[Family] Darlin Don't You Start To Scream

[Joel Carter Foster]

Joel lift his shoulder, pinning his cellphone between his ear and his shoulder, grabbing his bags out of the back of the taxi. “ Yeah yeah yeah. I hear you. What I’m saying is, I personally won’t be able to make the shows in New York. What I need for you guys is to not cancel the performance. You’ve got Tyler Kingsley and you’ve got MTV artist to watch nominee Max.. Your venue is going to pack up. I swear to God. These guys are gonna hit it big. I just can’t be there. I’ve got personal shit I’ve got to deal with. They don’t need me there, though. You don’t need me there. I’m sorry to your venue and all. Get on the phone with Logan Renner.. I promise you he already has a plan of how I can make it up to you guys, added performances.. I mean I’m sure he’s got something up his sleeve. Alright? I do apologize. Thank you very much,” he said, moving his shoulder so that the phone dropped. Joel maneuvered his hand in his luggage so he could catch the phone as it dropped into his hand. “ There is my baby boy!” he heard his mom calling from the front of the house. “ Hey mom,” Joel said, leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek as she wrapped her arms around him. “ Are they home?” he asked, moving past her as he started heading inside. “ Yeah, they’re inside. So is your daddy. Everyone is here,” she said, patting her hand on his arm as he stepped inside. Joel smiled as he stepped in, setting his luggage to the side. “ Hey Mads,” he said, but kept his eyes on Ryan, dropping the last of his luggage to the side before he held his arms out. “ Hey there you ugly piece of shit, get over here,” he said before wrapping his arms tightly around Ryan and squeezing him as tightly as he could. “ It’s good to see you man. Two weeks go by and you just get uglier and uglier,” he said, taking a step back from the hug. There wasn’t a point in asking how he was. Joel knew how he was. Losing David wasn’t the same thing as losing your mom. And really, which was worse. Watching the one you love slip away, or having them ripped from you quickly? It wasn’t even a fair question to ask. They were both bullshit. Joel narrowed his eyebrows as he looked at Ryan. “ Are you trying to grow a mustache? You’ve been around my dad too long,” he said with a slight laugh and a pat on Ryan’s arm. Joel looked over his shoulder. “Where is she?” he asked Madeline who was already wrapping her arms back around Ryan and tilted her head to the kitchen. Joel gave a quick nod before he went over to the kitchen. “ Where’s my sister at?” he said with almost a sad smile on his lips when he found Felicia at the sink. Joel watched as Dex was leaning against the counter with his back to the sink, looking like he didn’t know what in the world to do. Joel watched as Dex reached over, taking the dish from her hands. Joel took Felicia’s free hand quickly. “ Come here. Sibling time. Let the husband do the dishes,” he said before wrapping his arm over Felicia’s shoulders and pulling her towards his body as he walked towards the living room. Joel sat at the end of the couch, pulling Felicia down with him as he held her against the side of his body and wrapped his arms around her.

[Travis Dex Jenkins]

