Gerard’s POV

“I want you all home by 5 tonight.” I said to the ones who even bothered going to school or work.
“Why?” Fae asked as she picked her toast up and started to eat it.
“Family meeting.” Frank said as he placed his hand on my back.
“Why? I mean everyone knows Phoenix has been kicked out of school and that I’m pregnant what is there to know.” Rella said and I looked at her.
“Oh, that’s why.” Rella said and Fae looked at us confused.
“Right you two ready, Seth is still in bed and has work in a hour.” Frank said as he grabbed his coffee and kissed my cheek.
“See you later, take it easy and love you.” I said as I turned round and smiled at Frank who walked over and kissed me which I returned.
“Love you too and you need to chill and relax.” Frank said quietly and kissed me again and they left leaving me to get Seth and Phoenix up.
Since Phoenix has completely given up with school and Seth had work I went to Seth’s room first.

I knocked on his door and walked into the room which made one of the two bodies in the bed groan as they sat up.
“Hey Mr Way.” Ben said sleepily as he lead back down again and cuddled into Seth’s side which made me smile.
“Hate to say this guys but Seth you have work in 50 minutes.” I said and Seth moved and looked at me.
“I’m not going.” Seth said quietly.
“Well that’s your fault for having sex all night. So suck it up buttercup you are going to work wether you like it or not.” I said and Seth sighed loudly.
“Told you too keep the noise down.” Ben said and Seth didn’t say anything and I walked out of their room turning the light on and headed towards Phoenix room.
“Time to get up Nix.” I said as I turned his light on and found Phoenix wasn’t in his bed and I started to worry.
“Seth have you seen Phoenix?” I asked as I walked back into Seth’s room.
“Nope, haven’t seen or heard him this morning.” Seth said as he sat up and looked at me.
I went downstairs and looked to see if his bike was in the garden which it was but his skateboard wasn’t in its normal spot so I quickly went to my room and got changed and grabbed my phone.
“You better be at work by the time I get back.” I shouted up the stairs as I put my shoes on and walked out the door and headed towards where Phoenix would go.
It also didn’t help that it was raining and Phoenix was one of those strange people who loves the rain.

I got to the stake park and sure enough Phoenix was in his element since everyone else was at school so he had the park to himself.
“Phoenix!” I said loudly and he stopped and looked at me.
“Hey dad.” Phoenix said happily as he carried on doing what he was doing.
“Get here now!” I shouted since I was really pissed off with him.
“I haven’t done anything wrong.” Phoenix said as he walked over to me.
“Give me your skateboard now and when we get home you are not having your bike or skateboard.” I said seriously and Phoenix handed me his skateboard and he gingerly followed me home knowing he was in trouble but at the same time he might not think he’s in trouble.
We got home and I was soaked and Seth was just putting his shoes on with Ben following him.
“I’ll see you guys later.” Seth said as he and Ben walked out the door and I looked at Phoenix and he was looking down.
“Change your clothes and come downstairs and we will talk about this.” I said and Phoenix nodded as he went upstairs and I went to the kitchen to make myself a hot drink since I was frozen.
I sighed loudly as I felt hungry but I know I would throw up if I ate anything now so I just hoped I would keep this tea down while I spoke to Phoenix.
Phoenix came into the kitchen and sat round the island looking sorry for himself.
I walked over and sat opposite him.
“Why didn’t you tell me where you was going? You know I don’t mind where you go as long as you tell me or pa where you are going.” I said and Phoenix sighed loudly.
“I have this big tournament at the weekend and I needed to get some more practice in before then.” Phoenix said quietly.
“I know you do, but that does t mean you can sneak off and not tell anyone where you are going. It’s all what me and or ask for is that you tell us so that then we know where too look and we don’t have to worry about you running away. We have those rules for a reason and it’s to keep you guys safe.” I said and Phoenix nodded as he looked at me.
“Also, I know you love the rain but that doesn’t mean you spend how ever long you was out there in the rain because you are going to get ill otherwise. You can spend time in the garden.” I said and Phoenix nodded.
“I’ll let you have your bike and skateboard but you aren’t allowed your Xbox in your room and your not allowed to use the PS4 downstairs.” I said seriously and Phoenix went to argue back but he knew better, I hoped he did anyway.
“The only reason I’m not taking the bike and skateboard away is because of this tournament this weekend.” I said and Phoenix frowned slightly.
“I’m allowed to have my BMX and my skateboard but not my Xbox and I’m not allowed to use the PS4 in the sitting room.” Phoenix said making sure he had the right information.
“Yep that’s right and it won’t be until a week today you can have it back.” I said and that pissed Phoenix off.
“The fuck! How is that even fair!” Phoenix shouted and I rolled my eyes.
“You know the rules Phoenix, now go and get me your Xbox and you will have it back in a weeks time.” I said and Phoenix went off on one and I couldn’t make my mind up wether he was having a melt down or a tantrum so I just left him to it.
“Remember if you trash the house your paying for the damage.” I said as I walked out the room.

