FicWad

Part Thirty-Five

FAST FORWARD (you ready for this time warp?) TWO YEARS...

Keliah's POV

As much as I hate to say it and Patrick would hate to admit it, life has been fantastic after the band took some time off. Each one of them seemed more pleasant when they'd come over to visit, and they would be just like friends again. I think the stress of the band was taking a toll on them personally, and when they realized they didn't HAVE to put out a record anymore, and they didn't HAVE to make music, they relaxed around each other more. The pressure was off.
Patrick had started doing his own music, going as far as making a whole record by himself. The studio we had in the house was almost his permanent living spot by now. There was days when he would be in there for hours at a time, trying to get certain parts of a song right. And you should see how he looks now. He's lost so much weight. I don't even know how much he's actually lost. It had to have been at least half of what he weighed before. The glasses are gone, the sideburns are gone, and his hats weren't worn as frequently anymore. But he was even more beautiful than he was when we met. His eyes shined brighter, his smile was more confident than it's ever been, and his cheekbones stood out from his face beautifully. However, with the twins, now almost 3 years old, it was hard not to lose weight while you were chasing them around the house. I know. I've had to chase them around a lot.
Max has turned out to be the kind of kid that knows what he wants to do. He's already set on being a musician like his daddy. He'll go into the studio with Patrick and watch him play each instrument. He can talk for the most part, only short sentences, but it's still talking. Patrick thought it was hilarious that both twins' first words were "Dada". He had the most proud smile on his face when he heard them both say it. I think they just picked it up from one another. One would say it and the other one would just copy. But I didn't dare tell Patrick; it'd be too much of a buzz kill for him, and he wouldn't believe it for a second anyhow.
Lily had already started to sing. She wouldn't sing words, but she would simply sing 'La' all the time. When she was making a mess in the kitchen, when she was getting ready for bed, and just when she would run around the house. I think the majority of Patrick and I's time spent in the house is chasing Lily. She'll grab things that we need for something and then run off with them. Max has started tag-teaming with her, and they'll start passing the stuff to each other. Patrick and I have luckily found a system where he'll chase Max and pick him up, and I'll run after Lily and pick her up. Eventually we get whatever they ran off with.
Just a few days ago, Lily ran off with Patrick's drumsticks. He went to go record something and he couldn't find them. He asked me where they went and I had no idea. He didn't even know that Lily had taken them until we seen her peeking around the corner of the kitchen doorway with them in her hand. Patrick laughed for a second, and his face turned to worry when she took off. He had to have ran around the house at least 3 times trying to get them back, with it ending up into a tickle fight on the living room floor. He pinned her down and tickled her until she gave them up.
The kids definitely made life exciting, that's for sure. However, every now and then, Max and Lily would go and stay with Farrah, or Patrick's parents for awhile, and we would have the evenings to ourselves. There were sometimes where we would do nothing more than sleep. For a LONG time. Or there were times when we would have a date night. And then there were times when we couldn't keep our hands off each other. Patrick was so much more confident and sure of himself, that it was hard to even switch dominating roles anymore. He was more passionate than ever, and, as I said, his confidence was AMAZING. During sex, he was more relaxed, and more secure with what he was doing. There was times that I was completely speechless afterwards. It was absolutely just...amazing.
But of course, the twins would come back, excited to be back home, and we would switch right back into parent mode. So far, life was good.
We didn't hear much from Joe, Andy, or Pete anymore, even though everyone was on good terms with each other again. Pete would send the occasional email to make sure everything was going ok, and update us on his life and all that. He was starting a side project band, and he was going to tour with them for awhile. He sounded pretty excited about it, and to be honest, so did Patrick. Joe and Andy had joined another band, going back to their Chicago hardcore roots, and they were also starting on new music. I think it made Patrick happy to know that everyone could survive without the band. I still remember the look on his face when it all fell apart. He really looked like there was nothing else to live for. But as the weeks went by, he slowly realized there was way more to life than Fall Out Boy. Not only to him, but to all the guys. It a way, it was a secure feeling. Now he knew that if the band were to come back together, it would be for the fun of it again. Not for anything other than that.
