Battle Scars

Chapter 23

Asher's POV
They walked to the couch and climbed up.

"Does he know us?"

"He might recognize your voice. You guys did talk to your siblings when they were in mommy's tummy. Now...this is important. Mommy might act differently. She might be mad or upset or both actually. You didn't do anything."

Deven started crying.

"Hold on. Hold on."

I got up and put Knox in his bassinet. I went over to Deven.

"Hey little one."

Jesus Christ I have to come up with cute nicknames for sons.

I picked Deven up.

"What's up? What do you need? Do you need a diaper change too?"

I checked and he didn't.

"Ah. Do you want to be held? I don't think you're hungry. Let's see."

He was telling me in a baby way that he was hungry.

"Oh? You're hungry?"

I made a bottle then sat down and started feeding him.

"Can he hear us too?"

"Mhm. Kairi can too. How was school?"

"Okay. I had a math test today."

"How'd you do?"

"I dunno. It was pretty tough."

"What about you Mary? How was school?"

"Okay. My teacher is sick so we watched a movie."

"That sounds fun."

"I don't like the movie."

"Aw. I'm sorry. Does anyone else like it?"

"Some kids. I dunno why. I just don't like it."

"That's okay. You don't have to like everything you watch."

Alyx sat up.

"Hi. I'm awake. How is everything? Do you need help?"

"No. We're okay baby."

"H-how do you guys like being big sisters?"

"I like it!"

"Me too!"

"Shhh. Remember what I said about scaring them."

Alyx yawned.

"Do you feel any better?"

"Still sore. Can I hold one of them?"

I stood up and walked to her.

"Is this Deven?"

"Yes."

I handed Deven to her.

"How are the others?"

"Kairi and Knox are sleeping. Dev just woke up to eat."

"We were talking to him!"

"Aww. How was school?"

They went through their school day again. At home, I ran around doing things so Alyx didn't have to.

"You're doing too much."

"You need to rest."

She slowly got up.

"Woah. What're you doing?"

"I have to walk for a bit."

When she was healed, she was as doing more. 3 years later, we had 3, three year olds, a 8 year old, and a 9 year old running around.

"Hey! Give that back to your brother! Deven Rhodes give that back!"

Oh no.

What's going on now?

I heard Deven giggling. I saw he was running around with Knox's favorite toy.

Oh boy.

This isn't good.

"Hey! I am your mother!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Alyx, he's 3. He's not gonna listen."

She stopped running and she was out of breath.

"I...hate...running."

"You've been chasing our children around for what? 5 years now?"

"That little shit....is fast. He got your bloody speed. Holy hell. I'm getting too old for this."

"You're 29."

Knox caught up to Deven and started trying to get his toy back.

"No. No. You're gonna get hurt."

Kairi was running around with Rosemary's dolls.

"They're crackheads. Actual crackheads. Jesus Christ."

"Welcome to parenthood."

"Wise ass."

"Eh. You love me anyway."

"Yeah yeah. You're right. I do."

Deven ran into me. He plopped down and started giggling.

"Daddy!"

"Give your bother back his toy."

He started pouting.

"Ven give it back. You have your own toys."

He dropped the toy and I picked him up.

"You have to be nice. Do you want to get sent to your room?"

He shook his head.

"Then please be nice. Next time, ask to play with it. Don't just take it."

"Kai can I please have that?"

I walked over to Kairi and Rosemary.

"What's going on?"

"She won't give me back my doll. I'm trying to be nice."

"Did she ask to play with it?"

"No."

"Does she know that she can't play with it?"

"No."

"She didn't know. It's not the end of the world. She'll give it back when she's done."

"She's just gonna break it!"

"No. She won't. If she does, I'll buy you a new one. Have you thought about playing with her? Maybe that's what she wants."

"Play!"

Rosemary looked at Kairi.

"I'm sorry bubbles. I was just upset. Can I play with you?"

Kairi started nodding.

"See? Problem solved."

Alyx started staring at me.

"What?"

"Why do they listen to you and not me?"

"Uhhh that's not true. They listen to you and they don't listen to me a lot."

"You know what I meant."

"I did and I didn't."