I was sat in the shed which happened to be where I do my work and when I needed some space when the kids are arguing.
I was lost listening to music and working on something when the door opened and shut which made me turn round and Frank was standing there.
“So the house is a mess and Phoenix is huddled in the corner muttering some shit.” Frank said and I sighed loudly.
“The bugger decided to go to the skate part when it was pissing down with rain and not bothering to tell anyone where he was going. So I would of taken his bike and skateboard away but he has that tournament at the weekend so I said no Xbox and PS4 and he went ape. As long as nothing is broken I don’t really care what he’s been doing in there.” I said and Frank chuckled as he lent against the worktop.
“How are feeling then?” Frank asked and I looked at him.
“Had to deal with a stroppy teenager and have deadlines to met, and I just want to throw up and have a nap, how do you think I feel.” I said sarcastically without meaning too.
“It’s been one of those days has it?” Frank asked and I sighed as I nodded.
“Nix hasn’t been this bad for a while and I have no clue what’s ticking in his head.” I said and Frank smiled at me.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help you.” Frank said quietly and I smiled.
“It’s fine, we have to work and we have to deal with Nix, just would be better if he was at school. But he’s not so we’re going to have to homeschool him.” I said and Frank nodded in agreement.
“You coming in? I don’t want you sat out here getting I’ll.” Frank said and I rolled my eyes at him.
“I have the heater so I am fine.” I said and Frank frowned at me.
“Don’t give me that look, I’m a adult so don’t be looking at me like you look at the kids.” I said and Frank chuckled as he lent forwards and kissed me.
“You coming inside?” Frank asked softly.
“Yeah better see what damage the shit has done.” I said as I stood up and Franks eyes went to my stomach.
“You shouldn’t be out here. Not with baby on board.” Frank said and I rolled my eyes.
“Baby is fine as it’s not going anywhere for a while, if anyone you should be worried about then it should be me since I’m carry the bloody thing.” I said and Frank frowned at me.
“Don’t give me that look.” I said and Frank still frowned at me.
“What do you want me to say Frank? We have 4 kids all with their problems and Phoenix is loosing the bloody plot over something we don’t know. Yes I do want this baby I really do want it. But the fact the kids have nearly grown up and we then could have the house to ourselves again.” I said and Frank looked down and then back at me again.
“Yes Nix has his problems at the moment but that doesn’t effect anything. Alright yeah the kids are nearly grown up and having the house to ourselves sounds amazing but you know once they leave you’ll miss them.” Frank said and I looked down and put my hand over my belly.
Frank reached over and put his hand over mine.
“You having second thoughts?” Frank asked quietly and it was my turn to frown at him.
“Why would you even say that? I would never have second thoughts about any of the pregnancies I have had.” I said and Frank sighed loudly.
“It’s just that your attitude at the moment just suggest that you don’t want it.” Frank said and I rolled my eyes.
“I have had a fucking hard day Frank, I have work to do which have deadlines in the next couple of days. I thought Phoenix had ran away today, I thought our son had ran away because he didn’t like it here. I was in the fucking rain for at least an hour before I found him again. I couldn’t go into work because I had to keep an eye on Phoenix. The last thing on my mind right now is baby. We need to think of the 4 kids we have at the moment and just let me look after little one and keep it cooking.” I said and Frank nodded in a understanding way.
Frank took a step forward and kissed me which I returned.
“We going to tell the kids?” Frank whispered and I nodded.
“Yeah, got to tell them.” I said and Frank smiled at me as he kissed my forehead and the door opened and we looked and saw Fae.
“It’s 5pm, we having a family meeting and food because I’m starving.” Fae said and I chuckled as I caught hold of Franks hand and walked over to the door.
“We’re just coming.” I said and Fae nodded and walked off.
I followed Fae dragging Frank behind me and we went inside.