Farrah was (legitimately) dating Pete for awhile after the band split. He really had changed quite a bit now that he was away from all the negative pressure. However, she told me they broke up because of personal differences anyways, and it was a mutual breakup. They're at least still friends. As far as I know, and from what Farrah has told me, her and Andy are dating as of right now. I don't think it's anything serious. It's more of a 'Now we know we both like each other' kind of thing. I don't anyone is wishing for it to go bad, but, look at the track record she's got with that band. I have total faith she'll make this work; she deserves a good guy like Andy.
All in all, the past couple of years have been relaxing. Patrick and I just recently celebrated our 2nd anniversary, and the twins...sort of made us a cake. They spent the day with their grandparents (Patrick's mom and dad) and helped their grandma with the frosting of it. Admittedly, it did sorta look like a mess, but it was still a delicious cake. Besides, it was made by the twins. And that's probably the best anniversary present to get, am I right? 
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This morning three of us were all seated at the kitchen table for breakfast. I had a mango milkshake in hand, and both Max and Lily were eating cereal. Lily liked fruity pebbles a lot, but Max liked rice crispies only because they made noise when you poured milk on them. I didn't really care what they ate, as long as they ate it. Patrick hadn't woken up yet. Max and Lily were happily eating so I set down my drink and looked at both of them.
"I'm gonna go wake up daddy. Do you want to help me?"
Both of their eyes lit up and they put their spoons down, attentively listening.
"How do we wake up daddy?" Lily asked.
"Well, first, you've got to jump on the bed. That should get his attention. Ready?"
They both nodded happily and we all ran down the hall to the bedroom. We ran past what used to be their nursery. Their nursery had now been switched into a half and half room, at least until the other room down the hall was done. Then they would have separate bedrooms, but as of now, they don't annoy each other too much...yet. We ran into where Patrick was sleeping, sprawled on the bed. I put a finger to my lips to show the twins they needed to be quiet first, then motioned for them to get up on the bed. Max and Lily jumped up and down on the bed, giggling the whole time. Patrick's eyes fluttered open, and I leaned next to him. "Time to get up, gorgeous." I whispered.
"Are the kids jumping on the bed?" he said groggily.
"Yes. Yes, they are." I grinned widely.
He turned to the little bodies that were happily hopping on the huge bed and he sat up, messing with his hair. The jumping almost made him lose his balance sitting upright, and he started laughing. "Oh god...what a sight to wake up to..."
Both of them pounced on him, throwing him backwards onto the bed and I laughed as he grabbed them and turned to each of them. "How is my beautiful girl?"
Lily giggled. "Good morning daddy!"
"And how is my little man?"
"Peachy!"
Max learned the word peachy from Farrah. She always said when we asked her how she was that she was just peachy. Max liked the word, so whenever Patrick would ask how he was, he would say peachy. It was pretty funny, because every time Farrah has said it, she's said it sarcastically. And Max doesn't even know it. It made me smile at the thought and I then turned to the twins with my arms crossed. "Alright, daddy's awake. Now, come on, go finish your breakfast, and maybe we can all go out to the park today."
"Really, really, really?" Lily asked, excitedly, moving her little arms up and down.
"Yes, but you've got to go finish your breakfast first."
"Yay!" They both yelled as they ran back to the kitchen. I yelled after them, "Don't make too much of a mess, and that means no throwing cereal at your sister, Max!"
I turned back to Patrick who ran a hand over his face and rubbed his eyes. "Well, good morning."
"Good morning..." I said, climbing onto the bed next to him.
"What time is it?"
"It's only about 9:30. You deserved the rest."
"I didn't mean to be up so late-"
"Yeah, you kinda came to bed at 1 a.m. last night."
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. You were working hard. I know you're trying to finish your songs, you need all the time you can get."
He nodded sleepily and shook his head. "I still shouldn't have stayed up so late."
"Maybe so. But you're awake now."
He leaned in to kiss me, and I returned the gesture. His tongue met mine, in a slow rhythmic movement. His hand reached for my neck, pulling me closer to him. He ran his fingers through my hair and I did the same. It felt so good to have his lips pressed to mine, it was like the world around me stopped. But of course, he pulled his face away from mine, his hand still on my neck. "You look beautiful." he said, looking deep into my eyes. I could feel myself blush, and he then pulled his hand away. "I should get dressed, or else those kids are gonna tackle me again if we don't get out there soon." he laughed.
