just a dream

"He's pretty adorable." Sage smiled when Gage brought up Connor later on their way home from the brunch.

"Yeah, well, that doesn't mean much." Gage put it bluntly.

"Spencer looks really happy." Sage reminded him that Connor wasn't Bucky. "And Keith likes him."

"Can't forget Keith." Gage didn't sound like he cared much for Spencer's brother. It was the first time Sage noticed. She guessed. Usually, she stayed out of this sort of thing.

"Are you remembering something?" She asked as they got out of the car.

It looked like rain outside. As if it might pour. Sage felt kind of odd. Although, it could be the weather. Of course, the baby had not moved the entire time they were out. Naturally, it kept her up all night, kicking like a rockstar.

"What?" Gage laughed. "No, Keith is Keith. We're damn lucky he lets us see someone, who could be here, at least.. a weekend out of the month."

Gage looked at Trevor who looked back at him as if the subject was mute. They hurried on into the house.

It was dark inside. Sage felt so tired. But then it wasn't anything new.

"I'm going to lay down." She'd rest a few minutes, then get up and do some laundry. Naturally, she couldn't wait to get into something that was no more than a tank dress. She felt like such a blob.

She rested on her right side, even if she wanted to be on her left. Instantly, she dreamed of scurrying about, getting clothes put away, dishes done. Housework in a whirl-wind.

And then it happened. The pain was like a shock in her back. She moaned slightly, but her eyes would not open. She didn't want to wake up. The pain wasn't really so bad. Besides, it was gone.

"Sage." His voice was quiet. It was like he was in another room. His fingers touched her cheek. She almost laughed, but the pain came back. This time even more intense.

Next thing she knew Gage was carrying her downstairs. Trevor already opened the car door.

Sage was barely awake, but in a calm state. It was one of those things she couldn't fight anymore.

another brother

Instantly, Connor was sure everyone here thought he was all of 15. Except, Keith. Thankfully, Keith  knew he was almost 20. Of course, he'd faked being 21 for several years now. No one was keeping him from the clubs.

Of course, clubs didn't really seem to do it for him. Not lately. He really felt at home with Spencer, but this Gage...

Connor hadn't put it all in perspective til now.

Gage made him think of the Loras on Game of Thrones. He caught himself from asking him if he watched the show.

He gritted a grin, hoping he wouldn't say something silly.

He soon found out that Trevor and his girlfriend were in high school. Now he felt even a bit more dumb connecting all the dots. The puzzle of this family.

"So did you call your Mom for Mother's day?" Spencer looked at Connor who spaced out a moment.

"Oh, not yet." He wasn't going to go out on the porch to do it now on his cell. He popped a grape in his mouth instead and gazed at Sage, thinking he knew her from somewhere.

"You, work at the University, don't you?" At least that gave them something to talk about. The University.

"I work at No Frills." Gage suddenly spoke up as if he wasn't quite as oblivious as Connor expected.

Connor nodded.

"Well, I don't have job." Connor shrugged. "I'm looking in to it." Yet, he hadn't filled out any applications.

"Neither, did Spencer's last boyfriend." Gage said so matter of fact. As if, Gage might be more of a big brother to Spencer than Keith.

"I-I heard about that." Connor told him, hoping Gage didn't think he was a freeloader.

"I think they have an opening in the bakery where I work." Gage shrugged.

"Bakery?" Connor couldn't imagine working at a bakery. Of course, it would probably be better than fast food. Maybe.

"I used to do it, but I don't remember what I did." Gage explained.

Connor couldn't image Gage's curls under a hairnet. In fact, he couldn't even think of his own locks under a hairnet.

But Gage was right, he needed to find a job.

just a thought

"They definitely give a whole new meaning to Mother's Day." Spencer finally admitted when he and Connor got to Benny and Keith's place.

There was a spectacular brunch waiting for them. Keith invited Sage and Gage as well as Fergie and Trevor. It was a house full, but Keith did the honors of playing host. The buffet had plenty of fruit and spring salads along with sliced roasted turkey and croissants.

