I walked with my cold hands in my black leather jacket and my hair combed back. A cigarette was lit between my lips that I smoked without shame.

I passed by two girls who stared at me longer than needed and smiled when I glanced at them.

It was the usual stares.

My eyes scanned the sidewalk in front of me and I wondered if what I was doing was right. The adrenaline in my veins was pumping and my fists wanted some type of release.

A couple blocks later I found the building I was looking for and entered without permission. I headed to the back of the rundown place and could already hear the loud cheers and drunk slurs.

A bulky guy stood beside the entrance with crossed arms and a serious face expression. Almost looked pissed off.

"Thirty to get in." he stated once he saw me.

I handed him the money and was soon let inside the private room. I took one last drag of my cigarette then dropped it on the floor. I stepped on it before walking to the center of the room where the fight was going on.

Drunk men surrounded two fighters as they wrestled on the floor in a pool of blood. They were both badly beaten but that didn't stop them from trying to kill one another.

I crossed my arms and watched the fight until the weakest man out of the two fighters finally had to stop due to a gash on his head. It was a deep wound that was bleeding in a rapid speed.

The drunk men cheered as the winner raised his hands in victory and money was thrown at him.

"Poor guy will surely need staples on his head. I can only imagine how worried his family will be." I heard someone say beside me in sympathy.

Something about his words made me quickly walk out of the room without looking back.

Images of my brat crossed my mind along with my little pumpkin. I had to be around to protect them and being in a hospital bed wasn't going to help do that.

I left the lousy place and instead went to the bar Frankie worked in. He was making some blonde girl a fruity drink as I sat on the stool in front of him.

"Give me a Budlight." I requested and placed my hands back in my jacket.

"Right away, sir." Frankie said in a butler voice and bowed before grabbing me my drink.

I rolled my eyes at him then fixed my hair that was blown in different directions by the wind.

"Hey sexy, can I buy you a drink?" a light voice said beside me, but I already knew it was the blondie.

Frankie came back and handed me my beer, "Only one, Royce. I don't want to drag you out of here." he warned then left.

"Royce is such a unique name. I love it!" the girl continued to gush and even dared to hold onto my arm.

I lightly shoved her off and opened my can of beer, "I have a girlfriend." I lied and took a sip of my beer.

"Really?" the blondie asked in disappointment.

I got up and took one large gulp of my beer before puting it back down. I thanked Frankie across the room then finally made eye contact with the blonde chick.

"No." I told her and left the bar.

I headed home and sighed in relief when nobody was around. I went upstairs to my room and suddenly felt really tired.

I took off my shoes and jacket then crawled into my bed. The cold sheets cooled down my overheated skin.

My eyes closed shut and soon my body was relaxing a bit.

"Bear!"

"Bear!"

"Where is Bear?!"

A smiled formed on my face once I heard the loud yelling of a certain little boy. I opened my eyes and got up from my bed.

Just then Danny rushed in with Chris close behind. He tried grabbing him but Danny ran faster and lunged into my arms.

I held him close and adjusted him on my hip, "Did you like your new truck?" I asked the smiling boy with a stuffy nose.

"I did, Bear!" he replied and wiped his little nose with his sleeve.

"Are you sick babe?" I questioned as I noticed his glossy eyes and warm cheeks.

He nodded and frowned.

"I ate mud so I be better soon!" he assured with a thumbs up.

I laughed and placed him back down. Chris was watching with a serious face and didn't seem to be very happy with me.

Since the incident at the toy store, he's been ignorning me completely.

"Let's go eat some chicken soup, Danny." Chris said and grabbed Danny's hand to guide him out of my room without giving me a single glance.

I quickly grabbed the brat's arm and turned him around to give him a kiss on the lips.

He stayed still and didn't pull away but didn't kiss me back either.

"Eww Bear!" Danny giggled out as he wiped his runny nose without a care.

"Why don't you play with your toys buddy while I talk to Chris." I suggested and didn't have to wait for an answer since the little boy ran out of my room like his life depended on it.

"Roy-" Chris immediately started to complain but I shut him up with another kiss.

I grabbed his face with both of my hands and pressed my mouth hard on his to show him how sorry I was.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you. You didn't deserve any of it." I honestly told him as I looked into his beautiful eyes and kissed his soft lips once more.

"I love you.." I confessed and gave him one last kiss before putting my hands down.

The brat sighed and looked down at the floor, "I love you too, Royce." he finally replied.

"Cymphony has been having a lot of trouble at home lately so I'm helping her get through it. That's it. No touching, kissing and definitely no sex involved. I already told you that I'm yours, brat." I said once I still noticed his upset face.

He looked up at me and nodded in understanding, "Okay." he replied and leaned over a bit to peck my lips.