I smiled. "I'll make sure they aren't throwing cereal at each other."
"Alright. I'll be out in a second."
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Patrick's POV

She nodded and blew me a kiss as she walked out the room.
God, did I feel fantastic. I felt, healthy, awake, and alive. I had a beautiful wife, two beautiful twins, and music to keep me happy. Today was going to be a good day.
I stretched and pulled on some clothes. I had a dress shirt on, with a blue tie, and some blue pants on, leaving the hat behind. It felt...weird, but nice to not wear a hat all the time. Wearing the hats now, I found, was difficult emotionally and when I looked in the mirror with them on, it just brought back memories of what used to be. So I left them there for awhile. I walked out of the bedroom, and into the kitchen. Max and Lily starting bouncing in their seats. "Daddy!!!" Max yelled.
Kel looked at them and sighed. "Come on, you've gotta finish your breakfast, or we won't go to the park."
Lily looked up at Kel with her big green eyes. Kel hated when Lily did that; it was her biggest weakness, and I think Lily knew it. "Mommy, when we go to the park, can we have a pick-a-nick?"
Lily pronounced certain words with such kid-like charm, it was hard to try to correct her sometimes. I looked at Lily and said, "You mean, picnic, sweetheart."
"That's what I said!" she said confidently. I just smiled at her and fixed myself a milkshake of my own. She was so much like her mother. Stubborn. Kel smiled at Lily too.
"Yes, sweetie, if you want to have a picnic, we'll bring a blanket along with us."
"YAY!" she said. She ate her last spoonful of cereal, and then asked, "Can I be excused, mommy?" Kel nodded and she ran off to their room to change out of her pajamas. Max soon did the same thing, and ran into their room to change. I sighed and sat down as I took a sip of my milkshake. Kel giggled at me.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing. Just...exhaustion, I think." I lied.
She sat down next to me and looked into my eyes. Her brown eyes, as beautiful as they may be, can see through any lie you tell.
"You're lying. I can see it in your face."
I sat there in silence, trying to avoid the question that was coming next.
"Is it the band?"
I winced a little as she asked it. The pain from being hit in the face and the lip jolted back, along with images of playing onstage with my best friends.
"Yeah." I sighed. "It's just...it's been two years since the band split. The kids are growing up fast, and I'm almost finished with my record...I just feel like...the break should be over by now."
"Maybe you're not the only one who thinks so. You can always email them all and ask what their plans are. If it takes longer, it takes longer. If they wanna get back together now, then...that's what you'll do. You've just got to roll with the punches, I guess."
"I suppose so. It's not really as big of a deal anymore though. It doesn't run through my mind everyday like it used to. I guess I have the kids to thank for that. They are an EXCELLENT distraction." I said, matter-of-factly.
"That is true. Just don't think about it. It'll happen when it happens."
Lily and Max ran out of their rooms, bouncing up and down. "Can we go to the park now? Can we go to the park?"
"We have to get everything ready first. Do you wanna help me pack some snacks?"
Lily raised her hand in the air. "I WILL!"
I turned to Max, with my hands on my knees. "Well, buddy, I guess that leaves us to find the blankets." Max nodded happily. Kel told me to look inside the closet at the end of the hall, so I grabbed Max, put him on my shoulders, and we headed down the hall. "So, Max, this is probably going to be on the top shelf. You think you can reach it from up there?"
I heard him say. "I got it!"
I opened the door to the closet, and there it was. The white and green checkered blanket was, as I thought it would be, on the top shelf. I walked forward a little and he grabbed the blanket in his tiny hands. Of course, he didn't grab the whole thing, and it unfolded onto my face, not letting me see anything. I heard Kel and Lily laughing at the end of the hall, and I moved the blanket aside to shake my head at them. Max started giggling as well, and I pulled him off my shoulders and let him run off with the blanket trailing behind him. I shut the door to the closet, and walked back to the kitchen, trying to catch him again so we could fold the blanket. I eventually came up with the idea of just standing on the blanket. It was like a cartoon. He was holding it behind him like a cape, and when I stood on the blanket, he just ran in place for awhile, until he realized he wasn't moving. "Daddy!" he whined, tugging at the blanket.
