OffBeats

[Tak]

*Tak rolled his eyes, ready to jump into the fray of bickering when he caught Juju's glances. He followed them to Binx. He took a small whiff of the place and then nodded to JuJu before turning to follow him, disappearing from the conversation. He put a gentle hand on Binx's back* We didn't keep everything from the other house *He had practiced saying those words so they wouldn't come out forced or angry* but we tried to keep anything we thought you'd want. We can always shop later and if you don't like the color let me know. *He didn't open the door for Binx, letting him do it himself*

[Binx]

*Binx had just let the door swing open when Tak put his hand on his shoulder. More tears were coming as he took in the sight of his own room. The walls were a dark green, with his Baylor Bears flag hung up over his new bed. The flag had been packed away because it was a present from his mom when he said it was his dream college to play for when his was like 10. Only Tak knew how he even still wished he could go, but was never an option for him. more of his things had been moved here but he was too forced on Shelves that lined the upper walls. They were full of all his old trophies and ribbons, that his mom had saved. All traces of his mother had been removed by hos dad after she passed away. Binx had, had to rescue them from being burnt in the back yard and hide them in the attic. The final icing came when one of the walls had all the pictures of him and his mother arranged in a small colleague with some of the gym pictures thrown in too. No doubt a Mama Juju project. Binx was crying now, not able to hold them back, he just turned and wrapped his arms around the larger man and muttered a broken thank you. into his chest.*

[Daxton]

*Daxton smiled at her as she asked if he had a puppy too.* Oh yea, big white one, even. *Those eyes will be the downfall of many in the future he thought. He took her small hand in his large one and began to lead her to her new room.* Yeah it is all yours. What color do you think it is? *He asked as them passes the bickering crew.*

[JuJu]

*Juju crossed her arms and cocked her hip too, but more in a I'm that mama fashion.* I see about 10 good hands here that can get the painting and cleaning done without calling in reinforcements. *Juju moved her hands to her hips and gave Inline a pointed look.* And yes princess, the boxes down stairs are stocked for way more than a kitchen for four. All perfect;y cleaned as if they were never used. So how about we lose the tude and yall go grab the painting supplies down stairs. *She hiked her thumb towards the door and looked around to all of them.*

[Keely]

*Keely was about to give a witty comment to the scene before her, when Lyall entered the room a overly large TV shaped box under one arm as if it was nothing and the other hand holding reusable bags filled with things.* Did someone say TV? *He said with a wolfish grin.*

[Tak]

*Tak gently wrapped his arms around the boy, rubbing his back in full Dad fashion. He nuzzled his hair some, scent marking him* Don't, don't thank me. *He swallowed hard, guilt a ball in his throat* I should have done this part sooner. *He swallowed against the guilt again and shook his head some before patting Binx's shoulder gently* Besides, you'll be paying it back with unpaid labor...I mean chores. *He grinned some at the boy* When you aren't hurt of course

[Stella]

A big white one?! Daddy Tak's is brown! Could I ride the white one? *Stella asked, all grins at the thought* Someimes the brown puppy le's me ride him. *She grinned at him even bigger* It's pink, course with stars fer nighttime.

[Inline]

*Inline started to realize just how thin the ice she was walking on was when Juju mirrored her pose. She sighed, scolding herself for the temper tantrum. She threw her hands up in surrender, not wanting to get scolded more than she was* Fine, okay. I'm sorry. I've just seen what grows in Tak's coffee cups. *She put on a mock pout and started for the door* Okay, fine I'll grab the vacuum while I'm down there *She almost ran into Lyall as he walked in suddenly*

[TTT]

Damn straight Grandpa! *T3 jumped up, pushing Keely off when he did* TV for the win! *He grinned before moving to help Lyall with the TV* We have our marching orders guys. Mama said go get the stuff. *He pointed at Inline with his free hand* You should get a snickers while you're downstairs. I can help with the TV.

[Binx]

*Binx shook his head and muffled that he should have said something sooner, but it may not have translated well. He gave Tak a squeeze as best he could and gave a small chuckle at the free labor. Pulling back a bit he wiped his eyes, trying to compose himself.* That's gonna..take awhile. Too pay off that is. Pulling himself away from Tak he turned and headed to the wall. Stopping at all the pictures, he reached up to touch the one of his mom snuggling him tight in her arms when he was little. Her smile was one of the special things about her, it used to light up a room.* I miss her...* He said softly as he touched the picture gently.*

[Daxton]

Yup, I'm sure he would let ya. *He said matching her smile.* Pink huh? *Once at her door he opened it up for her to inspect, knowing it would be everything she'd want. Juju had been a stickler on their rooms and made sure to put up all the pictures they could of their mother and the gym family. He waited for her to react.*

[JuJu]

*Juj dropped her arms and moved to put one around Inline's shoulder.* Apologies accepted Besides I don't even let Tak use Tak's cups. *She patted her shoulder as Inline headed for the door. At Lyall's entrance she gave a shake of her head.* Nope, no tv til the walls are painted and this is all finished. Stash it in our bed room. *Juju pointed towards the other door.* Don't even think it snowflake, go down and grab the stuff too.

