to find the troublemakers.

He spent the whole night chasing them around, trying to calm Lulu down, and trying to avoid getting scratched by Pete. For some reason, Pete wasn't his biggest fan. But the sentiment was mutual.

It was later in the evening that Avery knew it was definitely bedtime. He walked around the all too quiet apartment, looking for his kids - his kid and cat. He finally stumbled upon them in shock.

"Lulu! What are you doing?!"

"Pete need a bath, Daddy."

"Not in the toilet!"

332

So I've been out of town all weekend, but I am home now. However for the rest of the week tags and entries may be slow coming. I'm sorry. I've got some things I need to figure out.

..instead of that damn cat.

~A few My Little Ponies.
~A toy cat or dog (maybe one of those ones that moves all life like)
~A tricycle
~New outfits
~A new movie for her be obsessed with (so we can stop watching Homeward Bound - and thanks Bailey for buying her the sequal. Really.)
~Anything. But. That. Damn. Cat.

Lani always told us we were lucky. We grew up hearin' that. She'd say, "Av, we're all lucky..you know what kinda foster parents there are out there? We got lucky with Mama and Papa." And..I know she's right. That part, I know.

She also used to tell us that we're lucky we didn't know our birth parents. Our birth family. I mean...me and Bailey..we just kinda got dumped. Some nurses found two cryin' new born babies outside the back. They couldn't find record of us bein' born there or any hospital nearby. Mama says we were on the news and everything. I guess cause we were twins and cute and..not exactly Hawaiian in a Hawaiian town.

I don't know, though. I mean..I don't know anything about Lani's birth family. She doesn't talk about it, but I do know something was bad. And Kala, she had it rough, too. So I get that. They'd probably rather not remember. But..I wanna remember. I wanna know the people I'm from. Don't want them to be my family, of course. I've got a family. I just...wanna know where me and Bailey come from. I wanna know my daughter's heritage.

Most people don't get it, though. Bailey does. Yea, I'm damn lucky. I got a great, supportive, loving family. I've got a beautiful daughter that I love. Life is damn good right now. Hell, my woman told me she loves me for the first time, can't beat life right now.

All the same...I wish I knew.

260

Early Friday morning, Avery went to the door when a soft knock came. He opened it and smiled at his younger sister, Akela. "Hey," he whispered. He leaned in to hug her and kiss the top of her head. She smiled.

"I come bearing the princess' birthday present," she remarked dryly. She held up the small plastic carrier. Avery grinned and leaned over to peer in. A white paw poked out and batted his nose.

( .... )

When was the moment you realized you were an adult?

July 18th, 2005 9:23am

Near hysteria surrounded Avery. Or so it seemed. The small room was a mess of doctors, nurses, beeping - Rebeka screaming and squeezing his hand. And one sound broke through it all to him. It froze him on the spot.

The sharp cry of a baby.

( .... )