#they were like yea your sibling must’ve been quite a bit older

[briarsrose]

What is wrong with letting your kids be latchkey keys genuinely

[write-orflight]

Galileo: Chapter 5

**Gif Not Mine**

Prev -  Next

Pairings: SpencerXReader, enemies to friends to lovers trope

Rating: M

Words: 2.5K

Warnings: Light smut, 18+

Request: OPEN/CLOSED

Summary: Y/N is an astronomer with her head constantly in the stars. But when a serial killer is threatening NASA’s top scientists, she is left in the protective custody of a man who’s gravitational pull threatens to pull her back down to earth.

A.N Unedited because i’m sleepy. There’s a fic I read when I first joined the fandom that inspired some of this chapter. i can’t remember the name but if you do, please tell me so I can credit. Comment on this chapter only or message to be on taglist please.

                             Chapter 5: Saturn 

There was a rare occurrence that happens sometimes in Space where a Planet will tilt off its axis and disrupt the order of things in the galaxy forever. Even though it hasn’t happened yet, it doesn't make it not possible. You had always thought about that phenomenon and how you never quite understood how so many scientists just blindly believed in that possibility with no proof. It wasn’t until that dance with Spencer that you believed in it. If you were the galaxy, that dance was the tilt in your axis. 

Nothing could quite be the same again. 

It seemed that Spencer himself was the disruptor. 

Since that day, everything between the two of you was different. It was simpler. It was too easy to have conversations, to laugh at each other's jokes, to spit inane useless facts at each other. But it also became too easy to melt at Spencer’s bright smile, too easy to stare at his hands as he helped you with your math sometimes, too easy to flush whenever he paid you a compliment on your work. 

Too easy to fall in love with him. 

You didn’t want to think about that but you couldn’t help it. At first, you wanted to chalk it up to you not knowing how to differentiate your feelings. Maybe you just thought you were in love with him because he was the first guy to be nice to you since Jonathan but as the days went on you knew that to not be the case. None of this felt like how you were with Jonathan. With Spencer, it just felt easy. Just felt right. 

It was the weekend so you had off work. Before you would always end up going into work anyway and getting some extra logs in but now you liked staying in and hanging out with Spencer. Right now the two of you were walking in the plaza near your home, fresh cups of coffee in hand. Spencer, at first, did not want to be out but after some convincing (which was just you threatening to leave without him, which he did not like) he was all for joining you out. The two of you stopped in a bookstore and you made a beeline for the astrology section. You hear Spencer scoff when you pick up a book to look through it. You raise an eyebrow at him. 

“What?” You say. 

“Astrology, really? Aren’t you a scientist?” 

“Yea, an astronomer. I love Space, so while Astrology isn’t a proven science. It’s fun to think the stars have a say in what kinda person you are.” You shrug. “When’s your birthday?” 

“October 28th.” 

“Of course you’re a Scorpio.” 

“That doesn’t mean anything to me. Astrology isn’t real.” 

“You must be real fun at parties.” You roll your eyes. 

“Well, what’s your sign?” 

“I’m a Cancer. Did you know that water signs are the most compatible? Especially Scorpios and Cancers.” 

Spencer laughs out loud at that. You turn looking him in the eye. “What’s funny?” you say. 

“That itself doesn’t tell you that astrology is bullshit?” He laughs. You narrow your eyes at him. “I mean, us, compatible? It’s funny.” 

You try. You try so very hard not to look hurt by his words, you know Spencer’s a profiler and will see right through it. And he does by the sympathetic look he gives you. 

“You’re right, maybe it is bullshit.” You say, putting the book down instantly. “Let’s go home.” 

You and Spencer don’t talk the whole walk home, in fact you don’t talk when you get there. You’re about to just retreat to your room when you feel a hand circle your wrist. 

“I’m sorry.” He says. 

“You didn’t do anything.” 

“I hurt your feelings.” He says. 

“You didn’t hurt my feelings.” You lied. “I’m just with you all the time. Sometimes I just need a minute alone. Is that okay?” 

He lets go of your wrist. “Of course, I’m sorry.” 

You nod and retreat to your room, blowing a heavy breath as you fell into your bed. Might as well take a nap. You thought as you let sleep take you over. 

