Harry B. Jackson- Thank you I keep trying to improve every time but sometimes things slip through that I don't catch

Juliejustdance- That's actually crazy to think about! Thank you for sticking around this long with my story

Reemarie36- Her dad is around to stay… for now…

Kayla's Pov

I woke up in bed with Cambry, Nugget, and four puppies I expected Harlan to come home with rocks and maybe a big stick not four puppies, I couldn't tell him no when he started crying about how they didn't have a mommy any more and they needed someone to take them just like I did for him. Cambry thought it was hilarious and said we'd keep them until we found a place for them and I have fallen in love with them all but we're taking them to the vet to see if they belonged to someone before I even call Ryland to find out what we should do with all these dogs Gabe agreed to take one if we do plan on keeping them. Cambry rolled over lifting her head up. "Good morning."

"Hey." I rubbed the head of the puppy nearest me Gabe said they looked like German shorthaired pointers and when I looked up a picture of them we were pretty sure they were that. "Are you coming with me to the vet or is Gabe?"

"I don't know what Gabe's problem is but he's staying with the kids…"

"What do you mean? Is something wrong with him?"

"He refuses to let me do anything for Kai if I try he just smacks me and tells me I'm on vacation and that I don't have to worry about Kai."

"Aw, that's actually really sweet of him."

"Yeah…"

"I know that tone, what's wrong?" I asked sitting up glancing at the time.

"I'm not used to someone else taking care of him when I'm around it just makes me feel bad, that's all." She mumbled.

"Cam, Gabe's doing it because he loves you and he loves Kai he knows how hard you work making sure Kai is happy and healthy and right now he is both of those things, it's okay to let other people help you out you know that right?" Her eyes watered but before her tears fell she wiped them away.

"I never really thought I would ever have help with Kai it's just nice that I can actually relax and not keep my eye on him to make sure he's not tired, to make sure he's feeling okay, to make sure his feeding tube is doing its job, to make sure his infusion is actually working, and to make sure he's breathing at night- Oh god I didn't even check on-" She tried to jump out of bed I grabbed her arm causing all the dogs to wake up.

"Cambry he's fine." She nodded and started crying. "Cam…" I got up as fast as I could with my huge ass stomach and carefully pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry sometimes I'm an emotional wreck."

"Gabe would have woken us up if something was wrong with him, it's okay to let yourself relax."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing."

"It's just for awhile it was only me and I just got so used to always being with Kai and watching him making sure he was okay that now it's so hard to let other people help because I'm constantly a mess worrying about him."

"I know you are now but it won't always be like that."

"I hope so." She pulled away wiping her eyes. "I think they either want to use the bathroom or they're hungry." Three of them were wrestling and the other one was wiggling around the bed Nugget was already by the door.

It was only five in the morning I wasn't used to the time difference but I'm sure the puppies would have woken me up soon anyway, I checked on Willow while Cambry went outside with all the dogs she was sound asleep in her small bed the last time we came here she refused to sleep in it and slept in her pack and play in our room and I assumed that would happen again but she ran to her room when she was getting tired. I checked on the boys who were sound asleep when I opened the door Arlo ran out heading for the opened back door I left it open knowing Arlo would go right back to Kai once he was done outside. Ryland had texted me which surprised me I usually get one or two messages from him but never so early.

Husband : Hey baby I hope you're having fun with the kids call me when you get up, I miss you

Kayla: Miss you too

Kayla: I'll call you when I'm not busy I need to talk to you about something… Maybe…

"So what are we going to do until eight?" I asked coming outside we had a little patio that was gated and steps that lead down to the beach.

"We can go down to the beach and let the dogs play for awhile."

"I'll race you." I joked which got a laugh out of Cambry.

"A waddle race?"

"Fuck you!" I yelled laughing.

"I'll get us some snacks start heading down with them?" I nodded the puppies seemed to stay around us so I didn't think they would run away but hopefully Cambry was quick because I could not keep up with a running puppy.

"Okay, come on gang." Cambry opened the door Arlo tried to run inside.

"No, Kai's okay sweet boy go have some fun." Arlo didn't like that she went in without him he stayed there looking at the door for a moment more and then turned to me.

"I guess both you and Cambry need to learn how to have some fun sometimes huh Arlo?" He ran to me beside the gate and I opened it Nugget and three of the puppies ran off towards the beach. Nugget grabbed one of his ropes and three of the puppies went after the other end, Arlo was the only one that didn't run he stayed beside me and the other puppy was limping beside him walking slowly I carefully picked him up. "Get a blanket or towel please!" I yelled to Cambry I didn't know if she heard me or not. No one else was here at the beach and by that I mean none of the other three people we share this beach with were here I have never even seen anyone in those houses I wonder if we are the only ones that live in these houses or maybe it was the fact that it was only 5:30 in the morning.

