Creating More Questions Than It Answers:
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I ndex Chapter 4
Part 2
Part 3 Chapter 5
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
interlude
Part 6
* * *This is NOT a regular chapter update. Just so we're clear. It does contain some stuff that will make the next update make just a bit more sense ... and probably raise a ton more questions, 'cause I'm difficult like that.
Rating: Umm Read the warnings
Word Count: 2786
Warnings: Tons! Only at the time of this posting I have been awake for 40ish hours (that should be a warning right there) So lets go with somewhat graphic, Adult situations, Language, Angst (no chance I would leave that out), adorable x 40 and probably loaded with errors ... please point them out. Oh and 111 images, so if you have a slower connection you might want to go grab a snack after you click the cut.
With thanks to: amochan8878 for keeping me (mostly) on track and not letting this be a quadbillion times longer than it is. Europe (the band, not the continent, though I am sure the continent deserves thanks as well) and my heartfelt, sincerest apologies to Sir Elton John. It is Amo’s fault. Really.
Right, here we go. Random, really. Picking up moments after Chapter 5 Part 5 left off ...
"Baby"
Someone’s breath hitched. Ripp didn’t know whose; it could have been his for all he knew. He didn’t know and he didn’t care because Tel was doing that thing with his tongue again and Tel’s fingers were grazing over his skin making the muscles of his abdomen flutter. There was the vague sense of the world tipping, falling, and it was all just so …
“Ungh!”
The back of his head connecting with the foot of the bed alerted him to the change of position.
“Sorry,” Telesto murmured.
“S’okay.”
Okay. Wonderful. Spectacular. Amazing. Incredible. There were no words to describe how fan-fucking-tabulous this was with Tel’s lips on his. Tel’s fingers skimming down over his arm.
So, so good.
So very not enough.
Was it possible to melt into someone? To be so deep within them you couldn’t get back out again? To be wrapped so tightly in one perfect person you lost yourself.
He hoped so.
Because maybe, just maybe, that would be enough
Telesto groaned, “Gods, baby.”
Ripp froze, his eyes snapping open.
* * *
“Good morning, baby.” Lyla propped her arms on the crib railing.
“Mornin’ Momma.”
“You hungry?”
Ripp nodded vigorously.
She grinned at him reaching down to pick him up, “Well then …”
“… You’re a rocket man!” Lyla sang lifting him above her head.
Ripp stretched his arms out as if he was flying, giggling uncontrollably.
“Rocket man!” Lyla turned him around as they headed out the door, “burning downstairs to eat breakfast!”
“And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time,” she sang as they made their way down to the living room, “til lunch time brings food ‘round again to find…”
“…Tank forgetting his tackle box at home. Oh, no, no, no!”
Shaking his head, Tank bent down to retrieve his tackle box from the floor by the door. “Normal parents would just say something, Mom,” he sighed, “They wouldn’t sing it.”
“Yes, honey, but I’m your parent. Love you, have fun fishing.”
“Bye,” Was all Tank said as he hurried out the door.
Lyla turned to Ripp, “Huh. I guess he’s too cool for us. Alright my fellow social outcast, what are we having for breakfast?”
“Cookie!”
“Spinach cookies with broccoli chips and tomato frosting?”
Ripp wrinkled his nose.
“No? How about cereal and orange juice then?”
“’Kay.”
“And then,” Lyla said turning toward the kitchen, “We can have cookies and chocolate milk.”
“Cookie!”
* * *
“Tank, hurry please. I’m going to be late for work.”
“I can just wait in the car.”
“Last time you tried to drive it away and dented the fender.”
“I would’ve made it if that fire hydrant hadn’t got in the way.”
“Tank, honey, hydrants don’t move.”
“Good morning, Ripp,” Miss. Kimble called cheerfully as Lyla pushed the door open.
“Down, down, down, down, down!” Ripp demanded, squirming in his mother’s arms.
“Can’t wait to get rid of me, huh?” Lyla teased.
“Down!”
“Be good. Love you, baby.”
“Me too you, Momma.”
* * *
* * *
“There’s my baby!”
Ripp dropped his toy, cocking his head curiously at the sound of his mother’s voice.
“Why can’t we just leave him here?” Tank demanded.
“Because, he’s your brother,” Lyla explained patiently, “and you would miss him.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Momma!”
“Did he have a good day?” Lyla asked leaning down to scoop Ripp up.
“You know Ripp,” Miss. Kimble replied with a chuckle, “All smiles, all day, even in his sleep. Does he ever have a bad day?”