-----------------------------------------------------

Long, slender fingers found their way into your hair and yanked roughly. You couldn’t help the soft whimper that came behind it. You felt the lips that were sucking hard bruising marks into your neck smirk slightly. His other hand trailed your body lightly until they met their final destination at your sex. You gasp loudly when the digit rubbed soft circles around your clit. 

“Are you going to be good for me?” He asked, you nodded dumbly before moaning out loud when the first digit found its way inside you. Spencer smirked at you. “Look at you. I’ve barely touched you and you’re this wet for me. You want me to fuck you, don’t you?” He asked, you nodded and gasped again as he found that spot inside you. “Hmm, I don’t think you want it enough baby.”   

You’re shaking your head immediately. “No. Ple-please fuck me.” You stutter. “I’ll be good, I swear.” 

The smirk he gives you is almost devilish. “Alright, baby. I’ll take care of you.” He says as you feel member pressing up against your sex--

You wake up to the smell of something burning and Spencer shouting expletives from what you assumed was the kitchen. You groaned, frustratedly. Since that day your mom came to visit, you dreamed of Spencer almost constantly. Today was no different. You couldn’t escape him in your waking hours and now it seemed you couldn’t even escape him sleeping. 

You hop out of bed and run to the kitchen. The sight before is Spencer frantically waving the billowing smoke that was coming from your oven. You run to open your window and turn the oven fan on. You both look at the pan that had something that couldn’t even be described as food anymore by the degree of which it was burned. Spencer looked at you guiltily. 

“You seemed upset so I thought I’d make you dinner but I was reading and I lost track of time. I’m sorry, Y/N.” 

You smile at him. “Thank you for thinking of me but I wanted chinese tonight anyway, sound good?”  You say, he nods gratefully. 

Later the two of you are sitting at your kitchen table, eating chinese out of the takeaway containers. You were talking about nothing and everything until the topic came to College. You talked about how freshman year you did the whole partying thing before quickly finding out it wasn’t your scene and keeping to yourself for the rest of your college career. Spencer told you he never went to any parties in college. 

“You never went to any parties?!” You asked, shocked.

“Well, I was 12. No one was really scrambling to invite me to frat parties.” 

“So you didn’t do any traditional college games? No beer pong? No ‘Never Have I Ever’?” You ask, Spencer shakes his head. That’s when you get a fantastic idea. You get up and look in the cabinet above your stove which is where you kept your liquor and pulled out a bottle of Jameson. Spencer sees this and immediately shakes his head. 

“No.” 

“Aww, come on. Let’s play Never Have I Ever.” You smile. “If you’ve done the thing you drink.” 

“I don’t want to play a remedial drinking game.” 

You think for a second. “How about this? You’re a profiler, right? And I like to think I’m a little observant so how about this. We’ll take turns making assumptions about the other if the person is right, the other drinks and if they’re wrong, you drink.” 

“I don’t know… it probably isn’t wise for me to be drinking. I’m supposed to be watching you.” 

“It’s not like we go anywhere that’s not here anyway.” You say. “Plus, if you're good at your job, you’ll hardly have to drink.” You throw a pouty face on for good measure. Spencer rolls his eyes. 

“Fine.” He says standing up and snatching the bottle from you, walking to the living room. You giggle at him before grabbing two glasses to follow him out. “Just so you know, it’s wrong to peer pressure people.” He says. 

“Well, what’s a college drinking game without peer pressure.” You laugh. 

------------------------------------------------- 

“Who’s starting?” You say as you watch Spencer pour your glass. The two of you are settled on opposite ends of your small couch, facing each other, your knees just almost touching. 

“You can.” Spencer says. “I want to see if you're actually observant.” 

“Okay.” You say, sitting up slightly at the challenge. “You’re an only child.” You say. Spencer raises his eyebrows at you, shocked you actually got something right, but drinks anyway. 

Spencer looks at you for a second. “You have an older sibling you are not close to.” 

You drank. “Yea I’ve got an adoptive older brother. There’s nothing wrong, it’s just he was already much older when I was born and we have nothing in common, other than our parents.” You look at Spencer for a second. “I wanna say divorced parents, but only raised by one.” 

“You’re a lot more observant than I thought.” Spencer says as he drinks. “Dad left when I was 10.” He says offhandedly. 