Ryland's Pov

We were shooting part of the intro and a promo for our TV show right now and it was kind of crazy I didn't think any of this would start so soon I really was excited for people to see our tour life and it would be dope to talk to the camera like they do on reality shows. "Where's Tyler?" I asked Spencer he laughed shaking his head.

"What?"

"You really didn't pay attention at the meeting." Zach mumbled.

"Uh…" Shit was I supposed to know why Tyler and Marcus weren't here?

"The TV show revolves around what?"

"The band touring…"

"Alright and are Tyler and Marcus a part of the band? Normally?"

"Um, no."

"Which is why they aren't here."

"But Tyler and Marcus were at all the other meetings weren't they?" I was so confused I should really start paying attention but really our manager shouldn't have meetings so early.

"Yeah for the paperwork because Tyler always fills in for Gabe and Marcus fills in for Max so if they ever had to leave the tour Tyler and Marcus would have to be on the show… All of our back up people had to sign."

"Ah, right because all of you have back up people." I muttered bitterly.

"Don't be a sour puss RyRy." Spencer said.

"Don't call me RyRy jackass."

"I've never used my back up because unlike you Spence I don't leave random days of the tour." Zach muttered coldly I've never heard him speak that way to Spencer or to anyone really.

"Why are you singling me out? Gabe and Max are literally both gone right now!"

"Well they aren't here for me to single out are they?"

"They're for emergencies." He said shrugging.

"No they aren't! They have to be called and asked you act like we keep a back up guitarist in our suitcases!"

"I usually only take like three days off a tour maybe four."

"Last tour you took ten but who's counting?" Zach mumbled.

"Enough all three of you!" Bryan our manager yelled

"Hey why aren't we waiting to do this when we can have the whole band together?" I asked.

"Max and Gabe are recording videos this is just the promo where we put the news out there that by next tour you guys will be filming for a new tv show so we didn't need all of you together."

"I thought we were doing the intro not a promo…" Spencer mumbled to himself.

"We are doing both you damn idiot! None of you listen to me when I talk do you?" We all looked at each other. "The intro will take a little longer so it's going to be done in pieces like I've already told all of you at our last meeting, we are setting up a date for the entire band to be together so we can shoot the last part and the parts Max and Gabe are missing today. Now that the three stooges are caught up we can start." He said opening the door for a bunch of people who came in all talking at once I started to slightly regret agreeing to this.

Four hours. Why did that have to take four hours to do? I kind of feel sorry for Jessie I mean she's an actress that probably has to be a million times harder Kayla had texted me back and I was nervous about why she needed to talk to me but I didn't respond I'll just wait until she calls so instead I called Jessie. "Hey RyRy I miss your ugly face."

"Hey PumpkinHead."

"I hate that name so much just call me Pumpkin." She whined.

"Nah," I said laughing. "What are you doing?"

"I went shopping with Logan earlier got some cute outfits for my trip to London." She said happily. "Are you alright? You don't normally call me unless something's wrong… Did you do drugs again?"

"No I didn't, I promise, I just missed you I know we've drifted apart these last few years and I really want to get close again I hate that we barely talk now."

"So do I…"

"So tell me what's been happening."

"Henry gave me one of my birthday presents early!" She squealed I smiled softly because she's been doing that since she was two whenever mom or dad told her they had something for her. I wonder did he already propose to her? No she'd be way more happy and giddy if that was the case.

"Oh? What did he get you?"

"A horse!" She squealed again.

"He bought you a horse?" Wow I really need to step up on my gift giving game.

"Yes! And not only was it just a horse it's a fucking Shire! I have always dreamed of owning one."

"What's its name?"

"I was thinking PonyBoy."

"...Why?"

"Because any time I leave the stable I always say, "Stay gold PonyBoy, stay gold." So I just figured I'd call him PonyBoy."

"I feel like I've heard that somewhere."

"It's from The Outsiders!" Logan yelled.

"Oh hey Logie I didn't know you were there."

"Yeah I am and I don't appreciate that you didn't know that it was from that book. You read it to me, remember!" Oh yeah now I did, we had to read it for school Logan was so surprised to see me reading a book that he offered to write my report about it for me if I would read him the book and that's how I started reading to him, one book a week, it seems so strange to think about now because he was like seven when that happened I can't believe I forgot that's how we used to bond.

"I remember, I miss reading to you."

"Y-you do?"

"It's one of the reasons I love reading to Willow and Harlan, they remind me of you."