“Damon, Rein, put your toys away and we’ll go get ice cream,” a male voice called from the direction of the door.
“Daddy!” Damon and Rein exclaimed leaping up and dashing toward the door as fast as their legs could carry them, neither paying any attention to the stipulation of putting their toys away first.
Lyla stood clutching a sleepy Ripp in her arms and slowly turned toward the door, “Rythe?”
“Lyla?!”
Lyla ducked her head, “Hi.”
“Hi. Wow. I haven’t seen you in years. Not since …” Rythe’s voice trailed off as he stood scooping Rein up with him.
“High school when you punched Buzz for bullying Cal.” Lyla finished for him.
“Man,” Tank interrupted shaking his head, “You’re really fat.”
Lyla’s eyes widened in horror, “Tank! Don’t be rude.”
Tank sneered, “But look at him.”
Rythe laughed, “Oh yeah, you are Buzz’s kid alright.”
“I’m so, sorry,” Lyla blushed, “Tank apologize this instant. He is not fat and even if he was that is rude.”
“Are you fat?” Tank eyed Rythe suspiciously.
“No, I’m not.”
“Then how come your stomach is so big?”
“Because I am going to have a baby.”
Ripp lifted his head off his mother’s shoulder, the familiar word getting his attention, “Baby!”
* * *
Ripp giggled as his mother slid back into view in kitchen door; the squeaking of her shoes against the wooden floor barely heard above the pounding music.
“I guess there is no one to blame,” Lyla belted out into her make-shift microphone, “We’re leaving ground - leaving ground.”
Turning, Lyla gripped the spoon in both hands shimmying into the living room, “Will things ever beee the same agaaaaaaain?”
Ripp put his arms up, pumping his fists, head nodding in time with the music.
“It’s the final count down!”
Ripp clapped, bouncing enthusiastically in place.
With a wide grin, Lyla reached down helping him to his feet, “Dance with me, baby.”
* * *
“What’s up, baby?”
Ripp shrugged, “Nothin’.”
“Whatcha doin?”
“Nothin’.”
“Huh. That is the sound of a very bored little boy.”
Ripp nodded again, “Was watchin’ TV but now the game’s on and Dad and Tank are watchin’ it.”
“Want to help me with dinner?”
“Okay.”
Ripp stepped up to the counter beside his mother standing on his toes to get a better view, “What are you doing?”
“Chopping the veggies really small in a hurry so they cook faster,” Lyla explained as she locked down the top of the food processor and turned it on.
The machine buzzed to life, the drone of the blades drowning out the sound of the football game coming from the living room.
“What the hell!” Buzz yelled, annoyed, from his place sprawled on the couch, “Cut the damn noise! I’m watching the game here! And where is dinner? I’m starving!”
Lyla turned the food processor off again.
Ripp puzzled at the expression marring her usually cheerful face. She got the same expression every time his father was angry.
His father was angry a lot.
“You know what?” Lyla said at last, “We’re going out for pizza.”
Ripp’s eyes widened, “Dad and Tank too?”
“Don’t want to interrupt the game do we?” Lyla grinned at him as they headed toward the door,” There’s leftovers in the fridge.”
Ripp giggled.
Buzz frowned at them as they crossed the room, “What are you guys doing?”
Exchanging a conspiratorial grin, Lyla and Ripp stepped out the door, “Nothin’.”
* * *
“You’re going to have fun today, right?”
Ripp nodded.
“And learn a whole bunch?”
“Lots and lots.”
“Are you scared?”
Ripp stared down at his shoes, “Kinda.”
Lyla smiled at him, “I bet Lilith and Damon and Dirk are scared too. Your first day at school is a pretty scary thing, but you know what?”
“What?”
“You’ll do just fine and do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I love you. For always and always no matter what.”
“Love you too, Momma.”
Lyla dropped a kiss on his forehead, “You will always be my baby.”
* * *
“Gods, baby.”
* * *
Ripp’s froze, his eyes snapping open.
“What?” Telesto furled his brows “What did I do wrong?”
Ripp sat up, “Did you just call me ‘baby’?”
Pushing himself up on his hands Telesto frowned, “I think I did.”
Sliding to the edge of the bed, Ripp propped his arms on his knees, “My mom used to call me that.”
Telesto wrapped his arms around Ripp’s chest leaning his chin against Ripp’s shoulder, “Where is she?”