The game goes like this for a while, both of you confirming your beliefs of each other. You find out about Spencer’s mother's illness, Spencer learning you smoke when you’re stressed. Spencer was winning though, not that you had a problem with that as you wanted to drink, hence why you suggested the game. You were giving him a little bit of a run for his money. It was now your turn and the alcohol in your system must’ve turned off your filter because you say. 

“You’re a virgin.” 

You pause for a second waiting for him to drink when you realize he’s waiting on you to. You widen your eyes in shock but take your drink anyway. “I thought Maeve died before you got to meet her fully.” 

Spencer nods. “She did.” He says, “The two don’t correlate.” He says, like it's obvious. 

You hadn’t been expecting that. “You just didn’t strike as the hit it and quit it type.” 

“And I’m not, but sometimes things are just temporary.” He says looking at you, deeply in your eyes. “You were upset today, in the shop because I said we weren’t compatible.”  

You solemnly take a drink. “Why?” He asks. 

“Hey, that’s not a part of the game.” You say. 

“Please?” He adds. 

You sigh. “I don’t know… I guess, it seemed like the idea of being with me repulsed you. And that was upsetting.” 

Spencer looks at you with the most intense look in his eye. You had never seen that look before and you were glad you hadn’t because it was so heated that it was melting you where you sat. “The idea of being with you…” He says, eyes flickering down to your lips and back to your eyes. “Doesn’t repulse me. Trust me.” 

You knew you weren’t the best at social cues sometimes but that seemed like a pretty big one. You move closer to him, so that your faces were close but someone would still have to make that final move. You realize it’s your turn, so you think, Fuck it...  

“You want to kiss me right now.” You say, looking Spencer in his eyes. He doesn’t say anything, just takes a slow swig from his glass, eyes never leaving yours. He sits his glass down on the table next to him before saying. 

“You want me to kiss you.” 

You sip your drink, looking him right back in the eyes. You sit your glass down next to his and Spencer's hand catches your wrist on its way back. Before you can even get a good look at him, his lips are crashing on to yours. You groan in surprise before melting into it, your hands immediately going for his hair. His massive hands almost engulf your face as he tries to pull you impossibly close to him. He groans as he licks into your mouth, both of you tasting like the Jameson you had just drunk but there was also something under it that was just pure Spencer. You push him back until you are fully seated in his lap. His hands go immediately to your waist. Feeling risky, you experimentally grind your hips, causing Spencer to groan and grip you tighter. His hands slide up your shirt slightly, you moan at that. 

“Fuck-” Spencer says as you suck bruises down his neck. “Fuck, w-we’ve gotta stop.” 

You pull back. “Why?” you ask. 

Spencer swallows, pushing you off his lap. “There’s this thing called transference. You only want me right now because I’m protecting you. You don’t like me.” He says. “We don’t like each other.” 

You realized what Spencer was trying to say. You were both drunk and there, he didn’t really want you. It was being stuck together for so long that was making him attracted to you. You were foolish to think a guy would actually want you. 

“You don’t like me.” You say. “And I read this situation wrong again. God, I’m an idiot!”  

“I didn’t say that, Y/N-” 

“No, you’re right. You only kissed me because I’m what you’ve been stuck with for weeks. You don’t like me. I can’t blame you no guy ever does.” 

“No, Y/N, I just didn’t want to take advan--” 

“I need to smoke. I’m going out.” You say, grabbing. “Alone.” 

“Y/N, that’s not safe and you know it. Let me go with you.” 

“I think we both need to be away from each other. I’ll only be out front. Please.” You plead to him. 

  Spencer doesn’t say anything so you take that as your cue to go. You pull your pack and lighter out the kitchen draw and stomp out the door. As soon as you get in front of the building, you light the first cigarette as stray tears fall down your face. You were such an idiot to think someone like Spencer would want you. Sure you were both smart but you were arrogant and spiteful. Spencer was the sweetest person ever when you got to know him. It was stupid to think there was a world the two of you would work. 

You frustratedly put your cigarette out and stand to head back inside to probably embarrass yourself some more when you feel it. 

The hard slam to the back of your head knocking you out cold. 