"Maxwell, come on, we've gotta get this folded so we can go to the park."
He set down the edge of the blanket reluctantly and folded his arms, making an angry face. Great. One of his tantrums...this early in the morning. Fantastic, I thought. He started marching away and I called out his name. "MAXWELL VAUGHN STUMP, GET BACK HERE."
He quietly returned, peeking around the corner at me.
"Come on, Max. Do you wanna go to the park?" I said, crouching on my knees. Max nodded. "Then you've gotta help with this." Max finally came out from behind the corner and helped me fold up the blanket. I finally picked it up, neatly folded, and walked back out to the kitchen where Lily was putting carrots inside little bags into a cooler with a bunch of snacks inside it. Celery with peanut butter, carrots, and, just like her mother, Lily had a penchant for jellybeans, so there was a box on the side of the cooler, and a lot of other stuff.
Soon enough, Kel and Lily were ready, and Max followed close behind me as we piled everything into the car, along with the twins. "Is everybody ready?" I said, putting the key into the ignition. Lily and Max nodded and Kel looked back to check. "Yep. We can go."
I backed out the driveway, and we were on our way to the park.
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We sat in the park, a nice warm breeze flowing through the air, and cool green grass to sit on. Kel and I watched Lily and Max as they played, pulling up grass, finding bugs...all sorts of strange things. I kept watching them, wondering what they'd grow up to be. Maybe they'd be inventors, or doctors, curers of the common cold. Maybe they'd be musicians, and live the same life I did for so many years of my life. No. I couldn't wish that for anyone. Especially not my own children. I felt Kel's hand on my back and I snapped back to attention.
"You alright, honey?" she said.
"Yeah...yeah. I'm fine. Just thinking about the band again."
"Just relax. It's a nice day and we get to sit here peacefully, without kids yelling all day. Nothing to worry about."
I nodded and I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I looked at the caller ID, and it was Andy. I hadn't talked to Andy in ages. "Who is it?" Kel asked.
"Andy. I should probably take this then."
I got up and walked out of earshot from Kel and the kids. "Hello?"
"Patrick?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"It's Pete."
My heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, it's Pete?"
"He got into a crash."
"WHAT?!?" I yelled into the receiver. "When, how, where?"
"He's at the hospital now, he's stable and everything, but he's beat up pretty bad. He apparently got side-swiped driving through town last night, the other driver was drunk. Luckily, the driver tried to swerve, and it hit the rear end of the car, but it narrowly missed Pete in the drivers seat. If the car had been any closer to him, he would've been crushed."
I ran a hand over my face and tried to stay calm. "He's at the hospital right?"
"Yeah, at the moment. Farrah and I have been here all night and this morning, and I just called Joe a few seconds ago, so he should be showing up soon."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
I hung up the phone without another word. Max and Lily were showing Kel some strange caterpillar they had found in the grass when I walked back. Kel's smile faded when she seen my face. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Pete. He's in the hospital." I felt the blood drain out of my face as I said it.
Max and Lily, bless their innocent hearts, cried, "Uncle Pete!" Lily looked up at me with her big, innocent eyes. "Why is he in the hospital? Is he sick?"
I nodded. "Sort of."
Kel got up quickly. "Come on, kids, we've got to head to the hospital to see Uncle Pete." she picked up all our stuff quickly as we all ran to the car. As soon as I knew everyone was safely in the Honda Civic, I sped off as safely as I could to get to the hospital. Kel whispered to me in the front seat so the kids couldn't hear. "What the hell happened to him?"
"He got side-swiped by a drunk driver last night. Andy says he's stable, but he got beaten up pretty bad."
"Dear god." she paused and leaned back in her seat. "I hope he's ok."
"Me too." I whispered. I didn't want my best friend hurt. The only person allowed to hurt my best friend was me; punching him in the face. Not another driver that decided to be an asshole.