Family Struggles - 27. End of Summer Bash

Lincoln paced in front of the couches as his family sat wide-eyed waiting for him to speak. He’d summoned them about ten minutes ago to a family meeting but he’s furious and hasn’t said anything yet. He stopped turning toward them, everyone leaned forward in anticipation of why they were there. Link opened his mouth but nothing came out, closing his mouth he paced again until Kyle felt dizzy and tried to put an end to their torture.

“Link you would be wearing the carpet out if we had any.” Kyle smiled at his son but got the evil eye from him.

Cody looked at Lincoln, “Should I write his hostile reaction down?” Tapping his pen on the tablet his brother had provided. His big brother nodded at him then giving their dad a wary look.

“Someone has been stealing my candy,” Lincoln blurted out in a huff, “I want to know who?”

The young boy stood observing his family individually for any type of reaction. Unfortunately, no one reacted when he spoke, nor did they seem the least bit nervous.

“There,” Link pointed when Levi shuffled a little closer to Brody as he tried to hide their hands clasped together. “Levi, did you touch my candy?”

“Get a grip, and mind your business before I stuff your guitar in the garbage.” Levi glared at his twin for drawing attention to Brody and himself.

Cody tapped Lincoln’s shoulder, “He seems pretty uptight and hostile, I’ll document that.”

Link scowled at his brother, “Yes, he does.” Lincoln scratched his chin, “What about you Brody? Did you take my candy or see Levi take it?” Brody sat back in the couch crossing his arms over his chest smirking defiantly saying nothing then Lincoln pointed at him and bellowed, “answer the question.” Lashing out he grabbed Brody’s hand.

Levi loosened his hand from Brody’s before standing making a fist, “Pop you better do something with him or he’s gonna need to visit a dentist to replace his teeth that will be missing.”

Just as Lincoln went to retaliate and Blu stood to calm the boys; Teddy rushed into the room anxiously. Link looked up at the tall man pointing to Levi and said, “Dude, he took my candy arrest him.”

“Uh, yeah okay later dude!” Teddy growled obviously frustrated. “Kyle, Blu, can we talk in private.”

Kyle rolled his eyes at Link and nodded as he stood up, grabbing Blu’s hand in his.

“Sure, this conversation was getting a little out of control anyways. The office okay?” Kyle asked as he led the way out of the room.

The three men went to the office closing the door behind them, Blu held up his finger for Teddy to wait a moment before speaking. Then all of a sudden he banged his fist on the door.

“Ow, that’s mean.” He heard Link whimper on the other side of the door.

Blu opened the door to find the four young boys all staring at him and Link holding his ear.

“Go upstairs and get ready, when Teddy’s finished we’re going back to school shopping. Hit the bricks boys you have fifteen minutes and if you’re not dressed and ready you’ll be going in whatever you’re wearing I don’t care if it’s only your underwear.” Blu admonished them.

Levi smirked at Lincoln, “You still wearing your ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost’underoos?”

“Shut up, I hate you.” Lincoln stormed off with Cody chasing after him peppering him with questions about their investigation into the ‘Great Candy Caper.’

“Go,” Blu said staring at Levi who was watching Lincoln storm off, attempting to follow behind. “And Levi lay off your brother will you?” he called out to Levi’s back then shutting the door and sitting down next to his husband across from Teddy.

Although Teddy was excited about something he was still all squirrely.

“Spit it out Teddy, we’ve got complaining kids to get back to,” Blu smirked.

“Well, I have good news. At 7:38 am this morning the police picked up one Carson Grecco trying to buy drugs down in New York City. Since there is a warrant for his arrest he was detained and according to my sources, he’s wanted in connection to the hit and run of Stephen. It looks like he’s going to be in jail for a quite a length of time as the evidence against him is more than a little damning.” Teddy had a grin on his face by the time he got all the information out. “So that means you guys are safe, he has no friends to speak of and his dad’s connections are jumping ship quicker than passengers on the Titanic. The madness might just be over boys.”

“What about Penelope, Teddy?” Blu questioned him with some caution. “The woman has been trying to get to Kyle for years now and she has been increasing her attempts with Carson. Shouldn’t we still be worried about her?”