"Maybe next time I see you I'll force you to read for me again."

"That would probably help you not mope around." Jessie mumbled.

"Shut up!" I wondered if he was doing any better the last time I saw him was at my wedding and he didn't look good.

"You wouldn't have to force me to read as long as it's not some horribly long book that makes no sense to me." Logan laughed.

"It's a deal." He said.

"What are you doing Ry?" Jessie asked.

"I just got done filming for the show."

"What show?"

"Oh right I haven't told any of you yet." I told them everything I knew about the show which wasn't much since I slept through the last few meetings about it I'd have to ask Zach about it later.

"That's so cool I want to be on the show!" Jessie whined.

"I have a copy of the form that you'd need to sign off on to be on the show I can email it to you if you want."

"Yes please and one for Logie oh and Henry."

"Um, I didn't say yes to being on a TV show." Logan said.

"Oh come on Logan you act like you've never been on TV before." Jessie huffed I could picture Logan rolling his eyes at her.

"Ouch! Don't hit me!"

"Then don't roll your eyes at me jackass!" I laughed.

"You suck…" He mumbled.

"Anyway," Jessie said and a door slammed. "I'm thinking about going back to Italy a week or so after we come back from London."

"Really? I thought you'd stay home longer."

"I want to but I feel bad for the way I just left even though Magnus and Izzy said to take as much time as I wanted."

"How's Henry?"

"He's getting better can you believe that ass actually woke up and got ready for work the day after we got home."

"Did he make it to work?"

"He didn't make it out the door! And if he did I would've went to the damn police station and dragged his ass back home!"

"I'd hate to piss you off." I muttered.

"I don't want to go because I'm worried about him but I know I have to go because a lot of people are counting on me and I'm in the fashion show.

"He's getting better Jess now might be the best time to-"

"It's not just that… The guy who stabbed him called and threatened to kill him… And he's a detective now so that makes me worry even more do you know how many crazy people their are in New York? A LOT!"

"He called?"

"YES! And Henry didn't seemed fazed by it at all but even his cop buddies at work don't want him coming back until they find this guy, Shane called me and said that the Chief of Police wanted Henry to stay out of the country until he was found but Henry won't listen to me or anyone… He has a doctors appointment the day after we come back and he can get cleared to go back to work and I'm terrified and I don't know what to do." She started to cry.

"Pumpkin take a deep breath," She took a deep breath. "Henry is trained and he knows how to handle himself out there, plus he has a gun so-"

"The gun didn't do him much good the first time he got stabbed did it!" She yelled. Zach came in the room and dropped onto the couch beside me yawning.

"Wife?" He asked.

"Sister."

"Hey Jess or Cecily." He yelled.

"Was that Zach?"

"Yeah." She muttered a quick hello and sniffled. "Jess said hey." It got me thinking if Zach knew what was going on with Henry right now and I guess Jessie too because she asked.

"Does he know that his brother is being an idiot?" She muttered.

"Um… I don't know…" I turned towards Zach. "Have you talked to Henry lately?"

"Why…? Is he okay? Did something happen?" Concern filled his eyes quickly along with something I couldn't understand but it looked close to fear.

"No he's fine, Jessie was just wondering if he told you something about the guy who stabbed him, something he probably wouldn't want Jess to know."

"No… I tried getting him to talk to me about that but he refused to so I left it alone." Zach looked down and sighed.

"Jess can I call you back?"

"Yeah, Henry just came home with food so I was about to hang up on you anyway." I laughed. "Love you fattie."

"Love you too ugly." I threw my phone down on the couch and turned towards Zach. "What's wrong?"

"I just wish I was closer with Henry that's all… We never really did much together growing up I always pushed him away when he tried so after awhile he just gave up then Kenzie died and I tried so hard to build a bond with him because I have so many amazing memories with Kenz and I thought what if Henry died what would be those special memories I remembered when I woke up from a nightmare about him like I do Kenzie and for the life of me I couldn't think of one special moment we had together… It sucked and it hurt… We still don't have the best relationship but it's a lot better now I just keep thinking about all the shit that could've happened when that psycho stabbed him. My parents wouldn't have been able to come back from that… Losing Kenzie almost broke them I know if they would've lost Henry too…" He shook his head. "God I have been like a mopey bitch these last few days, I blame you."

"ME?! How?"

"Well I never talk about my feelings and I share a room with you for a few days and I'm crying like a baby!"

"Maybe because you don't open up to anyone when you need to talk." I muttered.

"You're-" A knock on the door stopped Zach from probably another emotional moment and he looked very grateful because he jumped up and opened the door. "Oh god, what do you want?" He asked and Spencer came pushing his way into the room.