------------------------------

Taglist: @lokislilslut​ @spencerreidslove​ @evelyncade @ceeellewrites​ @diesinspanishbcimhispanic​ @eevee0722​ @fiftyshadesof-reid​ @cielo1984​ @differentkettleoffishalltogether​ @criminalmindzjunkie​ @bbygirlq2020​ @quillanpie​ @themanwiththreephds​ @itshatertatertotblog​ @bihoeofmanyfandoms​ @baby-i-am-fireproof​ @graciehams​ @no-honey-no​ @capricornmashmallow​ @itsarayofsunshine​ @big-galaxy-chaos​

[weathergirl8]

No Secrets

HI! Just me returning from MIA land and the land of adulthood.

I normally only post my work on FF.net and AO3 (you'll know me as shadowfox8 on there) but decided to post this fluff piece here for a change as well. I hope you enjoy!

Summary:  Alan decides to keep an injury a secret, shrugging it off as minor. Little does he know, his older brother knows him better than he thinks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alan shut the door to his bedroom behind him and gingerly made his way to his ensuite, intent on jumping into the hot shower. His tired body ached, and his ribs and shoulder weren't doing him any favors.

Quickly discarding his uniform, the twenty-one year old allowed the warm water to hit his body. The rescue itself hadn't been a hard one, just mentally taxing as his patience had been tested one too many times. Especially when the civilians thought they knew better than their would-be rescuers. That point had nearly cost him his life and the life of two distillery works.

Rubbing his right side cautiously, Alan grimaced at the memory. International Rescue had been called to assist with a massive explosion at a distillery factory. A fire that had been a casualty of an earthquake that had rocked the area. While his brothers were busy clearing the main structure, Alan had been tasked with emptying the adjacent buildings where the fire had just begun to spread. Unfortunately for the youngest Tracy, two of the workers deemed him too young to call the shots. Amid their argument, an explosion from the main building exploded into their area. Alan did his best to land gracefully, but as he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, he knew his body had absorbed quite a bit of that hit.

Drying himself off, Alan pulled on a new pair of shorts and walked into his bedroom. Reaching for a shirt from the bottom drawer of his dresser, he paused and tried to stifle his cry of pain as the action instantly aggravated his right side. Alan gripped his side and took in a steadying breath. So, maybe this wasn't just nothing. Turning toward his mirror, Alan took in the damage. Multiple darkening bruises riddled his right arm and torso. A sizeable purple bump spotted his upper right arm, but a wave of dark purplish-blue seemed to be growing along his right ribcage and chest. Sighing, Alan turned to attempt another grab at a shirt but jumped as he was met with the concerned form of his older brother.

"Jesu-Virgil!" Alan exclaimed in surprise, gripping his side in pain at the jolt. He quickly tried to stand straighter and dropped his hand. "How long have you been standing there?"

Virgil raised an amused eyebrow, but instantly took ahold of his baby brother's frame. "Long enough," the brunette frowned, eyeing the bruises on Alan's body. "Were you planning on telling me?"

Alan groaned, allowing a sheepish grin to appear on his face. "Maybe…"

"Sit," Virgil demanded as he guided Alan onto his bed. Taking his brother's right arm in his hands, he moved the limb as he checked for any issues. Virgil's frown only deepened as he noticed what appeared to be a welt forming. "Does this hurt?”

"Not really," Alan replied. "It feels sore more than anything. Just bruises, Virg."

The medic nodded, kneeling so he could inspect the rapidly darkening large bruises around Alan's ribcage. "Jeez, kid. What the heck happened to you in there?"

"Secondary explosion caught us off guard as I was trying to evacuate two uncooperative workers. Slammed into a metal canister and two wood pallets," Alan explained honestly, knowing there was no use lying. Once Virgil was in doctor-mode, there was no way out.

"You should've said something, Alan," Virgil admonished, as he gently ran his thumb over Alan's swollen ribcage. "Does this hurt?"

Alan winced, giving his answer away immediately. "Sorry, I hadn't intended to keep it from you. I honestly didn't think anything of it. Just thought I was sore from the shock of the fall."

"I want to get an x-ray of your chest to be sure you didn't crack a rib or injured anything else in the fall," Virgil instructed. "You know any fall or cut is a must-tell in my book, Allie. No secrets, remember?"

Alan ducked his head once more. "I know…"

"It's okay," Virgil said, ruffling Alan's blonde hair. Picking up the shirt his brother had attempted to grab moments before, he threw it at him. "C'mon, let's get you checked out."