Dex stood in the kitchen, watching Felicia every now and then, kissing the top of her shoulder, rubbing his hand against her arm. There was a lot of love in this family. They might all be really different, individuals and have entirely different dreams and aspirations, but at the end of the day.. he knew that he had lucked out into marrying into this family. Waking up this morning after everything that had happened to rock Felicia and Ryan’s world, it was nice to see people step in that wanted to take so much care of them. Breakfast had been made by Jennifer. And to be honest that was an understatement. He thought she might be afraid that Ryan and Felicia weren’t going to eat. So she’d made everything under the sun it seemed like. French toast, pancakes, waffles, scrambled eggs, juevos rancheros, fruit salad, omelets. When it seemed like Ryan was trying to decide what to eat with all of it being on display, Jennifer had taken that as a sign that he didn’t want any of it and started making him some breakfast burritos and hashbrowns. For being a rockstar, Ryan probably had more lipstick on his face and cheeks from Jennifer being in town then he ever had in the rest of his life. As far as David being there went… Dex was learning to appreciate the taste of whiskey. Ryan seemed pretty used to the concept of David handing him a glass. When Dex had taken one from him the night before, he learned the first mistake was asking what you mix it with. David had stared at him, long and hard with his eyebrows knit before a small grunt came from behind that mustache. “ Cigars, kid. You mix them with cigars.”. So after scrunching his nose and coughing through drinking the first couple of drinks, it was slowly becoming a little easier. But then the cigars started, and quite honestly that felt like it was burning his throat and lungs. Whiskey and cigars, two rich things that mixed together was starting to make his stomach nauseous. How did Ryan get accustomed to this? And why did Dex have the sudden urge to grow a mustache. Dex lift his hand up to his mouth, touching the top of his lip as he wondered how long it would take to grow in a mustache like David’s. He looked up, hearing that Joel had come in and looked over at Felicia. Well the rest of her family was here. “ Hey,” he said quietly, reaching over to take the plate out of her hands carefully. Dex kissed the side of her hair before moving to take her place behind the sink and start washing her dishes. He would come out and join them when the rest of the dishes were done. Jennifer seemed to want to take over the dishes in the first place, but quickly realized that Felicia just needed something to do. Dex took in a deep breath, setting the last of the dishes down as he looked down at the ring on his hand, moving his thumb under his other fingers to trace it slowly. “Let me just put some frozen peas on that for you, please?” he heard Jennifer ask from the corner of the kitchen. Dex smiled slowly and stood up straight. “ Sure,” he said, reaching his hand out to take the bag of frozen peas from her. “ That girl in there loves you, Travis,” she said. Dex nodded his head, moving the bag of peas from side to side in his hand. “ I love her,”. Jennifer smiled slightly and nodded. “ We don’t talk about David senior’s prior work history very often. But sweetheart, if you hurt that girl after everything she has gone through.. I will personally leave my mid-morning Wednesday book club, to vouch as an alibi for my husband after he kills you and skins your hide,” Dex blinked as he watched Jennifer who quickly smiled and kissed his cheek before picking up a tray of cut up sandwiches and walked into the living room. “…What the fuck did David’s job used to be?” he questioned himself quietly as he went into the living room slowly. He watched as Joel was cuddling with Felicia on the couch before bringing the peas up to the side of his face. Dex smiled, watching as Jennifer was holding a sandwich in Ryan’s face until he took it. There was a lot that needed to be done. A lot of planning over the next couple of days. Eventually they would have to get up and not sit around. But right now, having everyone finally here, it just felt right being able to just be with one another before they had to get back to reality.

[Madeline Lea O'Neil]

Madeline blinked as she stared off into space, her arms wrapped comfortably around Ryan’s body, with her head on his chest. She swore constantly to Rosie that his heartbeat was the most comforting noise in the world. She could lay for hours with her head against his chest. And so far this morning, she probably had. She blinked again, hearing the trunk of a car slam before noticing that her mother was going outside. Joel was here. Madeline sat up reluctantly, knowing that Joel and Ryan would want to greet each other. She leaned over, kissing Ryans cheek before moving completely so he could stand up. David stood at the window, narrowing his eyes in disapproval before he turned to look at Ryan and Madeline. “ You two were aware of what he is inking on his body at an escalating rate? The kid looks like an etch-a-sketch. Or a fucked up kids coloring book,” he said before shaking his head. Only swore when Jennifer wasn’t around. Never in front of her, ever. Once Joel was inside, he made a b-line for Ryan. Of course, and was quickly on his way to the kitchen to find Felicia. Thankfully he brought her back into the living room, because all Madeline wanted was for Ryan to sit back down so she could wrap her arms around him again. He couldn’t be hurting if she could just hold him. “Baby, come back,” she said tiredly as she laid her head against the back of the loveseat and waited for Ryan to sit down again. The second he did she moved to adjust her body back to the way it had been before, snuggling back against him. “ You stink,” she said quietly before closing her eyes and falling back into the routine of listening to his heart. But then she smelled bacon, and opened her eyes, seeing her mom hovering over them holding a sandwich out to Ryan, unwilling to move until he at least accepted it from her. Madeline sat up, having skipped breakfast and figured Ryan wouldn’t be able to stomach an entire sandwich anyways. She pushed her hair behind her ear, moving to sit in his lap before she draped her arm behind his neck and played with his hair, resting her forehead against the side of his temple. “ I love you, Rypie” she said quietly as she started to split the sandwich for them. “ Pie! I’ll make you all mini pies,” Jennifer said , basically moving Madeline out of the way to take Ryans face in her hands and kiss both of his cheeks before she disappeared back to the kitchen. Madeline chewed on the sandwich for a second before making a face. “…. Did she make you a legitimate bacon sandwich?” she asked before moving the bread to see that was exactly what was inbetween the bread. Bacon upon bacon upon bacon. If she knew you liked something, she was going to go all the way.