"I'm going to try." He said, Zach and I glanced at each other.

"Try what?" He didn't answer he dug into his pocket and handed something to Zach. "This is-"

"I've tried over twenty times to stop so I doubt this time will be any different but if it means you will stop ignoring me then I'll try."

"I haven't been ignoring you." Zach mumbled.

"Yes you have since you bailed on sharing a room with me after that stupid meeting, I try getting lunch with you but you walk away from me, I call you and it goes straight to voicemail, the only time you talked to me at the meeting was to talk shit, I texted you but you didn't respond so fine you win." He turned and walked out.

"I give it three hours." Zach mumbled shaking his head.

The band was close, I considered them my brothers, Harlan considered them his uncles, but we all have people we clicked to. Max and Gabe, Zach and Spencer, and me well my favorite person was always changing but it's been like that since we were kids and Spencer would never say it but he valued Zach's opinion more then anyone else. I've never seen them fight Zach is too much like Jem he's always on your side even when he has a solid reason to be against you so to see Zach actually ignoring and distancing himself from Spencer was something I've never seen.

Max's Pov

Sadie and I went out for lunch the kids started their fist day of "school" or as I call it daycare, so I tried to make the best of it and take Sadie out to try and get my mind off my latest fuck ups. "You've been acting differently ever since we moved Max… What's going on with you?"

"I don't really know," I hate New York. "I guess it's just a big change for me and I miss being on tour with the guys." I shrugged and watched her reaction she seemed to buy it.

"Are you going to go back on tour with them soon?"

"I thought about it but I don't know if I want to leave you and the kids here alone I mean we just moved here and I-"

"Max you realize that you won't get to stay with us forever, the band expects you for the next tour."

"Yeah I know and I'm excited to get back on the road but it's different now."

"How so?" She asked pushing the last of her salad around I wonder when our food was going to come out I was tired of eating bread sticks.

"You had Kayla and friends back in Cali and now we're somewhere new and you don't have anyone I am going to feel bad leaving." She smiled softly.

"Max, I wouldn't have agreed to move if I thought it would be too much with you gone, I know that you are going to have to go and yeah we'll miss you but trust me I'll be fine and I'm starting on the line out here you guys hired new people here and I still have the girls back in Cali to FaceTime and stuff plus if I ever miss my sister she's a phone call or a plane away, it's okay, we'll be fine."

"Speaking of planes… I'm going to LA soon."

"For?" She asked just as our waiter finally brought us our food out.

"Pops called Cambry for me and she agreed to let him take Kai for awhile so I'm gonna go see him and spend some time with him."

"I'm sure he misses you." She said smiling, I wasn't so sure about that Cambry said he stopped asking for me Sadie's smile dropped. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing… Just nervous I haven't seen him for awhile…"

"You should ask Cambry to unblock you." I laughed.

"I'd have better luck taming a shark." I grumbled.

"Why does she have you blocked anyway?"

"It's from when we ended our relationship the second to last time we got into this huge argument on social media and it was all in her comments and then fans joined in and ganged up on her it was all really bad… At first she just blocked me but the fans were still going in on her so she ended up just getting rid of everyone she didn't know and put her profile on private and we got back together like three days later and she just never undid it. I know a lot of them try and follow her now so they can see Kai because I don't post a lot of pictures of him." Another way I'm a shit dad I guess… "They like watching them grow up I know a lot of my dad's fans watched me, Rylie, and Rafe grow up it was awesome and I'd like to continue on with our kids and Kai but Cambry would probably never let that happen." I shrugged.

"So did she not sign off on the form for Kai to be on the show?"

"No, I didn't ask her yet we haven't been talking and when we do we fight so now isn't the best time to be asking for favors."

"Kai's your son too Max if you want him on the show you should have a say in it."

"We don't have joint legal custody, right now I still only have partial custody so I don't really have a say in much, all I had was a stupid paper that said I get to see my kid every other weekend…"

"Max…"

"Sorry, I don't mean to ruin lunch, your steak looks good."

"Don't try and change the subject," I sighed knowing she wasn't going to drop this now. "That's why I wanted to go with you to the second custody hearing it's not fair you should have asked for joint custody."

"I would've never gotten that as much as I wanted it I'm gone too much to have the whole two weeks he's with me two weeks his with her crap."

"Yeah but I'm-"

"Cambry would've fought me on that Sadie…"

"When does he get to come out here?"

"What…?"

"When do we get Kai? Did you and Cambry ever set a date or how long we can take him for?"

"I uh… No… We didn't talk about that but I'll talk to her when I go to LA."