“I …” the words died in Ripp’s throat. He wasn’t ready to speak them yet. He shook his head, “I really don’t know.”
It was even the truth. Mostly.
“I’m sorry.”
Ripp stared down at his hands, “Its okay. I guess I just … it meant she loved me and now she’s gone and I can’t fix it.”
Telesto hugged him tighter, dropping a kiss on his shoulder.
“Sorry,” Ripp smiled sadly, “I kind of killed the mood there didn’t I?”
“No,” Telesto sighed, “I did.”
Telesto slipped forward to sit beside Ripp on the bed, “It’s kind of funny, you loved being called baby by your mom. I hated it when you guys called me a baby but somehow I don’t think you guys meant it the same way your mom did.”
Ripp frowned at him, “I never called you …”
* * *
“Baby?”
“Yes,” Rythe nodded, “He’s Damon and Rein’s new baby brother.”
Ripp stared down at the tiny, squirming, little person lying on his lap, “Hello baby.”
He shifted his arms, gently hugging the baby to him. Babies were very, very cuddly.
* * *
“Mine!”
“We just want to play with it for a few minutes!” Damon explained holding the toy just out of Telesto’s reach.
“Mine!” Telesto insisted again, grabbing for the toy.
“Come on Tel, just for a bit then we’ll give it right back,” Damon assured his little brother.
Telesto pouted, “Mine.”
“Just give it back to him,” Ripp said, “before he cries.”
“Fine!” Damon huffed lobbing the toy in the general direction of his brother, “You’re such a baby, Tel.”
* * *
“Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease?”
Damon waved a dismissive hand in Telesto’s direction, “We don’t play with babies.”
Telesto’s lip quivered.
“Yeah, Tel,” Dirk chimed in, “Go away. We don’t play with babies.”
Sobbing, Telesto turned and ran toward the house.
Ripp scuffed a foot against the ground, “You guys are jerks.”
“What?” Damon demanded.
“He could have played with us,” Lilith said staring after Telesto as he slammed the door behind him.
“Aw, come on, Lil. He can’t run very fast and kicks the ball over the hedge and then we have to go find it again!” Dirk whined, “It’s not as fun when he plays.”
“He still could have played with us.”
“But he’s …”
“You made him cry!” Ripp snapped stomping toward the gate.
A few steps later Lilith joined him, “He is still just a baby,” she said quietly.
“They didn’t have to make him cry.”
* * *
“Telesto! Let’s go! I don’t want to get stuck in traffic!” Rythe called entering the living room. He paused staring at the group on his floor, “Guys we have a table.”
Damon nodded, “We know. Okay, I am going to go with Mrs. Peacock …”
“You picked her last round.” Ripp supplied helpfully.
“And the one before,” Lilith added, “Actually I don’t think you have picked anyone else.”
Dirk sniggered, “Either you suck or you have cock on the brain.”
Damon nodded, “Both, though this game is not what I would prefer to be sucking.”
Rythe cleared his throat.
Damon turned his head, smiling innocently, “Ha! Hi, Dad.”
“I give up,” Rythe murmured into the room full of laughter.
“I’m ready,” Telesto rounded the corner towing a suitcase, “What’s so funny?”
Lilith shook her head getting her laughter back under control, “You don’t want to know. Where ya going?”
“Cal’s for a few weeks.”
Lilith grinned at him, “Sounds fun.”
He smiled back, “That’s the plan.”
“There is zero chance of Tel and fun ever meeting,” Dirk murmured under his breath.
Ripp chose not to comment instead focusing on trying to keep attention away from the blush he could feel colouring his cheeks whenever Telesto was around recently.
“Try not to be a whiney baby and drive Uncle Cal nuts!” Damon called as Telesto stepped out the door.
He got a rude gesture over Telesto’s shoulder in response as the alien kept walking without so much as hesitating.
“You know, he hasn’t actually been a whiney baby in years,” Dirk commented, “Just a dork.”
Damon shrugged, “Depends on how you define whiney baby, right Ripp?”
Ripp ducked his head fidgeting with his hands, “Uh, yeah. I guess.” His was probably not the popular opinion.
“Whose turn is it?” Dirk asked.
“Yours, I think,” Lilith replied.
“Hint,” Damon said, “Mrs. Peacock didn’t do it. I have her in my hand.”
“Then why do you keep asking …” Dirk trailed off as the answer to his question occurred to him before he even finished asking it, “Never mind.”
* * *
“Holy shit!” Lilith’s exclamation of disbelief drew Ripp’s attention toward the door, “Tel?!”