[Lyall]

*The old wolf let T3 help him, even though it wasn't needed at all. He threw in a fake grunt just for show.* Thank you Tyler. * He said as they set it on the ground. It was a nice size flat screen. At Juju's command he saluted.* Aye Aye Mon Captain! *Lyall put the other bags in the kitchenette area, before moving the tv again.*

[Keely]

*Keely let out the biggest unladylike grunt as the push. To which she dramatically dropped to the floor and laid there a moment.* Oh no! He spoke french! I feel a GLIF video coming on! *Keely said covering her eyes.*

[Tak]

*Tak smiled some and let him slip away* Five bucks says JuJu has things you can do while sitting, don't get your hopes up on escaping even while your hurt. *He chuckled softly, watching him wander the room* Me too, kid. Me too. Your Mom was something out of this world. JuJu wanted to make sure you two had lots of reminders of her. Stella has pictures in her room too. We can't replace her but we might be able to make her proud. *He smiled gently at the thought of Maddie* She would have some choice words for me later if I didn't make her proud.

[Stella]

YAY! Ride! *The little girl giggled* Princess PINK! *Stella hopped a little when she said it, and she wasn't disappointed as the room as revealed. One of the walls was pink, the others white so the eyes could adjust, but the bedspread was pink, the curtains were pink, and even the little dresser had pink drawers. The glow stars from the other house had been put up all over the ceiling and what few toys she had were in a toybox in the corner. She squealed and jumped up and down as they went into the room* Look! *She pulled on Daxton's hand, pointing to the stuffies on the bed* My frends! That's Beetlejuice *She pointed to the cat and then squealed again* Look look, that's my Mommy! *She pulled him over to the pictures and started explaining who everyone was* That's my Mommy, and my bubby, and Momma juju....

[Inline]

*Inline smiled some at Lyall, stepping back and into Juju's waiting arm* Sorry Gramps. *She smiled at JuJu* Does explain why he hasn't died. Sorry I freaked. I'll get to work *She smiled at JuJu again, giving her a quick hug before escaping to get the vacuum and some of the other stuff* Shut up T3

[TTT]

No problem man. *They got it settled and then T3 gave JuJu a pout* But Mommmmm....*He groaned before gently kicking Keely* C'mon Grandpa Chaser, we got stuff to bring up. *He made a dramatic show of dragging himself out of the door*

[Binx]

I think, I'll manage. *He said with a half smile. Looking over the pictures, he listened to Tak.* She really was....She would have liked Mama Juju a lot...*Binx dropped his hand from the photo.* I know that. Mom, I'm sure is proud of you and juju. She wouldn't want us with anyone else. *He glanced to Tak before moving to sit on the bed.* She didn't...she didn't even want us left with dad. *Binx confessed softly as he looked down at his hands.*

[Daxton]

*Daxton chuckled at the excitement the little one showed him everything in her room. He had remembered Maddie a little from back.* Very beautiful. *He said as they looked at the pictures. He lifted her up to get a better view of the pictures as she pointed to each one.*

[JuJu]

Keeping him alive, it a full time really. *Juju said as she returned the quick hug.* Don't sweat it. I get it. *The fae then looked over at T3 and she clapped her hands together to motivate them out the door.* Hippied hop cotton top! *Catching sight of the bags Lyall sat down, Juju let out a heavy sigh at the contents.* You did not buy her more stuffed animals!

[Keely]

You're not supposed to kick people while they are down! That's just low. *Keely yelled up at T3.* Grandpa chaser?! *Keely sat up in a flash and snapped her fingers.* Ohhhhh that is a good title for the video! Gramps wanna be a film star, of the adult persuasion? *Keely wiggled her eye brows at Lyall with an evil smirk.*

[Lyall]

*A charming smile came across Lyall's face, it was a look that no doubt could still make some women go weak at the knees. Jodin even used it on occasions. It was truly a gift.* What!? It's not....all stuffies. *Lyall said using Stella's word for her toys. At Keely's question, Lyall narrowed his eyes at her.* Don't you still owe me royalties from our first GILF video?

[Tak]

*Tak watched Binx with kind eyes, letting him have a little space to remember. He smiled some about his comment about JuJu* The two of them would have raised hell together, that I guarantee. *When the boy dropped his hand, Tak looked down. There was always a downside to remembering* Klayton this is a dangerous road to go down, for me and you. *The big man pushed away from the doorway and moved to sit on the bed, putting his hands between his knees* You weren’t even twelve when she started showing symptoms and Stella, Stell...shouldn’t have ever existed…*Tak smiled some at the thought* She was a shock on top of a mountain of shock. Everyone was just in a wave of emotion and even Maddie couldn’t organize her way out of it. *The man sighed, closing his eyes* We all thought she would pull out of the delivery and go straight in for surgery the week after, easy win. Even then your Mom tried to be prepared for everything. We talked about me taking you two, she could see some of the changes in Clay but she loved him. He was a different man then. We decided together it was better if you two were with your father, you were the only blood he had. *Tak pursed his lips, going back through the memories. He remembered holding Stella because Clay refused to while his wife was in surgery. He should have known then* Your Mom told me to stay close but let him be the father he was supposed to be. That’s what I tried to do *Guilt punched him again and he clenched his hand*

[Binx]

*Binx just let Tak talk, not even looking at him anymore or the pictures of his mom. It hurt so much to remember, the woman who was so full of life and energy to be reduced to a weak and fragile thing. It almost started fresh tears all over again. He did remember his dad being different and Mom was always smiling with him. However he had heard the late night arguments and the times his dad let his anger go just a bit too far, where Maddie had to rein him back in. After his mother died, his dad became a monster. *Stay close? He wouldn't let you! He got pissed when some wise ass at work suggested that Stella wasn't his! That is why he forced you out! *Binx tried to rain in his temper as his voice had started to rise. He clenched his own fists and just shook his head.* Blood doesn't mean shit when it's your own blood beating the fuck out of ya. *He said coolly as he looked down at his feet. The boy didn't cuss much cause of Stella or when really upset. Didn't help either that he wanted to punch something but did not want to put a hole in the new wall.*