"Is there something you aren't telling me Max?" She asked tilting her head I knew this was a good opportunity to tell her but we were at a fancy place and I didn't need her screaming at me in front of a bunch of rich wall street assholes.

"Nothing baby just stressed, I haven't seen or spoken to Cambry or Gabe since the fight that's all…"

"Do you want to go shopping for some clothes for Alex when we're done?" Oh thank god she changed the subject.

"Sure." I looked down at Empire in his car seat sound asleep I'm surprised he's still asleep with all the noise going on around us, then again at home when Rosie and DJ played it was like a battlefield so maybe he was used to it.

When we were on our way to the store Sadie was giving the death stare at her phone I was sort of afraid to ask what was wrong but when we stopped at a light she turned towards me. "Look." She said showing me her phone. There were a few pictures the first of Kayla and Cambry on the beach sticking their tongues at each other, the second of Kai and Harlan asleep cuddled together in bed, and the last Cambry with her hands on Kayla's baby bump both of them with huge smiles laughing and a caption that read, Never been luckier to have a best friend that feels like a sister I'm so grateful to have you and Kai in our family, I can't wait for my little Legend to have you as his godmother I know you'll be great considering you already spoil him I scrolled down and noticed Cambry commented on it I was surprised I could see that until I remembered it was Sadie's phone. I fed you grapes so technically I spoiled you and the baby, should've married me instead I laughed because Kayla's reply to that was "there's always time" with a bunch of heart emoji's Sadie wasn't too pleased that I laughed.

"Why are you upset?"

"Do you know how many times I've tried calling Kayla since we've moved?"

"Um…"

"Like ten and she doesn't answer or I'll get a text hours later saying sorry Cambry and I were doing this or we were doing that." She said bitterly.

"So… You're jealous?"

"No! I just…. She's my sister!" That sure sounds like jealousy to me but I value my balls so I didn't say that.

"When was the last time you tried talking to her?"

"Today and she still hasn't answered me."

"Well she is on vacation…"

"Yeah with her sister…."

"Okay this can't be about the post what is it really about?" Sadie sighed.

"Before we planned on moving Kayla invited me and the kids to go to Florida with her because Harlan is meeting a dolphin with a prosthetic fin and I said yes but when she found out we were moving she said that I didn't have to go and I said okay I won't because I'll be busy with work and not even two seconds later she invited Cambry to take my spot it just feels like she's replacing me…"

"Baby you know that's not-"

"I know! But it still feels that way and I really thought she'd ask us to be baby's godparents were already Willow's but no she asked Cambry and I had to find out they were naming the baby Legend from this! I didn't even know it was a boy… If I knew I was going to lose Kayla just because we decided to move I wouldn't have wanted to move in the first place."

"We've only been in New York for a few weeks plus she's on vacation she will probably be calling and texting you once she's home just like always."

"That's not it Max… When I moved to HB the first time and Kayla was still in San Francisco we drifted apart I stopped answering her calls and her texts we didn't talk for a long time… What if that's happening again but now the other way?" I didn't have an answer to that. "Maybe I'm just paranoid…"

"Probably."

Empire kept grabbing everything he could get his hands on as we walked through the store he was getting chunky so it was probably a good thing we were getting him some new clothes. "Oh my god look at this!" Sadie said holding up a pink dress I looked at Empire and then to Sadie.

"I'm all for letting him dress any way he wants but maybe it's too soon to let him play dress up." I joked Sadie rolled her eyes.

"Do you want more kids?"

"No." I said quickly.

"Really?"

"My heart problem is genetic Sadie I don't want to give that to any of my kids, I'm so grateful Emp doesn't have it and I don't want to chance one of them inheriting my sucky ass heart…"

"What about adopting?"

"I'm open to that in a few years though."

"I want a girl."

"How about a puppy that's a girl?" I joked but her face lit up like a christmas tree.

"Yes! I want a puppy so bad it's been so long since I've had a dog." Shit… Great, now I have to look into getting us a dog.

"Anything for you." I kissed her head and continued to walk Empire grabbed something and started slapping it when I took it from him my heart hurt a little it was a superman movie and it instantly made me think of Kai, Sadie smiled and grabbed it from me putting it in the cart.

"The last time Kai came over he kept asking to watch Superman and was very upset when I told him we didn't have it." Most of the time was spent with Sadie fussing about what kind of clothes to get him I didn't see the point at the end of the day anything he wore was either covered in one of three things, milk, piss, or shit so I just kept agreeing with everything she was showing me.