Teddy offered the guys a smile, “That’s the beautiful part of the whole situation, the Justice Department has cut her off from communicating with anybody apart from the correctional facility staff.”

Blu smiled adoringly at Kyle squeezing his hand in hope. “Are you for real?”

“It’s finally over, her, Rudolph, and Carson. Now we can focus on our family,” Kyle said as he let a relaxing sigh escape.

“Yep, it’s finally over. Saying that however, I’d be more comfortable if we kept a couple of security detail around the family for a little while.” Teddy held his hands up quickly stopping Blu from interjecting. “Just as a precaution Blu. It will be an observe and report type of deal not quite as intense as it has been for the past year.”

“Can we keep Brent and Derek then, they know the family the best?” Blu asked.

“I’ll run it by them, but since Kyle has retained our security services for the school I’ll need Brent and Derek to also head the team there.” Teddy nodded as he spoke.

“Hey Gramps, can you ask Grandpa James if he took my candy?” Link yelled through the door.

“Lincoln if I open that door and you aren’t ready to go shopping. I’m taking you in whatever you’re currently wearing,” Blu yelled back before standing to reach for the door. He stuck his head out to find Lincoln hurrying toward the stairs with a towel wrapped around his waist.

*****

Saturday afternoon Brody and Levi lounged around the pool, as Link and Cody continued to investigate the still disappearing candy.

Brody stretched as he laid on the lounge chair casting a quick glance at Levi, “Are you sure you still like me after what my Dad did?”

Levi let his head fall so he could see Brody’s face. “What are you talking about? You’re my best friend. I promised you, remember? I’ll always be your best friend and I meant that as forever. It’s not your fault that your dad’s a little cray-cray. You’re not him.”

“But he’s my father maybe I’m gonna be like him someday. Not that I want to be, but what if?” Brody rolled on his side facing Levi.

Levi chuckled a little, “What if you could lay eggs?” Brody blinked at him. “See one thing has nothing to do with the other. You’re my best friend end of the story, now stop talking crazy.”

“You sure are bossy, maybe Cody is right to call you hostile for stealing candy,” Brody laughed hysterically.

“Funny, maybe you stole the dickhead's candy,” Levi teased Brody.

Brody chuckled, “It would be kinda hard to steal his candy with my hand in yours all the time.”

“Shuddup, I like it there,” Levi mumbled.

“I like kissing you too, but that is on hold until we find somewhere that has a door attached. Your Pop sure is testy over a stupid kiss,” Brody shrugged recalling Blu’s reaction to them kissing in the laundry room and the subsequent removal of the door.

“It wasn’t a stupid kiss,” Levi replied quietly, “but still he didn’t have to take the door off our bedroom too.”

“God that’s embarrassing, I mean Bella walks by in the mornings and when morning wood is goin’ ugh…” Brody trailed off as his face reddened.

Levi moved Brody out of the way as he stood from the chaise lounge and stretching.

“I’m going to go for a run, did you wanna come with?” Levi asked looking down at Brody.

“Yep, gotta make sure your butt doesn’t get fat.” Brody giggled slapping Levi’s rear end.

“Race ya.” Levi laughed as he took off to their room with Brody giving chase. They thundered up the stairs coming to a sudden stop when they found their bed up against the wall. The boys cautiously got closer to the bedroom, looking inside they found Brent and Blu setting up bunk beds.

“Pop!” Levi shouted. “Have you lost your mind?” He shook his head after saying it. “Don’t bother answering that. You’ve removed the doors off of everything but the bathrooms, and now this? What have I done to make you not trust me? You and Dad kiss! That’s all Brody and me have ever done other than hold hands. What is so wrong with that?” Levi pulled Brody to his side throwing an arm over his shoulder before kissing his cheek.

Blu winked at Brent. “Give us a minute will ya?”

Brent shuffled out of the room mussing Levi’s hair on the way past.

