FicWad

Aphrodite City:

Simone's Notes:

Shakespeare and Soren Kierkegaard share a similar viewpoint that marriage and romance are not harmoniously in tune with each other. In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, for example, "...there has not been, nor is there at this point, any display of affection between Isabella and the Duke, if by affection we mean something concerned with sexual attraction. The two at the end of the play love each other as they love virtue." Isabella needs love, and she may reject marriage with the Duke because he seeks to beget an heir with her for her virtues, and she is not happy with the limited kind of love that implies.

Jakob came home for spring break. He went to visit his friends. Mikey and Stef stayed strong after all of this mess that was unfolding around them. They even talked about moving in together. His father still didn't enjoy the fact that his son was gay.

Hunter and Addie were doing great too. Addie's therapy went great. "I'm thinking about marrying her," Hunter told Jakob. The Jewish boy nodded.

"That's good to know," he said.

Ginny still struggled with her life. She tried her best to hide it. "I'm doing great," she lied to him. Jakob didn't believe her, but he didn't say a word. Instead, he patted her on the shoulder.

"I'm here for you," Jakob whispered. "I will be here if you need me." Ginny didn't speak at first. She finally broke down into tears on his chest.

"I don't know how much more I can take!" she wailed. Jakob only patted her on the head.

"Shhh," he whispered. "It's okay. It's okay."

Jakob went to go see his family. Esther tried to drown him with pent-up love. Her son tried to push her off.

"Mom! I can't breathe!" he wailed. "Get off me!"

"Baby!" she cried. "I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too," he choked out. When satisfied, Esther let her son go. Jakob took in a heavy breath.

"How's Naomi?" he asked. His mother gave them a little smile.

"Good," she said. "She's remembering things that happened the day before."

"When will she be able to come home?"

"Two months."

"Two months?"

"That's right."

Jakob smiled at her. Great! Pretty soon, the whole family would be back together.

Speaking of family, Isaac and Callie did nicely as of late. "She's planning on getting a breast reduction," he told his brother.

"Are you okay with it?" Jakob asked.

"Yeah," Isaac said. "Anything to make her happy."

Next up, came his older sister, Naomi. She was in a pleasant mood as usual.

"When do I get to go home?" she asked her brother.

"Two months," Jakob said.

"Two months?" she asked.

"That's right," he said. Naomi couldn't help but to smile at that verdict.

"I'm going home in two months," she said. "I'm going home in two months!" Her brother nodded.

"Yes, yes," he said. "You are." She hugged him wildly.

"Thank you!" Naomi whispered in his ear. Jakob breathed out and patted her on the head.

"It's fine," he said.

Finally, onwards home. Riza and the baby waited for him in the apartment.

"Welcome home, Jak," she said.

"Hello Riza," he said. They shared a quick kiss together. Jakob sank down to her seven-month belly.

"Hey there," he whispered. "Daddy's home for spring break." Jakob kissed her stomach as his wife played with his dark, tussled hair.

"Have you eaten already?" she asked.

"Yeah, mom tried to fatten me up again," her young husband replied. "I just want to go to bed." Riza gave him a little pout.

"Are you that tired?" she asked. The college mouse gave her a naughty little smile.

"I'm not that tired!" he remarked. Riza giggled as he led her down the hall to their bedroom.

Oh, it feels good to be home, Jakob thought.

Next Night

Next Time: William's last few days in the hospital as doctors learn more about his diease.