"Okay," Alan begrudgingly agreed and gingerly pulled himself up from the bed, carrying the shirt. He knew he couldn't put it on just yet, but he hoped to cover his side up if they crossed any of his other siblings in the hallway. The last thing he needed was the entire house smothering him over bruises. Thankfully, the walk to the infirmary wasn't far from his bedroom.

"Alright, Sprout," Virgil said. "Let's get this over with," the brunette smiled, standing next to the body scanner.

"You don't have to be so happy about it," Alan grumbled, grunting as the movement aggravated his side.

"Should've told me sooner, and maybe you wouldn't be in so much pain," Virgil smirked, taping the machine to life in satisfaction, choosing to ignore the mild curse that escaped his baby brother's mouth.

"As I said, I didn't know it was this bad. Adrenaline must've hidden most of it. I seriously thought I was just sore!" Alan argued, glaring at his older brother.

The machine beeped before Virgil could respond to his moody baby brother. "Scan is finished. Let's get you over to one of the beds where you'll be more comfortable."

Alan pushed himself up from the table and grimaced as he had moved too fast. "Easy, Alan," Virgil urged and came to stand on the other side of him to help him. Alan waved him off and hopped down from the table but nearly dropped as another wave of pain wrapped around his torso, Virgil caught his baby brother before he could fall.

"Damn it, Alan. You're going to hurt yourself while trying to preserve your pride. Just let me help you," Virgil reprimanded, gripping his baby brother around his uninjured side. Guiding his stubborn sibling onto a nearby infirmary bed, he helped Alan position himself upon it, elevating the head so he would be more comfortable. "Just take slow breathes, kiddo," he said, rubbing his baby brother's arm tenderly as Alan had trouble taking in deep breaths. Before the medic could contemplate placing him on an oxygen mask for good measure, Alan's breathing began to level out.

Virgil walked over and grabbed an ice pack. "Here, this will help until I take a look at your scans and can give you something."

Alan gladly took the appreciated object and placed it along his abused torso. Closing his eyes as the change in temperature took him off guard for a second. Feeling a hand run through his hair, he opened his eyes to meet the worried gaze of his brother.

"You okay?" Virgil asked, watching his sibling intently.

"Yea, just peachy," Alan groaned.

Virgil looked down at Alan with sympathy. "You could be right. Adrenaline could've masked most of your pain. We were pretty busy on site of the rescue after the explosions, and you slept most of the flight home."

"Yea, maybe," Alan sighed, wincing once more.

"I'll take a look at those scans, be right back."

Alan nodded. "Gotta make sure I'm not dying, right?"

"Not funny, Alan," Virgil moaned.

Alan rubbed his side as he removed the cold pack and relaxed more of his body into the infirmary bed. "Sorry for biting your head off," the blonde apologized as the chestnut-haired Tracy walked back toward him with his datapad.

"Don't sweat it, Sprout. I'll stop giving you such a hard time. I just worry about you is all," Virgil said, resting his hand upon Alan's, squeezing it. "Just do me a favor and report any injury that happens on a rescue. No matter how small. I don't care if you have to ask me for a bandaid for a little scrape. I'd rather give you an ice pack for a bump than have to perform an emergency procedure because you developed a pneumothorax from an injury you decided wasn't a big deal."

"It's not that serious, though, right?" Alan asked, eyes wide at the mention of the pneumothorax. His brother had taught him enough about medicine that he knew that was never a good thing.

Virgil pulled up a stool, sitting beside Alan's bed as he flipped through the images on his datapad. "It could've been, Allie. Thankfully there's no internal bleeding, but you've bruised your right ribcage and cracked two of them on the bottom. When you almost fell a few minutes ago, you could've dislodged them. I don't want to scare you, but that's why this stuff is so important, kiddo. I don't just say it because I like to hear myself talk."

"At least not all the time," Alan smirked.

"Brat," Virgil said, shoving his baby brother's leg.

"So, when do I get to be on the good stuff, and can I put my shirt on finally?" Alan asked, managing a slight pout that reminded Virgil him of when he was five.

"Yes, you can and give me a minute," Virgil said, standing up and grabbing what he needed from the drug cabinet.

Alan placed one arm through his shirt and slowly pulled his shirt over his head before pushing the other arm through. Previous injuries from years past serving him well in how to handle rib injuries.

"Alright, take these," Virgil said, handing two tablets and a bottle of water to his baby brother. Alan gladly took the pills. "How's the arm feel?"