“Look, Levi, I do trust you and Brody. But without going into the birds and bees talk. I know you understand why we’re putting bunk beds in here. You’re a smart kid. Now the beds are staying, I’ll put the door back on if you promise you’ll be respectful with this relationship. I don’t mean to each other I have no doubt about that. But to me and dad. This is our house, you are our son and we love you. Your teenage hormones are ready to kick in and we can’t have you boys living together, being in a relationship, and sharing a bed. Do you understand what I’m saying.”

Levi glared at Blu, “Pop, I love you but get a grip. I AM going to hold Brody’s hand and I AM going to give him a kiss.”

Blu shook his head. “That’s fine, I don’t mind. But things just can’t go any further and stop shaking your head at me. I wasn’t saying you can’t have a relationship or that you have to break up. You just can’t share the bed, not permanently anyway. A nap here or there isn’t going to hurt anyone, but you can’t sleep in the same bed all of the time.”

“Agreed. But can you stop treating me like a little kid? I am thirteen now, it’s a little frustrating.” Levi softened his demeanor towards Blu.

“I get that, and I’m sorry,” Blu said hanging his head, “I just want you happy and safe all the time.”

Levi slapped Blu on the shoulder, “It’s okay Pop, you just don’t wanna admit you’re old.”

“Hey, Pop,” Link said from the door, “find out if they took my candy.”

“No dickhead I didn’t for the final time, go question somebody else. How can you be so smart and so dumb at the same time?” Levi grumbled.

Blu cuffed the kid on the back of the head. “Don’t call your brother dumb. Dumbass. You and Brody go out to the garage and grab your door and we’ll put it back on.”

“Sure thing old man,” Levi chuckled grabbing Brody’s hand. “Let's go get that door before his mind goes, and he forgets how to hang the door.”

“I heard that, kiddo. You just wait until next weeks chores are posted,” Blu called out after Levi.

“Don’t worry he will forget it,” Levi could be heard saying as the two boys retreated toward the garage.

*****

The following Tuesday Kyle came out of the bathroom toothbrush still in hand poking Blu’s side. “Wake up and get dressed, I’m showered as soon as I finish brushing my teeth I will wake the tribe.”

“Go away dad, five more minutes.” Blu swatted his hand at the toothbrush.

“Okay… Have it your way,” Kyle opened the bedroom door and Khan meandered into the room. Pointing toward the lump of covers on the bed, “Attack!” Khan hopped on the bed bouncing around sending covers flying, once he achieved the loss of shelter Kyle smirked. Pointing once again now at his husband he gave Khan the command “kisses!” Khan’s tongue immediately started slurping about Blu’s face.

Blu sat up quickly with Khan slurping long kisses up side his face.

“Gross,” he yelped wiping the side of this face. “Stop it, Khan.” He tried to push the dog away but that just made Khan try harder like it was a game. “So gross, stop it.” Blu struggled to get out of the bed wrestling with a hundred-twenty-pound dog. “I’ll get you back boy, this isn’t the end,” he threatened the dog while wiping the slobber off his face.

“Don’t think you’re out of the woods yet either, you’ll get yours,” Blu said manically wiping the slobber from his face and quickly rubbing it down Kyle’s cheek before he ran into the bathroom locking Kyle out, toothbrush in hand, with a foamy Colgate, covered mouth.

“Let me in babe,” Kyle called out banging on the bathroom door.

“Nope,” his husband yelled back, Kyle heard the shower go on.

“I’ll fix you and your little red wagon,” he muttered to himself popping his head out the bedroom door. “LEVI!”

“It’s too early for Pop to scream like a little girl,” Levi grumbled as he ran his fingers through his damp hair when he looked at Kyle who appeared to be frothing at the mouth. “Did you get your rabies shot?”

“Very cute, brat.” Kyle wiped his mouth on one of Blu’s t-shirts that he threw at the bathroom door. “Where are the other Musketeers?”

“The what?” Levi asked with a weird expression on his face.

“Never mind it’s too early to explain good movies to you,” Kyle ruffed Levi’s hair. “Remember I can provide early detention, go get your tribemates up.”

“It was a novel you heathens, by Alexandre Dumas written in 1844,” Blu yelled, they could hear him grumbling further insults through the door although weren’t able to make out what he was muttering about.