Kayla's Pov

I expected to leave the vet empty handed but no we left with the puppies, Gabe had called some animal rescue place about the mom dog and they had taken her to the vet we went to they hoped that she was micro-chipped and that the puppies belonged to someone but the vet said she knew who's dog this was someone who didn't know that this breed needs a lot of exercise and space to roam when they moved they left the dog knowing she was pregnant not wanting energetic puppies running around, people are jackasses. The vet asked a million times if we were sure about keeping all four of the puppies but I couldn't let them go to a shelter now I just needed Ryland to get on board with keeping three puppies since Gabe agreed on taking one. "How are you going to break the news to Ry?" Cambry asked she was holding the puppy who had a limp the vet said her leg was broken and she had the cutest little pink cast.

"Well I'm going to call him when we get back and say surprise we now are the proud pet parents of three adorable German Short haired Pointers and he'll most likely say fuck no and at that point I give the phone to Harlan who says please daddy and he caves, that's how I'm hoping it goes or he'll be in a good mood and just say yes."

"Good luck." She said laughing.

Once we got home Harlan and Kai ran out demanding the puppies to play with, Kai was so sweet and gentle when he seen the one with the cast he so quietly said. "Oh.. Por baba." And kissed her little cast and then her nose my heart melted as he rubbed her head walking inside with her, Harlan on the other hand was wrestling with two of them while the other one ran straight to Gabe who smiled and picked it up.

"I call dibs on this little guy."

"I thought you couldn't have dogs where you live?"

"I'm moving." Gabe said shrugging while kissing the puppy's face.

"Please tell me you aren't going to move so you can keep the dog." Gabe smiled.

"While that is something I would do no, the place I'm at now only has two rooms and the other one is for all my guitars and shit."

"So?"

"I wanted a bigger house so that when Kai spends the night he could have his own space, plus the one I was looking at is like ten minutes from Ryland's so I can use his pool and eat his food whenever I want." He said smiling. "And you can stay with me whenever you want, I know you're staying with Kayla and Ryland but my door will always be open for you Cam."

"I was going to stay with dad." Gabe's eyes darkened.

"Over my dead body." He said coldly.

"Agreed." I said. "You're staying with us and whenever you get tired of us you can retreat to Gabes for awhile it's a win-win."

"Or you can let me buy you a-"

"Over my dead body." Cambry said this time. "I appreciate everything guys and once I get a job and enough saved I'm going to find an apartment for me and Kai." Gabe sighed but nodded.

I tried nursing Willow but she was more interested in playing with the puppies who were all running around so I went to call Ryland and hoped for the best I brought the puppy with the broken leg with me since she's not supposed to be running around and she was really trying to keep up with her brothers and sister. I decided to FaceTime him and just show him the puppy instead of just calling him. "I really wish you would've told me you were going to FaceTime me, I just woke up from a nap and I look like shit."

"Now you know how I feel." I said sweetly. "Besides I think you look hot as shit." He smiled sleepily which was adorable. "I have some news."

"I know I saw."

"You saw?"

"You're going to leave me and marry Cambry."

"Jealous?"

"Actually that's kinda hot could I watch when-"

"You are such a perv!" I yelled making him laugh.

"Kidding baby, what's the news."

"Well, we got a new family member yesterday." His eyebrows raised up and his eyes narrowed.

"Is the baby okay? Please don't tell me some crazy shit happened and you gave birth?"

"Um no baby is still in my stomach and I'm pretty sure I would've called you if something like that was happening." I said shaking my head his eyes were still narrowed.

"Then…?" I didn't say anything but I held the puppy up to the phone and Ryland laughed. "Of course you'd go on vacation and get a fucking puppy."

"Four puppies actually." I said and he stopped laughing.

"Excuse me? Did you say four puppies?"

"Yeah the kids are playing with the other three this one had to sit out on the fun she has a broken leg."

"No way in hell are we keeping four puppies! We already have Nugget I am not going to have five dogs, a six year old, a toddler, and an infant."

"But-"

"No way in hell give them back to whoever you got them from." I quickly told him the whole story and how Harlan was crying once I was done he groaned. "He's only six and he's already pulling out the I'm adopted card on us?"

"Cambry and Gabe thought it was funny."

"We can't handle four puppies Kayla."

"We're not…"

"We aren't?"

"No Gabe picked one that he's going to keep so we have three." I said smiling but he didn't smile.

"One."

"That's not fair! What are we going to do with the others?!" I yelled he looked away from a minute.

"Zach! Do you want a puppy?" He yelled I couldn't hear his answer but from Ryland's groan it didn't seem like he said yes. "I got it! You're going to the Fourth of July party right?"

"Yeah we are coming back that day your mom said she'd pick us up from wherever we dock at."

"Ask my mom if she wants one once she sees how cute they are she will say yes then we only have to worry about two puppies."

"So we can keep two of them?"