"Fine, honestly doesn't bug me all that much in comparison to everything else," Alan admitted, glancing down at his right arm. "Can I go back to my room now?"

"Depends, and you better be honest with me," Virgil said, giving his brother a knowing look. "Have any more trouble breathing?"

"No, as long as I don't breathe in too deeply and move too fast. I'm good."

"Alright," Virgil gave in. "You can go back to your room or lounge around the house, but no trips to the beach, especially on your own. Those pain meds should make you pretty sleepy, so your bed is the best place for you right now. I'll give you a couple of ice packs to take with you to help keep the swelling down."

"Can I bring a few pillows from here?" Alan inquired as he looked around the room. "I don't think I have enough in my room to help keep me propped up. Laying down isn't exactly comfortable right now."

"I'm afraid that'll be an issue for a while, kid. I'm sure I can find some somewhere. I need you to promise me something before we leave."

"What?" Alan asked suspiciously.

"That you be extra careful around the house. You, my dear brother, are accident-prone," Virgil smirked, earning a disgruntled mumble from Alan. "Second, if you start having problems breathing or start feeling more pain than before, you are to contact me, understood?"

"I understand," Alan nodded, meeting his older brother's hazel eyes.

"No secrets," Virgil emphasized, holding out his pinkie like when they were kids.

"No secrets," Alan smiled, wrapping his pinkie around his brother's.

"Oh, and Al, you know I have to tell Dad and Scott about this, right?"

Alan groaned. "Do you have to?"

"I won't tell them how I found out. However, you're officially off duty for a while, so they were bound to find out," Virgil reasoned.

"As you said, no secrets," the younger blonde sighed, accepting his fate.

"Now, you're learning!" Virgil chuckled and helped him climb out of bed.

"Just do me a favor and wait until I've fallen asleep," Alan pleaded. "Less likely to be smothered by the two of them at once."

"Deal," Virgil smirked, giving his baby brother a side hug.

[prettyinlimegreenboots]

and also - “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

This one really got away from me but I really like how it turned out! Enjoy!!

Sitting on the front porch at Medda’s House, Jack sighed in contentment. For the moment, the house was quiet. Then again, it was 2:45 and school wasn’t out yet, thus none of the kids were home.

Rocking back and forth in the rocking chair, he smiled at his momma. “What’s with the smile, momma?”

“It’s not often that I get to spend quality one on one time with just my oldest. I’m enjoying this.” Medda looked over from her own rocking chair with a grin. “You’re not around as much, and I get that you’re grown but you’re missed in this house.”

Jack frowned. “I’m sorry momma.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. You’re growing up, and you’re engaged to Kat. I understand that you won’t be around as much.” She paused. “But your siblings don’t quite understand it.”

Jack bit at his lip. He had tried to still come around at least one a week but between his photography job, spending time with Kat, and the side job painting sets, he had slipped a bit with his family. “I never intended to stop coming around. It’s been crazy these last few weeks. I’m sorry, momma.”

“Oh baby, your siblings will be fine. They’ll be ecstatic seeing you sitting here when they get off the bus that they’ll forget the last few weeks.” Medda waved her hand. “They know you’re their brother but they miss you, Jack.”

He nodded. “I’ve missed them too. How about we start doing family dinners once a week? It’ll make me slow down and come over and they will get to see me. I’ll even bring Kat.”

“Sounds like a plan. You just let me know what day works well with you and we’ll plan on you joining us.” Medda grinned. “If I haven’t said it recently, I’m so proud of you Jack.”

A blush rose to his cheeks as he shook his head. “Thanks momma.”

Patting his arm, she got up from her chair. “I’ll leave you to the herd. Bus is just down the street.”

He watched her retreat to the house with a grin. He was so proud of his momma; yet he didn’t know how she did it. Currently there were 7 kids in the house - Race, Albert, Crutchie, Specs, Romeo, Smalls, and Chance - and from what he heard there was potential of Medda bringing one or two more in.

She was an angel for even taking him, Race, and Albert in when they were just 9, 6, and 5 and raising them and every couple of years she would bring more into the loving home. There were days that the house was a complete chaos but there were never any days that the house didn’t overfill with love.

The squeaking brakes broke him from his thoughts as five kids shuffled off the bus. They didn’t see him yet as they yelled at one another for one reason or another.