[Ryan James O'Neil]

The past 24 hours had been rough for everyone. The past several months had been rough. It had been a lot of just.. waiting. Wondering when the time was going to come. The doctors had said Ryan and Felicia's mom should have gone months ago. She'd somehow managed to stay with them for just a bit longer. Given them a few more months with them both with lighter schedules, able to spend more time with her. Felicia was off school, Ryan had tour on hold. Someone was always with her home in Arizona. Usually Dex and Madeline were there. Madeline jetted off sometimes for photo shoots, Dex for fights, but they always came back. It had all been bittersweet. Always wondering if today was the day. Was it the last? Was it the last time they told her they loved her? The night before had been the same. Mom had gotten to bed. Lot's of love to go around. Felicia had kissed her goodnight and headed to bed per usual. Ryan had an uneasy feeling. He'd gone to bed anyways. Usually his mom was an early riser. Waking up before everyone else, and in the morning she had enough strength to get to her favorite chair and watch Good Morning America. When Ryan woke up yesterday morning it was too quiet. No TV on. Madeline was fast asleep. Felicia was for sure sleeping like a rock. Ryan figured maybe his mom was having a bad morning and had gone to check on her. It was pretty obvious as soon as he entered her room that this morning was the morning. She looked really peaceful, absolutely as ease. He reached over to touch her hand, feeling the cold beneath his finger tips. The night before he had kissed her good night and let her be and now he stood, numb and unsure of what to do next. He wasn't sure how he had made it back to his room. He needed more time to process this before he told his sister. He wanted to let her sleep. Why wake her early just to rock her world? Let her have sweet dreams for a few hours longer. Madeline had stirred when he climbed back into bed. Ryan had reached over and taken her hand. He didn't even know what to tell her. But he felt she knew.

Since then there had been a lot of phone calls. A lot of formalities. Felicia had been keeping herself busy. She hadn't said a lot. Ryan was glad Dex had been there. Madeline had been glued to Ryan's side, which he was grateful for. It felt a little like she was holding him together right now. And now that Joel had arrived Ryan had to admit he felt relieved. He could use a little comic relief. Ryan laughed slightly when Joel said he'd gotten uglier, "You're just mad you can't grow a stache." Ryan made his way back to the loveseat where Madeline was, sitting back close to her. Joel had managed to get his sister out of the kitchen which was better. Ryan was becoming a little worried. Ryan nodded slightly, "Love you too," taking the half of the sandwich Madeline handed him and took a bite. "That.. is definitely a bacon sandwich," he grinned a little, taking another bite. You couldn't go wrong with bacon, ever. "How's your face Dex," Ryan teased, checking out Dex's shiner. Normally Felicia would be giving him grief about it, begging him to ice it. Dex had apparently taken it upon himself to just go ahead and do that since her mind was ocupado.