"No we are going to keep one."

"No fun."

"If we can't find a home for them then fine we will keep them but if we can we only keep one."

"Fine it's a deal." Harlan poked his head in.

"Mommy did you ask daddy yet?" He whispered to me.

"I'm on the phone with him right now."

"Do we get to keep them?"

"Daddy says we can keep one."

"Just one?" He asked sadly, Ryland sighed.

"Well if we can't find homes for all of them, then we get to keep them but one might go to grandma's house." I thought he'd be upset but he jumped up and down.

"And I'll still get to play with it cause uncle Gabie is taking one and he says that I can come and play with him all the times so I wasn't sad and if grandma takes a puppy then I can still play with it right?"

"Of course baby."

"What about the others one mommy?"

"Um well daddy is going to ask uncle Spencer and maybe uncle Max."

"Spence couldn't keep a fish alive for a weekend i'm not offering him a fucking puppy." Ryland mumbled and I heard Zach burst out laughing.

"Okay Spencer is off the list maybe Tyler?"

"I'll ask he'd probably be more open to a dog then Max, he's never had a dog before I don't even know if he likes dogs."

"Mommy which one does daddy want to keep?"

"I don't know baby boy." Harlan ran and grabbed the phone turning it to him.

"Daddy I gonna show you all the puppies and we can pick which one we like okay?" Ryland laughed.

"Alright my dude."

"Okay dude." Harlan said back making Ryland laugh again he pointed the phone at the little one on the bed. "This is a girl she has a hurted leg because she was trapped under her mama she's really nice and Willow likes to cuddle with her and she no mean to her because she's a good girl." He said patting her head.

I followed him into the living room and set the puppy back onto the floor. "This is the one uncle Gabie is taking he's a boy and he's crazy."

"Just like you." Gabe said messing with Harlan's hair.

"And daddy look at this one!" Harlan yelled putting the phone right in the nose of the other girl. He showed Ry all of the puppies and sat down on the floor in front of all of them. "Which one do you like the bestest daddy?" The one with a broken leg limped up to the phone and started to lick the camera I could see Ryland smile.

"Her." Ryland said and Harlan dropped the phone and picked her up.

"Mommy this is our puppy and her name is…" He thought about it for a while staring at her. "Floppy! Because she's got floppy little ears! Do you like that name daddy?"

"Uh… Maybe we'll make a list of names and we'll see okay buddy?"

"Can I call her Floppy until we make a name for her?" Harlan was reaching for the phone but Willow grabbed it.

"DADA!" She screamed.

"Hey my little princess look how big you're getting." He said in a baby voice.

"DADAA!" She screamed again.

"Yeah baby?"

"Noog." She said Ryland looked confused but Harlan translated Willow talk just about as well as he translated for Kai.

"That how she says Nugget daddy."

"Oh, where is Nugs?"

"Hewe!" She said turning towards Nugget he licked her face a few times and Willow then licked his face just like he did to her.

"Willow no!" Ryland yelled.

"Yeah, she's been doing that for a week I try and get her to stop but she won't." I said shaking my head.

"SHE DID IT TO ME TO DADDY!" Harlan yelled Kai thought it was hilarious when Willow crawled up to Harlan out of nowhere and licked his face and barked at him like a dog Kai had fallen back on the bed, giggling while Willow crawled away with Harlan running after her.

Ryland was going to hang up but there was one last thing I needed to talk to him about so when I went outside his smile went away. "This has to be something bad I guess."

"What makes you think that?"

"You went outside so it was something you didn't want the kids to hear or maybe Gabe or Cambry? Are you going to yell at me?"

"No it's about Harlan."

"Oh… Is he alright?"

"He's been talking to himself a lot."

"Talking to himself?"

"Yeah Gabe talked to him because when I asked him he just shrugged and I was worried so when Gabe took them on a hike he asked Har and he said that it's his imaginary friend but he didn't have one before he learned about what happened to his mom and sister and now he does and all the things I've read say that it's normal but I don't know…"

"When Jessie was young she uh…" He stopped and shook his head. "Um-"

"I know, she told me."

"She did?" He looked surprised.

"When we went to New York when she ran outside after your grandma's comment about her eating enough, she told me and we kind of connected on that a bit…" Ryland nodded understanding and not saying anything else about it which I was grateful for.

"After that happened to her a few weeks later she had an imaginary friend named Aspen who was a ghost."

"And how long was Aspen around for?"

"A few months but then she just stopped talking about her, it's normal when kids go through hard things that they create people in their heads or at least that's what the therapist said."

"I hope so because not only does Harlan play with him Kai does too."

"Kai has an imaginary friend too?"