Spencer introduced Connor around.

"Am I the best matchmaker or what?" Keith took credit for introducing them.

Spencer gritted a smile. It was like his big brother to boast on these sort of things. As it was, Keith never did anything wrong.

Spencer moved on to Gage who was dipping strawberries into chocolate. Spencer was hoping he'd look a little tired, maybe even some babyfat from being a soon to be father. But no, Gage hadn't changed. He looked exactly like Spencer remembered. Beautiful curls and all and eyes of an angel.

"Oh, so..this is...Gage..." Connor started then fell silent as he looked at Gage and then Spencer.

"And Sage." Spencer did a bit of a sag-way as if they were never suppose to talk about Gage. Spencer beamed. Yet the fact remained Sage looked very pregnant. She looked like she could pop with triplets. Otherwise she was her dainty self.

Connor was nice enough to say hi. And then he started talking to Trevor as if he'd better not bring up anymore touchy subjects.

Yes, Gage was still a forbidden subject. Spencer didn't mean for him to be. He'd accepted the fact that the Gage he knew, no longer existed. Still moments like this made him feel very sad. As if he could clearly remember the ghost of a boyfriend past.

Spencer stacked more appetizers on his plate. It was as if everyone was moved on. Spencer had too. But for a second he wondered how life might be if it were just he and Gage, before his accident.

before you go

They shouldn't have talked. Didn't he know it wouldn't have made him feel any better? Sarah did have her right, and she knew her side of the story like the back of her hand.

Craig felt like he woke up to a nightmare. But he couldn't sit and stew forever. Hopefully, she'd play nice someday and they'd get this worked out with Jake. It wasn't like he'd ever take him away from her.

"You, look really nice." Jess assured him as she helped him with his tie. "You can make a 12 dollar suit from Good Will look like a million bucks." She sighed as if that alone was a gift.

"I don't like suits. Really, any kind of uniform." He slightly scowled at the thought that he could be doing something more physical. Perhaps on the police force, but he really hated the clothes.

"Only nine to five." Jess smiled. She was looking better. The bruises were hardly there, and she looked at home in her yoga capris and one THE FREAKNOIDS Tee shirts that Spencer still had scads of.

"Actually 8 to 4." He clarified. A part of him wished he could get Cameron off to school and pick him up, but he was happy she could have those moments. She needed those times while Cameron still wanted her around, even with a broken arm.

"Right."

He knew when she said it, how she might feel, as if she was making his life miserable. But that wasn't true.

"Can't hardly wait. I'll be home before 5." He needed to stay positive. "And you said you were making dinner tonight."

"Yeah, the only thing I really know how to make." Jess smiled as if she might snap her fingers and give him a taste right now. "Fried chicken and gravy with mashed potatoes."

Craig smiled. He didn't want her to do all the cooking. Hopefully, it was something they could do together. Although, he wasn't all that great at following a recipe and Jess said she liked throwing things together.

"I'll help next time. Promise." He kissed her on her forehead before he left, as if he did want this job. Even if it felt like baby steps.

She kissed him sweetly with a smile as if there was a lot  more than fried chicken to look forward too.

its not always warm in May

"Can't you just do it?" Ezra looked Sarah in the eye. It was as if he knew why Todd was calling.

"No. I can't." Sarah didn't want too. She couldn't forget. Why should she forgive Craig?

Honestly, she felt like laughing at Todd's request. Actually, she hung up on him. A part of her wanted to call her mom and tell her about this silly ordeal. She would be on her side. But more importantly, why wasn't Ezra on her side?

She went to pick up Jake from his play pen, as he alone would be the one who would always be by her side. After all, he was her son.

"Do you want him to hate his father? Is that it?" Ezra winced as if she needed to think a bit before she made such a snap judgement.