"Let's go downstairs before Danny breaks something." he said and left the room.

I rubbed my tired eyes and wished I could of slept better last night. My nightmares seem to be getting worse but I didn't want anybody to worry about it.

I just needed to keep my temper undercontrol before I said something else I regretted. I went downstairs and was surprised to see Pablo playing with Danny.

His hair was cut short and he was finally gaining some muscle on his arms.

It was strange seeing him again but he still didn't intimidate me.

I headed towards the kitchen but stopped when someone grabbed onto my jeans. I looked down and saw Danny trying to climb on me like a monkey on a tree.

"Children stick to you like gum on concrete." Pablo said trying to have a conversation with me, but instead I picked up Danny and kept walking to the kitchen.

Chris was pouring some soup in a small Batman bowl and tried his hardest not to spill it. He no longer looked upset and even gave me a shy smile when he caught me staring at him.

Damn, this boy had his name written all over my heart.

"Come eat some soup, Danny. You'll feel much better." Chris said and grabbed the small boy from my arms.

Danny's chubby cheeks were really red now and his nose was really stuffy. He wasn't as energetic and he just looked really tired.

I sat down next to him and helped Chris feed him. Good thing he was here and not with Frankie since the poor guy could barely take care of himself when he got sick.

"Bear, I don't want.." Danny started to cry when I gave him another spoonful of soup.

He rubbed his eyes then out of nowhere started to full out sob. Tears quickly ran down his face and I felt bad for my poor little boy.

I picked him up from his chair and gently stroked his hair back. His forehead was burning to the touch so I was about to ask Chris for a damp washcloth until he already had it in front of me.

I placed it on the crying toddlers head and watched his painful reaction relax. He didn't feel very well so I took off his shirt and pants until he was left in his Ninja Turtles underwear.

I walked over to the couch where I fixed him by some pillows.

"I'll get his medicine from upstairs." Chris stated and rushed up the stairs while I continued to softly push back Danny's sticky hair from his forehead.

The cold washcloth was making his body temperature go back to normal which sent a wave of relief through me.

"Bear, I want ice-cweam." Danny complained and moved uncomfortably on the couch.

"Hold on a bit, okay?" I replied.

He nodded and closed his eyes right when Chris walked down the steps. He grabbed a spoon from the kitchen then poured some purple liquid onto it.

I guess it was grape flavored.

"Open your mouth." Chris quietly instructed Danny which he did without a fight, not realizing it was medicine since his eyes were closed.

He quickly spit it out once tasting the sticky liquid and started to cry again.

"Do you guys need help?" Pablo suddenly asked out of nowhere.

He's still here?..great.

"We got it, thanks." Chris replied while I picked up the crying child. I calmed him down in my arms until he placed his head on my shoulder.

His small and sad sniffles was slowly breaking my heart.

"Lets make a deal, yeah? You drink your medicine and I'll let you eat all the ice-cream you want." I bribed the teary eyed boy once I made him look at me.

"Bear...it's nasty!" he started to sob again.

I wiped his wet cheeks and kissed his forehead, "I'll drink one with you." I replied.

He wiped his runny nose then hugged me.

"Okay.." he said as Chris filled a spoonful of the liquid onto the spoon again.

Danny carefully watched as I drank the horrible medicine.

No wonder the poor child spit it back up. This shit tasted horrible.

I forced a smile once I felt the liquid go down my throat.

"Your turn." I said and made a disgusted face when Danny wasn't looking.

He forced it down the same way I did then rested his tired head on my chest. Chris handed me a cold pacifer he put in the fridge.

It helped Danny quickly fall asleep in my arms.

I rested on the couch and ran my fingers through my messy hair. Taking care of children was no easy job.

"Maybe I should put his clothes back on since his temperature went down." Chris suggested once he sat beside me with baby clothes in his hands.

I nodded and placed Danny back on the couch. Chris changed him into a thin shirt and some blue overalls that made him look really adorable.

Pablo was no longer in the room so I got up and decided to finally break the tension between us.

I found him outside talking on the phone. He noticed me then hung up to give me his full attention.

"Royce, let me just start off by saying how sorry I am for the way I acted towards you. You're my brother and I never intended to hurt your feelings in any way." Pablo said with a frown.

I stayed quiet and just watched him.

"Is there anything I can do to make everything okay again?" he asked in a begging tone and got closer to me.

I can tell he wanted to hug me but wasn't sure what my reaction would be if he did.

I thought about it for awhile and saw the brat standing by the door with a frown like he knew what I was thinking.

Without saying anything, I punched Pablo right across the jaw with my bare knuckles and watched as he fell to the ground.

I got down and wiped my hand on my jeans while I inspected his busted lip oozing dark blood.