“The movie was better, more action and it kept your eyes glued to the television,” Kyle glanced in the mirror above their dresser, “Blu hurry up Bella is always ready before you are.”

The bathroom door swung open, Blu stepped into the bedroom with a towel hanging low on his hips. Kyle reached over and swung the bedroom door closed. Blu sauntered over to the dresser letting his towel drop further down his body until he knew his butt was visible to Kyle and bent over putting on a show to find his boxer-briefs.

Kyle smirked grabbing the towel off the floor twirling it between both hands and then snapping the damp towel across Blu’s ass, “Quit trying to make us late.” He tossed the towel in the hamper, giving a quick kiss on Blu’s neck as he made his way to the door.

“You could have at least kissed the boo-boo,” Blu yelled to his husband.

Kyle chuckled from the stairs, “breakfast is in five minutes, Babe.” He paused a moment, “Boys get a move on.”

*****

“Good morning, Kyle, will Blu be long?” James asked putting down a plate of fruit on the breakfast table.

“He shouldn’t be long, he was hunting for clothes and nursing a sore behind,” Kyle held his hand up halting any response, “I snapped his ass with his towel. He was being super slow this morning.”

James snickered. “Sounds like Blu, should I get a donut for him to sit on?”

“Grampa Teddy,” Cody squealed running to give his grandpa a hug. He looked so tiny wrapped in the giant man's arms. The family watched on as Teddy enveloped the small boy in his embrace kissing the top of his head.

“Good morning, Codes. How’s my young man? Excited for the first day of your new school?” Teddy asked.

“Yep, Link is gonna show me around. I wish I was in his classes though.”

Teddy smiled, “You’ll be okay, you will find your own crowd and before you know it you’ll have a ton of friends.”

“I hope so, but I love hanging out with Link. Do you think they’ll let him hang around us?”

“You’ll be fine I promise.” Teddy smiled warmly roughing the boy's hair.

“Hey, Teddy, morning James,” Blu said entering the room, checking out the spread on the table. “Wow, what a way to start the first day of the school year. You guys are joining us aren’t you?”

Blu kissed Kyle on the top of his head then took his place in the seat next to him.

James looked to Teddy for confirmation, his husband nodded his head so James took two more plates so they could sit with the family and have breakfast.

“When do you leave for your rehab thingy?” Lincoln asked Teddy around a mouthful of watermelon.

Teddy narrowed his eyes quizzically at the kid, then the light went on, “Do you mean reunion thingy?” he replied with a chuckle.

“Yep, uh-huh, that.” Lincoln nodded shoveling cantaloupe in his mouth.

“Tomorrow morning we leave for Vietnam for two weeks, then we’ll be touring throughout Asia for about four months. James has never been so we are going to try and go everywhere. We have no plans per se, we’ll see where the wind blows us.” Teddy smiled affectionately at his husband.

“Will you send us postcards from all the cool places you go?” Levi asked excitedly.

“We’ll be taking lots of photo’s, we try and email them as much as possible Levi.” James smiled. “You can send as many emails as you like, we’ll do our best to check every day.”

Kyle and Blu glanced around the table happy how excited the kids were for their Grampa’s. Bella knocked over her glass spilling her juice, Blu stood to get a cloth quickly while Bella and Kyle tried to contain the river of juice. As Blu turned around he was met by a hiss and the cat staring daggers two inches from his face. Blu let out a very manly squeal pulling the cat from the bench muttering promises of an untimely death for the fluffy fleabag. Bella deserted her post as river containment to rescue her cat which meant juice on the floor, and to Khan, the opportunist meant something for him to eat. Diving under the table before anyone could stop him, he stood up to his full height lifting the table at one end.

End of breakfast, beginning of morning chaos.

*****

After dinner later that night, the family sat in the living room watching ‘The Voice.’

“Dad mute the television.” Link requested. “I started thinking, there is only one person that has ever broken into my candy stash and stole from it. Pop, I’m sorry but by reason of deduction, I am finding you guilty. I will pass sentencing tomorrow.”