He watched them walk up the yard towards the front door, waiting for them to notice him. “JACK!”

Albert noticed him first, a book bag hitting the ground as he rushed over and threw his body at his older brother. “What are you doing here?”

He stood so that the others could give him hugs as loud voices fought to be heard over one another. “Had the afternoon off so I came to check to make sure the house was still standing.”

“We ain’t blown anything up since last week.” Race mumbled as Jack’s eyebrows rose.

Jack chuckled, ruffling Race’s hair. “That’s a relief. How was school?”

He leaned against the railing as the five talked. He noticed Smalls was quieter than the four boys. Seeing a break in the conversation, he motioned to the house. “You got homework?”

Race, Albert, Crutchie, and Specs all groaned. “Go get started on it. I want it done before dinner.”

“You staying?” Specs asked, giving him a look.

Jack nodded, sitting back in the rocking chair. “Yup and I’ll be checking your work so get going. Smalls, join me.”

Albert made a sound, Jack giving him a look. “Albert do we need to have a discussion?”

“Nope, nope, nopeity, nope!” Albert backed towards the door with a shake of his head before he and Crutchie disappeared inside hollering to Medda that Jack was being mean.

Jack motioned to Race and Specs to join Albert in the house. He gave them a reassuring smile along with a nod of his head.

Hearing the door slam behind them, he shook his head before looking at the 14 year old girl sitting beside him. “What’s up Smalls?”

“What do you mean?” She asked, looking at her older brother for any indication something was wrong.

Jack chuckled. “You’re quiet. And usually that means something is wrong, Jenna. So what’s wrong?”

She sighed, kicking her book bag as she rocked. “Nothing’s going on.”

“That’s weak Jenna.” He gave her a look. “All I’m trying to do is help you.”

Smalls glared at him. “You disappear for weeks, no text, no phone call and you think you can just show up and it’s suddenly okay. Go be with Kat and just forget about us!”

She attempted to get up and walk into the house but he was just too quick. He grabbed her and wrapped her in a hug as the tears started. Putting her on his lap, he ran a hand down her back as she cried. Rocking them gently, he let her cry as he ran a hand down her back.

“I’m never going to forget about you or your siblings. You’re stuck with me.” Jack’s voice was shaky. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around much but that’s going to change.”

Smalls picked her head up from his shoulder, eyes red from crying. “How? You’re engaged, outta the house, and never around.”

“Well for one, momma and I talked and we’re going to start doing family dinners once a week. Second, you have a cell phone for a reason, use it. You can always text or call me and I’ll stop by.” He paused. “I’m never too busy when my siblings need me.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Was that what was bothering you?”

“Yea and school just sucks.” Smalls groaned.

Jack nodded. “Unfortunately I can’t do anything about the school sucking part. We good?”

“We good.” She gave him a hug. “Thanks!”

“Anytime, Smalls. You just gotta tell me to slow down.” He stood, following her into the house. “Now go do your homework.”

She nodded before heading upstairs while he made his way into the kitchen. He heard the loud talking of Albert and Race before leaning against the wall watching the kitchen. Medda was at one end of the table with a cup of coffee while Albert and Race were sitting across from each other hurling insults at one another. Specs and Crutchie must’ve opted to do their homework upstairs.

“Have you accomplished finishing any of your homework?” Jack made his presence known, walking into the kitchen.

Race actually stopped talking, being spooked by his older brother’s voice before looking at Albert. “We just have one more thing to finish.”

“And what’s that?” Jack took a seat at the other end of the table and grinned at Medda.

“History for me and Science for Race.” Albert grinned, hurling a crumpled up piece of paper in Race’s direction.

Medda smiled. “They would’ve been done 15 minutes ago if they didn’t keep throwing wads of paper at each other.”

“Momma!” The two yelled. “Ugh can you help us, Jack?”

Pulling over Race’s science book, he looked at what was being discussed and shook his head. “Sorry Race, science wasn’t my best subject.”

“But you had Plums as a tutor!” Race complained, throwing his head back.

Jack smirked. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“Of which part? You having Plums as a tutor or not being bad at science, but having a girl that you liked who just happened to be good at science, tutor you?” Race asked with a grin.

Jack smirked. “Shut up and I was horrible at chemistry.”