"No… Kai and Harlan play with Forrest together last night they refused to eat unless we put a plate down for Forrest as well and then Kai cried because Gabe sat on him." Ryland laughed but stopped when I glared at him. "Cambry had to hug the air while Forrest cried in her arms it was just so weird and I know that kids can have imaginary friends and I can't just say stop playing with him apparently Forrest doesn't have an arm he has ABS just like Harlan and I know he will grow out of it but it still seems weird but I am trying to be supportive but really it took forever to get him to stop crying."

"The imaginary boy?" Ryland asked laughing.

"Shut up Ryland!" Harlan and Kai came out the door.

"Mommy can Kai, Forrest and I go play by the water?" Kai was blabbing away looking to the right at no one and then giggled.

"Um sure baby but wait until I'm done talking to daddy so I can watch you guys."

"Kay!" He yelled grabbing Kai's hand going back inside.

"I'm surprised you didn't say so I can watch you three." He said laughing again.

"I'm hanging up on you."

"I love-" I hung up.

Harlan's Pov

Mommy and I went into town for groceries because uncle Gabie was cooking dinner tonight and I was so hungry we spent most of the day playing with the puppies and swimming in the ocean. "Guess what you are doing tomorrow." Mommy said messing with my hair.

"Playing with the puppies and Kai?" Mommy laughed.

"Well probably but no," I grabbed some cookies and threw them into the cart. "Gabe is taking you and Kai on a dude day."

"Really?" I asked bouncing up and down. "What are we going to do?"

"I think you might go kayaking and see a really big waterfall and then go get some food and you might even get to see some sea turtles maybe even swim with them."

"I want to go right now!" I yelled mommy smiled. "But how come you and Cammie aren't going?"

"Gabe says no girls allowed so we are going to take Willow to hula show and maybe the farmers market, you can come with us if you want."

"That sounds lame." I said shaking my head mommy laughed again.

"Do you want hamburgers or tacos tonight?"

"DJ says uncle Gabe makes the best pancakes can't he make that instead?"

"Maybe for breakfast but not for dinner."

"But mommy!" I whined.

"Harrie no."

"Daddy would let me eat pancakes for dinner." I mumbled.

"Don't be mean to mommy!" Forrest yelled at me.

"She's my mommy not yours!" I yelled at him he was sitting in the cart trying to hit stuff with his half arm.

"Harlan stop yelling." Mommy said.

"But Forrest calls you his mommy!"

"Because she's my mommy and Cammie is my mommy too."

"No they are not! Cammie is Kai's mommy." Forrest looked down at the ground.

"But I don't have a mommy…" He said softly.

"Mommy?" I patted her stomach.

"Yeah baby?" She asked while looking at different types of pickles.

"Can you and Cammie be Forrest's mommies cause he doesn't have any and he wants you and Cammie to be his." Mommy bit her lip and looked around us.

"Where is he?"

"Sitting in the cart right there." I said pointing to him mommy smiled looking around first and then patted his head.

"You can call me whatever you want." She said and then went back to looking at pickles.

"That's a lot of pickles." I said when mommy put four different kinds in the cart.

"Your baby brother wants pickles." I wonder if Legend tells her what he wants because mommy always seems to know exactly what he wants to eat.

When we got home Kai was looking at his baby book he kept turning the pages and anytime he'd see a picture of him as a baby he'd so 'so toot' meaning so cute I don't think he knew that the pictures were him. He stopped on a picture of uncle Max and Cammie he looked up smiling. "Maama!" He yelled.

"What baby boy?" Cammie called from the kitchen she was helping Gabe make tacos.

"I wan daa!" He yelled she came over looking confused.

"What?"

"Dada!" He yelled pointing at his picture Cammie sighed.

"Daddy's at home Kai you can't see him right now."

"I wan dada!" He screamed mommy was sitting on the couch eating pickles but she stopped when Kai screamed and looked at Cambry.

"We can try calling him." Cammie said Kai nodded holding his hand out for her phone. "He didn't answer…" She said softly to Kai but he was still holding his hand out.

"Dada?" He said smiling.

"He didn't answer Kai." Kai hit her.

"DADA!" He screamed and kept hitting her. "I wa daa!" He fell onto the ground and screamed at the top of his lungs while bursting into tears Cammie tried calling uncle Max again but he still didn't answer. Cammie tried to pick up Kai but he kicked her while he continued screaming and crying. I noticed that now she was crying too.

"I'm sorry Kai." She said softly and finally picked him up trying to calm him down but he kept hitting her and yelling for his daddy and Cammie kept crying too. "I'm sorry…"

The next chapter in Jessie's story will be up tomorrow night