ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

Hibiki grabbed his hand. "Let's go. Wanna get the kids?"

Eve sighed. "Still...I'm sorry."

(James)
"Might as well, though I wouldn't call Sam a kid. She'd probably hit us."
=Leaving the room, I knocked on the door to Sam and Eve's room (God was I going back to normal life or what?)=

"Sam? Eve? It's James, Hibiki and I were thinking of grabbing some food. Want to join us?"

(Sam)
"Uh, sure. I'm famished."

Eve sat up slowly. "Can you pass me my jeans please?"

(Sam)
"Right, sure."
=I passed her the jeans and stood up, waiting for her to get dressed=

(Andrew)

=I let a childish grin appear on my face=

Well...I can't say no to that face.

=I walk on over to the bed, sitting down on it, my weight making it sink a bit=

(Sarah)

=I smile...feeling a bit better. Well...I was a bit starving.=

Andrew...you think you'd let me go to dinner on my own?

=I saw him nod slightly, and I proceeded to get dressed. Other than Andrew coming...it had been a good experience=

As Sarah left, Mira held her arms out.
"Will you forgive me for not being faithful...please?"

(Andrew)

=I give her a brief, but warm smile=

Course I will.

=I then take her into my embrace, giving her a passionate kiss that I hadn't been able to do for weeks=

Mira kissed him right back.
"Thank you Andy. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."

(Sam)
=Once Eve was fully dressed, I walked to the door and opened it, finding James and Hibiki standing outside. It was hard to see them, since it was still so dark=
"I can't tell, are you two really there? It's so dark."

=For an answer, James flicked me lightly on the cheek=
"Hey, I didn't say you should flick me."

(James)
"Couldn't resist."

Eve came up behind Sam and peeked out from behind her. "Hi mommy...hi daddy."

(Sarah)

=I had gotten dressed, leaving the two of them to it. After all...I felt Andrew deserved it=

I still think he's going to snap, though...

=I walked out, hoping to at least spot someone I recognized=

(Andrew)

=I run my hand down her back a couple of times=

It's okay...you don't have to apologize to me.

(James)
"Hey Eve. You two liking the new room?"

(Sam)
"So far, but it'd be nice to have some lights dammit."

(James)
"Well we can always find some candles later."

Eve sighed. "I woulda likee a bigger bed..."

Hibiki smiled. "Sorry kiddo..."

(James)
"Heh, we can always try and move furniture from one house and into this one. Maybe there's a nice king size bed out there no one needs."
=Suddenly there was an image in my head of the four of us working to move a giant ass bed up the stairs and me yelling "Pivot!" nonstop=

(Sam)
"One day, but not today."

"Yeah. Not today." Eve agreed.

Hibiki ruffled Eve's hair. "Mind if I hold my daughter's hand Sam?"

(Sam)
"Sure. Been holding it all day."

(James)
"So, let's get going before everyone falls asleep."

Taking Eve's hand, Hibiki smiled.
"Let's go."

Eve moved closer to Hibiki, happily snuggling against her mom.

(James)
=We actually moved slowly out of the house, since going down the stairs in the dark was.....well, suicide. But when we got outside, it was another story; people were lighting lanterns, held up either on stakes or hanging from poles, the candles inside burning brightly, shining light over the area. It didn't brighten up the street like a normal street light, but it did illuminate us all in a warm, dull orange glow=
"Wow. Now bad."

(Sam)
"Yeah. Are they throwing a festival or something?"

"Dunno." Hibiki said. "Let's just find food "

Eve giggled. "What mommy said "

(James)
"Lets start with the bus. Odds are Marcus still has some people guarding it."

(Sam)
"And if that doesn't work, we just mingle with the town."

Mira nuzzled Andy's chest. "How can I make this up? It...it wasn't right for me to let her talk me into it..."

Hibiki nooded, then stooped down. "C'mon baby."
Eve climbed onto Hibiki's back with a small smile, and was now carried around without problem by Hibiki. "To the bus!"

(James)
=While I smiled, I looked at the two of them with hidden jealousy. I should have thought of that, especially since I wanted to get closer to Eve. But I could be patient=

(Sam)
=It was easy to see what was on James' mind. Just from his posture, I could tell he was crestfallen, watching Eve climb on Hibiki's back and be carried. He envied that, and it was painful to see it. But I respected what Eve and I agreed on, so I said nothing=

Eve was smiling, then saw Sam. Her smile became more special, and Eve whispered into Hibiki's ear. Hopping off, she came up to James and opened her arms. "Carry me daddy?"

(James)
=It was one of those rare moments where I cold have sworn that the whole world stopped. Not frozen or anything, more like the wind, even if it was a breeze just stopped. It felt like my own heart stopped, and that even the movement of the lights from the lanterns froze. Then the biggest smile ever, besides when Hibiki told me she loved me and then when she said she was pregnant, and I nodded. Getting down on my knees, I motioned for her to climb on=
"Come on Eve. Let me give you a ride."

(Sam)
=I think my smile was second only to James. Or Hibiki's=

Eve climbed onto James' s back easily.
"Thank you daddy."