His jaw fell open. Breathing. Breathing would be good.
“What the fuck happened to you?” Damon demanded.
Telesto shrugged, dropping his bags inside the door, “I went shopping.”
Ripp swallowed, his throat suddenly gone dry.
“There is no way that is the whiney baby!” Damon shook his head, “Dad is okay with this?”
Telesto shrugged, flopping down onto the couch, “He seemed to be, but if you call me a baby one more time I will kick your ass. What are we watching?”
* * *
“Lil, I …” Ripp voice trailed off. This was way harder than he’d expected it to be. He needed to say it though. He needed someone else to know because right now it was just running around and around in his head making him dizzy.
Lilith looked at him expectantly, “You … what?”
He didn’t even know where to start. ‘I have this huge thing for Tel.’ Oh, wow. That sounded wrong even in his head. Accurate! Especially since Tel got back from his uncle’s or brother’s or whatever’s house this last time. Tel before had been hot in a sort of adorable, kind of dorkish sort of way. Tel now was just fucking hot without any of the other stuff needed to make it make sense.
Gods. That was Tel! Damon’s baby brother who he had known for almost ever! He’d held him as a baby. The first words he’d ever spoken to Tel had been ‘Hello baby’ like some line out of some cheesy romance movie only Tel had been an actual baby! What did that make him?
He slumped forward miserably. This wasn’t getting him anywhere.
If he set aside the who, the what remained the same.
“Lil, I’m gay.”
Lilith nodded, “Okay.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“It’s not that simple though is it?” she asked after a while.
He shook his head, “No.”
She nodded again, “Somehow, it never is. Don’t you wish sometimes you could go back to being a baby when everything was simple?”
Ripp groaned, dropping his head into his hands, “Lil, that is so not helping right now.”
* * *
“Ripp?” Telesto’s voice pulled Ripp back to the present.
He looked up at the alien standing before him, “Yeah?”
“Where’d you go?”
“Just thinking.”
“Good thoughts?”
Ripp ducked his head hiding a smile, “Some of them.”
Telesto’s face fell, “I’m sorry I reminded you of your mom, I didn’t mean to.”
Ripp snapped his head up, “What? Tel, no it’s not that.”
Telesto looked confused, “It’s not?”
Ripp got to his feet, taking hold of Telesto’s shoulders, “Gods, baby, no. I just …”
“Did you just call me ‘baby’?” Telesto interrupted.
Ripp leaned back frowning thoughtfully, “I think I did.”
Why would he do that? It had kind of just come out. He stared hard at the alien.
Telesto.
Not Damon’s little brother who he’d known almost forever and held as a baby. He had known him for almost ever and even held him as a baby, but this was not a baby.
“Okay,” he said at last, “We never use that word again. It’s screwing with my head.”
“Deal,” Telesto nodded, “It’s just weird.”
They stood in uncomfortable silence for a moment before Telesto spoke again, “I can still call you Princess though right?”
“Yeah,” Ripp nodded, “I’m okay with that.”
Telesto grinned, “Good, ‘cause I kind of like the idea of being your knight in shining armour.”
Ripp cocked his head, “What? I thought it was the whole Cinderella thing, wouldn’t that mean you were a prince?”
“Knight, prince, whatever. As long as I get to save you from yourself.”
Ripp’s smile faded and he shook his head sadly, “Tel, I think I need a lot of saving. I don’t think you want to …”
Telesto took hold of Ripp’s head, stopping both the shaking and the words, “Bring it on, Princess.”
With a wide smile she turned toward the window.
Pausing for a moment she glanced back over her shoulder.
“Love you, baby.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nugde me with the glaringing errors I will fix them as soon as I am conscious again. SLEEP NAO!
Edit: And now that I am awake again (Good mornoonvening!), here is all the stuff I forgot before.
Rocket Man - Original by Elton John (youtube link)
The Final Countdown - Europe (youtube link You will probably find better if you look. I just grabbed the first one that sounded decent.)
Super thank you to aledstrange and maxis_taste for providing the extracted premade families and saving me a ton of time! You know, once I worked out that would be so much simpler! *head-fricken-desk* Course you know that hood rebuild I was so happy I didn't have to do? Yeah, it is mostly done ... just with everyone a whole bunch younger and personalities aren't the same and .. yeah. Clones.
Speaking of clones, who is up for a random spam post? I know I am! Just as soon as I work out if I am including the "extra".
K, I'm done now.