"Yes. I do." She was honest. She didn't want Jake to have anything to do with Craig. In spite of the money Craig had given to help raise him, Craig was the one, who after all, could have let her rot in jail for some high tech trick of his, the bank scam.

Sarah smiled, feeling better for admitting it. Actually, more like a relief. That's how she truly felt about her ex.

"He might end up hating you, because you couldn't let him be a part of Craig's life." Ezra shrugged.

"Well, we know just how well Craig wants to be a part of Jake's life. Where have all those Fridays gone?" She didn't mean to be so dramatic. But it was true. He'd only been with Jake once. He was off saving some other family. He hadn't time for his own. She'd figured it out soon enough.

Now she was making Jake cry. He was getting fussy. She handed him over to Ezra, who soothed him instantly.

"You two need to talk. Talk this out now, before its too late." Ezra told her. He would stay with Jake.

She festered an angry stare.

"Fine." She picked up her sweater from the hook by the front door.

Honestly, it wouldn't do any good. But she was so mad. Consumed with anger. Why did Craig still do this to her? Even if he never spoke to her.

bluer than blue

"It's going to be fine. It'll be ..a new start." Todd rubbed his brother's tense shoulders for good measure as Craig set at the dining table. He really did look as if he had so much to live up too.

"You, got a call back. Another interview. And they said yes." Todd sighed. "What more could you want?" Wasn't like he was in a some silly hometown musicals where there were nobodies who'd never had an acting class before. "You, can do this."

"Yeah, I know. " Craig squinted hard as if he might be coming down with something. He'd came over to Todd's place to tell him something. Perhaps it wasn't about the new job, at all.

Todd had wanted to bring out the beers. Something. Yet Craig looked more pissed than ever. About something.

"So what's eating at you, now?" Todd would drink without him. He took a long sip of the lime flavored beer. Lucy made fresh salsa and chips. It could be a party. Except, Craig didn't bring Jess and her boy.

"Is it really the right thing to do?" Craig looked a bit frazzled. But Todd had given him a fresh haircut yesterday and Craig wasn't his scraggly self.

"Yes." Todd looked at him with open eyes. "You, need to go on. You, can't be so hard on yourself." Todd glared back at  Craig who was really still pissed with himself and about all that went wrong with Sarah. "She's moved on. She's married. Sarah is happy. Why can't you?"

Craig looked away in sorrow, like he might be perfect for some dark Victorian movie where no one really ever gets what they want.

Todd put down his beer and slid out his cell from his back pocket.

"Fine." He punched in the number.

Craig looked up at Todd then as if he was being far too mysterious.

"What are you doing?" Craig winced.

"Getting this settled. Right now." Todd sighed as if why hadn't he thought of it in the first place.

it could happen

"Hey, you haven't had a vacation since you've got here." Spencer was going to do his best to find Craig a better job.

So what if Craig had been laid off, Spencer was thinking positive.

Connor was in the kitchen with him, digging through the paper to see what jobs were available. Finally, Connor got out his laptop to surf the net.

Craig didn't look so optimistic as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Jess was already walking Cam to school even if he begged her not too.

"You know, computers? Right?" Spencer sounded so happy that he'd found something that might be right up Craig's alley.

Craig sighed as if the job could be anything.

"Look how much you could get an hour?" Spencer pointed. It beat what he'd been doing at the gas station on so many levels. He'd have weekends off too. What did he know about web developing?

"You have to go in for an interview." Before Spencer could even get to the house phone, Connor was bringing his laptop to Craig.

"You, can apply right now." Connor set the laptop in front of him.

Craig only winced and cracked his knuckles.

"All right." He hesitated to put his fingers on the keyboard, but soon enough he was typing away.

"He probably types really fast." Spencer shrugged as he looked over at Connor.

"So when are you going back to school?" Connor looked at Spencer as if he needed to sharpen his skills.

"Me?" Spencer looked at him a tad nervous. "What about you? Why aren't you, at class already?"

"Because its online." Connor smirked. He went to warm up his coffee.