(James)
=To say I was happy, was an understatement. Dear god I was actually laughing, and I felt like I could actually fly. And it was wonderful=

(Sam)
=My god, this was the happiest I'd ever seen James in a while. Sure he was happy around Hibiki and Eve most of the time, but this was different. It was the kind of happiness I expected to see......from a father playing with their kid=

Eve coulent help but laugh along, stucking out her arms like an airplane.

Hibiki sidled up next to Sam.
"So...looks like you treated her well."

(Sam)
"Well it was that or face the chocking block beneath your sword."
=But I couldn't lose my smile as I watched James be happy=

(James)
"Woohoo!"
=To be honest, it was a bit difficult, carrying Eve. I mean she may have been small, but she was a little heavy. Even then, it didn't matter-- I still gladly carried Eve on my shoulders=

Hibiki patted Sam's back. "Good girl." She leaned closer. "Make sure her first time is special, ok? The kid deserves your best. Remember that, please?"

Eve wobbled slightly but stayed upright, laughing with abandon.

(Sam)
"I'll do my best. No promises though."

(James)
"Okay, okay, I need a break! Uncle, uncle!"
=Still laughing, I bended my knees and let her off my shoulders=

Hopping off, Eve hugged James.
"I love you daddy."

Hibiki rubbbed back. "Good. I expect you to marry her one day. Give this kid some more family, alright?" She smiled. "Even if you don't want marriage...don't ler her go."

(Sam)
"Don't plan o leaving her. At all."

(James)
"I love you too Eve."

"Good." Was all Hibiki said.

Eve smiled and took James' hand. "Can we go eat now daddy?"

(James)
"Sure......baby?"
=The words felt odd coming out of my mouth=

"Hmm, too soon? Just stick with Eve for now?"

(Sam)
"Come on you two, I want to eat!"

Eve giggled, hugging James. "It's perfect."

Hibiki laughed. "Best keep her close Sam; James is stealing her away!"

(James)
"Doesn't sound creepy at all?"

(Sam)
"Nah, I'm fine. He deserves this more than me right now."

Hibiki patted Sam's back. "You're a good kid."

Eve shook her head. "It's perfect." She reaffirmed.

(Sam)
=Okay, happiness aside.......I frowned at being called a kid, and nearly tore Hibiki's arm off. Almost. Instead I grunted with near nigh masculinity=
"Please don't call me a kid."

(James)
"Okay, you're the boss."

Hibiki sighed. "You're...ah whatever. Sorry. I won't call you kid anymore. So. Is sweetiepie off the table?" She joked, quickly backing away.

Eve giggled. "No...you are."

(Sam)
=At that, I actually laughed=
"Hah, think we can just settle with Sam?"

(James)
"Right, I'm the boss."
=Lowering my voice to a whisper, I half covered my mouth=

"But lets face it. Mommy's the boss."

Eve giggled. "Yeah..."

Hibiki reached out and put a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Ok. Just Sam."

(James)
=Grinning, I got up and took Eve's hand=
"Now, enough time wasting. Lets grab some food."

(Sam)
"That's right. Just Sam."
=But I smiled=

(Sarah)

=I had spotted them leaving their home, mentally debating whether or not they would like me tagging along. After a minute or so of that mental debate, I decided to follow them. My stomach was now growling audibly at this point, my hunger driving me to find them. And after another minute, I spotted them again, going into a sprint and barely catching up to them. To a degree, I found them by hearing their voices drifting in the night air=

I hope they don't mind little old me...

=I get up to them, hoping I didn't surprise them, my tone somewhat nervous=

Um...I'm sorry to interrupt, but do you mind if I tag along?

=I hear my stomach growl=

Because I'm starving.

(James)
=I heard the sound of running footsteps and saw Andrew's sister, Sarah running for us. I didn't really smile or frown, not out of any sense of dislike mind you, it was just a neutral expression. It wasn't like we were friends=
"Hey Sarah. Uh, I don't think there's any problem with you coming along, though I wouldn't make any promises over the food. Marcus' men might have already locked it up for the night."

(Sarah)

=I give a slight smile=

I know...I'm sorry if I'm bothering you in any way.

=I looked down toward the ground=

If I am...just say so.

(James)
"Nah, you're not bothering. At least, not me anyway. These three though......well, ask them."

(Sam)
"I'm fine."

Hibiki broke away from Sam at knocked Sarah on the head lightly. "Cheer up. You live another day with companions. So lets go eat." She smiled kindly.

Eve also smiled, but more shyly.

(Sarah)

=I smile, thankful for the break in tension=

I'm trying to cheer up.

=I hear my stomach growl=

Of course...I'd be happy with some food in me.

(James)
"Well then lets go find some grub."
=Eve's hand still in my own, I started walking back to where we had parked the caravan's vehicles=

(Sam)
"Stick with us Sarah, we'll help ya smile a bit,"

(Sarah)

=I wear a slight grin at this point=

Well...hard to not to smile with company like this.

=I then let out a small giggle, for once, not ambushed by the demons that haunted my waking mind=

Remember...you're stronger than them. You've done more than enough to attone for the sins and mistakes you've made. You're around people who don't know what horrible things you did. Just. Let. It. Go.

That, and you nake it easy to forget ny past.

=I then briefly rubbed my injured shoulder a bit, still feeling some soreness and discomfort there. I was grateful it didn't shatter any bones=