We was all sat in the sitting room waiting for Ben to come back.
“Don’t worry about waiting for Ben, he’s going to be late back and he has to see the dragon anyway so don’t worry about waiting.” Seth said as he sat next to Phoenix who was very quiet which was worrying.
“Okay, so we know that Rella is pregnant.” I said and i could feel Rella looking at me and Frank caught hold of my hand.
“So me and pa was wondering what you guys would think if you had a little brother or sister.” I said as I looked up.
“Wait you’re pregnant?” Phoenix asked.
“Yep.” I said and Phoenix frowned as I knew he was going to be the one who would need to have it explained a bit more to him.
“How far?” Seth asked.
“I am 12 weeks now.” I said quietly as I looked down.
“When did you find out?” Rella asked and I frowned at her.
“2 weeks ago, and from what the scan said Baby is fine and will have more detail on it after my 12 week scan next scan.” I said and smiled at everyone who smiled back at me.
“Is that what you wanted to tell us?” Phoenix asked and I nodded.
“Well we’re happy for you dad.” Fae said and I smiled at them.
“Thanks guys.” I said as I stood up and went upstairs to mine and Frank’s room.
I sat on the bed and sighed loudly to myself as I lead back on the bed.

“Well you could of been a little more excited about tell the kids.” Frank said as he walked into the room and I rolled onto my side facing away from him.
“Please don’t start okay. I can’t cope with it right now.” I said quietly and I felt Frank sit on the bed.
“Baby what’s the matter? I’m worried now, you haven’t been this bad for a long time.” Frank said and I rolled over to face him.
“I’m scared okay, before all the kids was little and we didn’t know about Phoenix and his problems and we both know that Phoenix loves being the centre of attention. I’m not saying he would hurt the baby but I’m scared that he might. I’m worried that something could go wrong, I have so much going on in my head that my stress could do something.” I rambled and Frank lead down and kissed me which I returned.
“Don’t be scared, we’ve got this and we can always see how Phoenix is with Rella’s baby but I don’t think he will do anything to little one. You need to take a deep breath and let it all out. Or I will let you have just 1 cigarette to calm you down.” Frank said and I smiled at him.
“Let me have a cigarette.” I said quietly and Frank smiled as he lent forward and kissed me which I returned.
Frank gave me a cigarette and I took it and I got off the bed and looked at Frank.
“Your cooking by the way.” I said and Frank groaned loudly as he hated doing the cooking or doing anything in the kitchen.
“Love you.” I said as I walked down the stairs and went outside.

I was miles away while smoking this cigarette Frank gave me when someone came out and joined me.
“Never thought you smoked, especially now your pregnant.” I heard Phoenix say and I looked up and saw him sat opposite me smoking his cigarette.
“I smoke when I’m stressed if you really want to know.” I said and Phoenix smiled slightly at me.
“I’m sorry for my behaviour today. I know I haven’t made it easy for you and I know you have deadlines to meet and me not being in school isn’t helping you.” Phoenix said and I smiled at him.
“It’s fine, but you have to tell someone if your going somewhere and make sure you have your phone on you so we can contact you or you can call us if your in trouble. Deadlines are deadlines at the end of the day sometimes you hit them and sometimes you don’t, it just means I have a load of people on the phone nagging me but it’s nothing and I want to talk to you about school.” I said and Phoenix groaned at me loudly.
“You’re not going to send me back to that shit hole are you?” Phoenix asked and I chuckled as I knew Phoenix hated the school he was at and I am surprised he actually lasted as long as he did before being kicked out.
“Don’t worry we’re not sending you back there. But I need to talk to pa about it but what about home schooling?” I said and Phoenix frowned at me.
“I like this option. Explain more.” Phoenix said as I noticed him get a grinder out along with a small bag of something.
“Please don’t tell me that weed.” I groaned as I sat back in the chair.
“It’s not going to kill me Dad, anyway if I smoke this now then I can actually go to sleep at night.” Phoenix said as I he looked at me.
“Honestly dad, I only smoke it when I’m bad and really need it and tonight I really need it.” Phoenix said and I looked down still not liking this idea.
“I would say try it but with baby I wouldn’t suggest it.” Phoenix said and I rolled my eyes at him.
“I’m just going to leave you too it, but you do not bring anything harder than weed into the house and you keep it in your bedroom and if I smell it in your room or if you have smoked it in your room then you are not allowed to have it anymore. I don’t care how much it helps you, you will no longer be allowed to smoke it.” I said seriously and Phoenix nodded at me.
“Okay dad. Thanks, I appreciate it.” Phoenix said quietly and I smiled as I left him too it and went inside where Frank was cooking.

