Whatever Yeah-Yeah

Chapter 28

"Tem.."

"What did you do?"

I pulled the blanket over my head and I felt her sit by me.

"When did you?"

"15 ish minutes ago."

"Why Alan? Why did you do this to yourself."

"It's none of your business!" I snapped.

"Fine. I'll go get Ariel."

"No!" Tem looked at me. "She can't know..."

"She's your girlfriend, Alan! Why can't she know?"

I shrugged.

"You really don't want her to know?"

I shook my head.

"Don't do it again."

September walked out and I felt a tear fall on my hand.

I've never cried so much.

Maybe I am weak..

*Ariel's POV*

"Is he okay? I heard him scream no." I asked Tember as she walked in the kitchen.

"He's just being his stubborn self."

"D-do you think he doesn't love me anymore?"

"Why would you say that?"

"I feel like he's been different lately. I don't know. Maybe I'm just overreacting."

"With the twins, and the boys, and school coming up, I believe that."

"I may not even go to school this year."

"You have to go to school Ariel."

"Not if I move." I blurted.

Tem was silent.

"You're moving?"

"I don't know. Al still hasn't waken up, and Grandpa wants to see the twins. I'm worried, and I just want them to be okay."

"Why don't you fly out there before school starts, then come back a day or two before?"

"Because we don't have the money! With the hospital costs, and the clothes and everything for the twins-"

"We can afford to send you to see your family."

I rubbed the side of my forehead.

"Just drop it. I need to do a few things before the twins wake up."

"I can watch them if you need to do things around town."

"No it's fine. I got it."

"Why won't you let anyone do anything to help you?! You're keeping Yeah-Yeah away from his children! You moved out! You're blocking yourself from everyone!" September yelled.

"I'm allowed staying with my friends sometimes! You aren't my mother! I'm keeping Yeah-Yeah away from the kids, because I don't want any of them hurt. He's been acting different lately, and so I thought it would be best to give him some space. I'm worried about everyone."

I then heard a cry, followed by another.

I rolled my eyes and ran to the twins.

"Belle it's okay." I said picking her up.

I saw Peter look at me, and he started crying even more.

"Peter I can't hold both of you."

"Ariel, do you need some help?" 

I turned to see Alan standing in the doorway, and with messy hair.

"I'm fine. Go back to bed."

He walked over to me, and said, "They aren't just your children. Not just your responsibility. I'm helping with OUR kids." 

He grabbed Peter and helped him calm down. I saw him flinch when he picked Peter up, but I brushed it off.

"Do you want to feed them?" I asked, after thinking about it.

"I don't know how. Usually you or mom do it."

"Here."

I sat him down in a chair, and put Belle on his lap.

I ran to the kitchen, and made two bottles, and walked back to the nursery.

"Who do you want to feed?"

"Which one takes the less effort?" He joked.

"Peter probably. Belle squirms when you want to feed her."

He smiled, and I gave him a bottle after he gave me Belle. 

"Alright so tip him back just a little, and hold the bottle at an angle. Not straight up."

He slowly tipped him back, as if he was afraid to break him.

"You're doing great Yeah-Yeah."

A little bit later, when they were fed and back asleep, Yeah-Yeah and I were sitting on the couch cuddling.

"Hey Ariel?"

"Hm?"

"When Mertle comes back, are you going to move back in with him?"

"I don't know. We''re already moved in here. But me, the twins and Eric take up so much space."

"You can't move out R. You can't leave me."

I went to grab his hand, when I accidentally tapped his arm, and he flinched a little. 

"What?"

"What what?"

"You flinched at me tapping you."

Yeah-Yeah shrugged.

"Role up your sleeve."

Nothing.

"Yeah-Yeah role up your sleeve."

Nothing.

"Alan Michael McClennan role up your fricking sleeve now!"

He slowly grabbed it, and pulled it up.

I felt tears running down my face.

"Why?"

"You-"

"Am I not good enough for you anymore? Is that why?"

"Ariel listen! You're everything to me! I just don't want to lose you and I feel like I am.."

I grabbed his face and kissed him.

"You're not losing me. Before the kids, you were my world. But now that world has grown just a little more, and I have to take care of that part of the world a little more right now. As soon as I can, I'm giving you my full attention."

Yeah-Yeah pulled me close and kissed my head.

"Can we go out on a date? Not baseball. No ripped jeans or jerseys. An actual date."

"Do you have money?"

"You would be surprised."

I laughed, followed by a yawn.

"Go to sleep Ariel. I can take watch."

I smiled up at him and closed my eyes, falling asleep to my wonderful boyfriend's heartbeat. 

****