Blu raised his eyebrow at his son pointing a fork in his direction. “Firstly, you’re forgetting that I always replace the candy I steal. Secondly, I’m the one who dishes out the allowance for said candy. Thirdly, if you punish me you’re only punishing yourself, I’m your English teacher this year. Good luck.”

Cody perked up, “Sounds like a confession to me. I can help you with English, Link.” Pulling a notepad outta his back pocket he jotted down the apparent confession. “Dad, you may be lonely once we pass sentencing. The dog house is only large enough for Pop.”

Kyle rolled his eyes and chuckled, “What about Pop? He will be lonely too.”

“Don’t you worry about Pop, he’ll have all the candy to keep him warm,” Blu smirked. “Can you say the same when the D’s and F’s start rolling in?”

Cody roared with laughter, “You wouldn’t do that, it’s just mean.”

“Oh, won’t I?” Blu answered in his best authoritative teacher tone. “Let’s test that theory if you’re brave enough.”

Cody stretched and tossed out a fake yawn, “I think I’m tired, I should go get a shower and head to bed.” He snatched the notepad from the floor before shuffling out of the room.

“That was weird,” Blu stated watching Cody rush away.

Levi bumped shoulders with Brody as he leaned into his side, “I smell a little rat.”

“So do I,” Bella said not looking up from her kindle.

Link looked around the room, “That’s mean for you guys to try blaming Cody. He helped with the investigation and everything.”

Brody broke out into giggles. “Uh, he helped to keep you off his tail. Or was that someone else’s bag of skittles wedged into his waistband when he left the room.”

Blu stood up from the couch, “OWW!” he kicked his foot away from him. The cat still attached to his leg from where she’d grabbed him. She’d been under the couch waiting for him to move to make her plan come to fruition. “Damn cat, I swear Bella, keep this thing under control or make no mistake she’ll be delivered back to us in the version of some type of Asian cuisine.”

Kyle snickered and buried his face into his school portfolio, pretending to be busy with his schedule. “Can’t everybody keep it down, there is too much horsing around and making noise.”

“You do have an office, Bozo, use it,” Blu snapped at his husband before storming off into the kitchen.

Bella put her kindle aside picking up Scarlett hugging her to her chest as she walked upstairs. “Pop didn’t mean it, he’d never do anything to you.”

“YES I WILL!” Blu shouted from the kitchen where he was making him and Kyle a cup of tea.

“Pop, do we have any ‘Kitten Chow Mein’ in the fridge?” Levi asked with a chuckle.

Blu filled a bowl with cat food and took it out to Levi with a spoon.

“Enjoy!”

“Umm,” Levi looked at the bowl. “Here Scarlett, look at what Pop brought you.” He sat the bowl beside Bella, reaching out to give the four-legged attack cat a scratch behind the ear. “If you keep Pop busy, at Christmas time we will get you a nice stash of catnip.”

Blu came back into the room giving Kyle his tea and sitting down beside him. “If you bring catnip in this house it’s all you’ll be having until next Christmas. Now it’s nine o’clock, go get ready for bed. Lights out in one hour.”

Levi stood up giving Blu a mock salute, “Sir yes sir.” As the three older boys headed off to bed.

Blu nudged Kyle to get his attention. “Um… I want to talk to you about a kid in my seventh-grade class. A new kid, I don’t recognize him. We might want to get the teachers to keep an eye on. I caught him pushing kids out of his path while he walked down the hallway today. When I called him on it, he swore and gave me the finger. He seemed agitated so I let it go for today. But tomorrow I’m going to give him after-school detention.”

Kyle sat his planner down, “Let me know if you need me to become involved. It might be an adjustment period for the kid, I’m not making excuses for his actions which I don’t condone.”

“No, I get it. I just wanted you to be aware in case his behavior escalates and ends up in your office. But I really think we should get to the bottom of his anger. We could try music therapy to see if Charlie can bond with him? Find out what’s going on to make him act the way he does.”

“I agree do you want to speak with Charlie? We could even try getting the kid onto the wrestling team to work off his energy and tame that anger,” Kyle said as he picked up his cup of tea.

“It’s all worth a shot,” Blu said, “I’m going to shower, I’ll be waiting for you. Naked. Ready to go.”