“That son of ours is now smoking weed.” I said quietly as I lent against the side.
“What one?” Frank asked and I rolled my eyes.
“Nix, he just casually started rolling a joint in front of me.” I said and Frank looked at me and I raised my eyebrow at him.
“You’ve got to be joking me.” Frank said as he put whatever he had in his hand down and turned to look at me.
“Well I wish I was, but don’t worry he knows the ground rules and if he caught doing any of them then he will no longer be allowed to smoke it.” I said and Frank nodded as the back door opened and shut and we both just watched Phoenix walk to the sitting room.
“I’m not having him walking around like a zombie, you never know this could lead to him trying different drugs. I know you don’t want that Gee.” Frank said quietly.
“What else can I do Frank, if it helps with his ADHD then who am I to take that away from him.” I said and Frank looked down.
“He said he only takes it when he’s bad, which at the moment I can agree with him being bad and needing that help.” I said and Frank looked at me.
“You’re too soft on him.” Frank said and I frowned at him.
“I’m not fucking soft on him, that’s like me telling you that you’re too soft on Fae.” I said and Frank rolled his eyes at me and went back to cooking.
“You know it’s true so don’t argue with me.” Frank said and I just did what I always did when I was annoyed with him but didn’t want to start an argument and that was to tap him round the back of the head.
“Don’t bother leaving anything for me, I’m not hungry.” I said as I walked out the room and went to the shed where I had to meet this deadline otherwise I’m in a lot of trouble.

I have no what the time was until someone came into the shed.
“Babe, it’s 4 am come to bed.” I heard Frank say and I shook my head.
“I have this deadline and this is no where near ready for me to go to bed.” I said quietly as I looked at Frank.
“Fuck the deadline right now Gee, I can see you’re tired and you don’t just have yourself to think about with these stupid deadlines.” Frank said.
“I can’t fuck the deadline Frank, it is up to me to get this gone by the deadline so that it doesn’t fuck the business up. This deadline is fucking important Frank because if I don’t meet this fucking deadline then I can kiss my fucking business goodbye!” I said loudly.
“Babe I know we both have work and everything but we can cope with what I’m earning, it’s not as if we have money.” Frank said and I sighed loudly.
“I refuse to go back to how we was when the kids was little and I refuse to go and live on the streets like I had to do when I was pregnant with Seth! And I am not giving up on something I have been working hard on.” I snapped and Frank smiled softly at me which made me look down.
“We aren’t going to end up how we was when the kids was little and you won’t end up back in the streets. We can support each other but right now I need you to think of yourself here. Yes you have a deadline but you need to rest, this isn’t good for you or for the baby.” Frank said softly and I put my hand over my stomach.
“I can’t let my business go down the shitter Frank.” I whispered as I looked down and I heard Frank walk over to me and made me look at him.
“It won’t Okay. I know you will work your ass off until you have complete this and met the deadline and then relax for a while. But I know you like going crazy and staying up until stupid hours of the morning but you can’t do that no more, not until little one is born.” Frank whispered and kissed me which I returned as I felt Frank’s hand on top of mine.
“Come to bed.” Frank whispered.
“Am I going to get something out of it if I’m going to bed.” I said quietly as Frank smirked against my lips.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Frank said as he caught hold of my hand and dragged me inside and to our room.

Notes