“But then you and Plums actually had chemistry!” Albert said while wiggling his eyebrows up and down suggestively.

Jack took the notebook beside him on the table and slapped Albert’s arm. “I’m not helping you with history.”

“Why?” Albert looked offended at Jack’s statement. “All because I told the truth? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

Jack looked at Medda with a smirk. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“Typically I’m quietly taking it all in while these two shoot their mouths off.” Race started to protest, as she put a hand up. “Are you denying that?”

Jack relaxed in the chair, exhausted in the few minutes he had been in the room. “Just finish your homework, without any complaints, please!”

The opening of the front door caught his attention as Romeo and Chance came stomping in, arguing about something. “Can it Chance! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Raising an eyebrow in Medda’s direction, Jack sighed when he saw her shrug her shoulders. He grinned seeing them come into the kitchen. “Hey you two. What are you arguing about?”

“Romeo likes a girl at school.” Like any good sister, Chance never kept secrets about her brothers quiet for long.

Romeo moves to punch her arm, as Jack threw his arm around his kid brother. “Is this true?”

“No. We’re desk partners for the week.” Romeo said glaring at Chance.

“Then why did she say that she liked your hair and thanks for giving her a pencil today?” Chance asked, settling herself at the table to begin her homework.

Romeo rolled his eyes. “Because I lent her a pencil earlier and she noticed I got a haircut. Not all of that equals me liking her.”

Shrugging her shoulders, she began working on a worksheet while Jack looked at Romeo. “It’s okay buddy. You got homework?”

“Yea some history worksheet but that’s all.” Romeo pulled the chair out beside Jack before starting to work on it.

He glanced down the table to see all four of the kids working quietly, the first time it had been quiet since he walked into the house.

“Smalls okay?” Medda asked pushing back from the table to start dinner

“Yea we talked and she’s good.” Jack smiled, letting Medda know he’d fill her in later. “She’s up in her room doing homework.”

Medda nodded before winking at Jack. “Normally her, Crutchie and Specs are all upstairs because unlike these four, I can trust them with their homework.”

As predicted, four voices piped up about how they could do their homework but they didn’t want to do it alone, Race and Albert being the loudest.

The opening of the door caught everyone’s attention. A bag was dropped on the bench in the hallway before Kat made her appearance.

“Thank goodness you’re here Plums!!!” Race exclaimed, giving his soon to be sister-in-law a bright smile.

Kat gave Jack a questionable look before greeting everyone with a hug.

“Racetrack you’re up to something and I’m not sure if I should be excited about it or worried.” Kat ruffled his hair before moving over to give Medda a hug.

Jack snorted. “Always worry, Kat.”

She rounded the corner of the island, before stepping into his embrace and kissed him in greeting. “Alright, dully noted.”

“Ugh …. yuck!” Race and Albert both faked throwing up at the public display of affection from their brother. “Get a room!”

Jack reached over and swatted Race’s head. “If we did that then there goes your homework help!”

“OH!” Race morphed his face to pull out the puppy dog eyes and sad face. “Plums, will you pretty please with a cherry on top help me with my chemistry homework?”

Putting her hand on her chest, she giggled. “It’s been a few years since I’ve done chemistry but let me see what you’re working on.”

Shaking his head at Race, Jack leaned over to check on Romeo’s progress before chucking.

“Hey Plums?” Albert asked, pulling her attention away from the chemistry homework. “Did you know that Jack was really good at Chemistry when he asked you to tutor him?”

Kat raised an eyebrow at Jack, who was sporting a slightly pink blush on his cheeks. “Yea, it didn’t take a genius to figure out that Jack didn’t need my help. He was just looking for a way to ask me out without sounding like a complete loser!”

“Hey now! They don’t need to know that.” Jack squeaked, as the siblings all started laughing.

Kat smiled at him. “It was one of the things that made me fall in love with him.”

Medda and Chance both awed at the confession while the boys gagged. “One day boys you’ll fall in love and know what we’re talking about.”

“I’d rather not throw up when I think about chemistry!” Race mumbled as Albert nodded. “But you do you, Plums.”

Laughter filled the kitchen while Jack sat back and took it all in. He shook his head at his kid brothers. They’d learn what being in love meant and felt like soon enough but for now, the only thing that stood in their way was dull homework and that was just fine with him.

Thanks @wide-eyed--wonderer for sending that in!