"Now I forgive you." I said and left him on the floor.

Chris tried to go help him but I grabbed his arm before he could, "Don't even think about it." I told him in a serious tone.

He nibbled on his bottom lip and nodded. We walked back inside the house to check up on Danny.

He was still sleeping on the couch with his stuffed animal now crushed beside him.

I sat down next to him and grabbed Chris when he walked by. I made him sit on my lap and pulled down his shirt to expose his collarbones.

I kissed down his neck and softly bit down on his shoulder.

"Now time to take care of my other baby.." I whispered in his ear and didn't miss his sincere smile and the happiness in his eyes...

^*^*^*^*^**^*^**^*^

The dark room gave me some type of comfort as the sun peeked in through the closed curtain.

My eyes burned from my lack of sleep along with my throbbing headache.

Fresh scratches covered my legs. They looked bright red and probably would scar after awhile.

Having a realistic nightmare is horrible but seeing evidence on your body of it was even worse..

I didn't understand it and I wanted so badly for somebody to explain why it was happening to me. Was I really a freak like Pablo said?

If only my mother was alive to answer all my questions. I guarantee she would of explained everything until I understood.

I truly missed her...

Memories of her wiping my bloody eyes as a child still come back to me like flashbacks. I didn't understand the pain but her calm voice always helped it go away.

I looked down at the carpet floor and pulled my legs closer to my chest. I've been sitting on the floor by the edge of my bed for almost an hour now.

It was only seven in the morning and Danny was back home with Frankie so I had no excuse to get up anymore.

These lonely moments made me want to have a child of my own. Something about kids brought the good out of me.

I coughed into my hand and could feel an itch in my throat.

"That little boy got me sick." I whined, hating getting sick.

I coughed again as a light knock made me turn my head to look at the door. Who was up at the time?

I got up from the floor and opened the door to see Angela. She was still in her pajamas and slippers with a messy hair bun.

"Just what I thought. You're getting sick like Chris. Get back in bed and I'll make you both something warm to drink along with some cough medicine." she said with worry as she touched my forehead with the back of her hand.

"I'm fine, you should be the one in bed resting. I don't want you falling on those stairs and hurting yourself." I replied and guided her down the hallway.

She stopped me and placed her hands on her hips, "You're very sweet Royce and I appreciate everything you do for me, but right now I'm your mother. Now go to that bed and rest young man." she scolded.

I nodded and didn't dare talking back to her. I headed towards my room but was stopped again.

"You look like you didn't get any sleep last night maybe your mattress is getting old, why don't you go see if Chris will be nice enough to share his with you." she said with a smile and carefully walked down the stairs.

I smiled and went to the brat's room where I heard him coughing. His room was dark like mine since his curtains were also closed.

I slowly shut the door behind me and sneaked into his bed. He turned around and flinched in surprise once he felt my arms wrap around his waist.

The hickeys I left on his neck and collarbone were still there but were now slightly fading.

"Is my baby sick?" I cooed in his ear and lightly bit down on it.

He let out an adorable giggle and I could hear how sick he really was.

He sounded worse than me.

"I guess Danny wanted us to suffer along with him." Chris chuckled and covered his coughing.

"I miss that little boy." I confessed.

Chris caressed my cheek and smiled, "You're going to make a great dad one day, Royce." he sincerely replied.

"So would you, now lets start making babies." I teased and got on top of him to kiss his lips properly.

He laughed and tried to push me off of him, "My mom is going to come in here any second and she'll think we're doing the nasty." he warned.

I pressed another kiss on his lips and chuckled, "Is that what you call what we do? The nasty? Because if you do, then you have no idea what nasty is, but I'll be more than happy to show you how nasty I can get." I replied with a wink.

The brat blushed and rolled his eyes. He wrapped his arms on my neck then pulled me down to kiss his mouth.

I slipped my hand under his shirt as we kissed and felt his warm skin. I gently sucked on his tongue then pecked his lips one last time before pulling away.

"Um..Royce." I heard Angela's voice outside the door.

Chris looked at me with worry once he heard the same nervous tone in Angela's voice.

I quickly got up and went over to open the door.

Angela stood there rubbing her belly with her hand, "There's someone at the door looking for you." she informed me.

I walked out of the room but waited to help Angela walk down the stairs. She thanked me then went to the kitchen.

I headed for the front door and wondered why Angela looked so worried.

Was it somebody she didn't trust?

My dad was working and Pablo was at school so basically I was the man of the house. Maybe that was why she was so worried.

I opened the front door and quickly understood why the person made Angela feel so uneasy.

Standing there was a woman dressed in all black with pitch dark hair that covered half of her pointy face.

Her eyes were a very light blue and almost glowed if you stared at them too long.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Royce. I'm Annette." ....