'Til Death Do Us Part- Part 13 Me
I was surprised when I woke up and saw it was noon. Christina -and AJ- usually had me up at around ten.
I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling for a while. Then I got up to see just why they hadn't woken me up.
I checked Christina's room and was surprised to see she wasn't even in there.
"AJ," I started, opening the door to his room. I stopped and smiled. AJ and Christina were asleep, Christina's arm draped across his stomach, his arm loose around her shoulders.
"Wait, Mary, don't leave," AJ murmured as I started to back out of the room. He carefully moved Christina's arm and got out of bed.
"Afternoon," I muttered as he carefully closed the door and we went out to the kitchen.
"Why was Christina in your room?" I switched on the coffee pot and listened to the brewing sound.
"She couldn't sleep. I didn't wanna wake you up, so I let her sleep with me."
"It wouldn't have really mattered, it took me about three hours to fall asleep. Did she tell you why she couldn't sleep?"
"She missed Kev. She asked me if he left because he didn't love you two anymore."
I looked up at him. "She thought that? What'd you tell her?"
"It wasn't true. What else would I've told her?"
"I wonder where she got that idea..."
"From Kev."
"Huh?"
"She told me she overheard Kev tell you that the only reason he would have to leave is if he stopped loving you. He left, so naturally, she thought..."
"She's too observant," I muttered, sitting down at the table.
"She's smart." AJ shrugged his shoulders.
"She's almost five years old and almost too aware of her surroundings."
"She also asked if I could be her daddy," he added softly. I looked up at him and frowned.
"I told her we'd have to talk about that later."
"You're her godfather-"
"I think she means like, real father. Or something... Isn't there a way I could, legally? Other than marrying you," he added quickly.
"You've already got custody of her if something happens to me, you're a legal guardian."
AJ gave me that "It's up to you" look. I sighed.
"Lemme think about it. Long and hard..."
He nodded. "That's cool."
I sat a minute, staring at the table.
"I wonder if Brian's up yet. I gotta ask him something."
"Probably."
"I'll just go over and wake his ass up," I muttered, standing up.
"Have fun."
"Okay, I will." I went back and got dressed, then left to raise some hell around Brian's place.

"You're up," I said as he let me in.
"Apparently so," he muttered. "What's up?"
"I'm not finished with my album yet, and I was wondering if you wanted to do a song with me."
"What kind of song?"
"Ballad. Kinda of song for Kev. Or something. Like Puffy did for Biggie."
"I dunno... I'm not really up to it yet."
I sighed. "Brian, you still have to work. You just can't stop."
"You don't understand."
"Understand what?"
"How it feels."
"You're telling me I don't understand? Do you know how many funerals I've been to?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Four?"
"Probably somewhere around ten. And guess how many of those were family and close friends?"
"Three?"
"Seven. I'm 32 years old, and seven people I loved have died. See, Brian, you're lucky. You've still got your parents, and your brother, and all the rest of your family and your best friend, and Lord knows who else. I have nothing. No parents, no best friend. I don't have a clue where my brother and sister are. They could be dead, too, for all I know. I have to say I'm grateful that no greedy ass family members have 'come out of the woodwork' to try and steal my money. I know I've got Ann and Tim and Jerald and Jackie and all of Kev and your families, and I love each of you with all my heart, even you, but I have no more biological connections to anyone except Christina and I'm just waiting for the moment whenever some cruel being will take her away from me, too. You gotta move on, Brian, because I'm sure as hell trying to."
"I'm different that you," he muttered.
"Well, then, Brian, I guess I'm also stronger than you. When you decide to pick your life up off the ground, let me know. You're gettin' my shoes dirty." I left him standing there, staring after me sadly. I didn't care. He was being selfish.

When I got home, Christina and AJ were on the couch, watching cartoons. They were also arguing. I frowned, smiling slightly, and walked into the livingroom.
"Hi, mommy!"
"Hey, baby."
"Okay, Mary, which one's better, Bugs or Daffy? Daffy, right?" AJ looked up at me, grinning.
"Nah. My personal preference is Bugs. He's just so much sexier."
AJ laughed and Christina giggled.
"I won."
"You may've won the battle, but you haven't won the war."
"Yes, I have!" She poked AJ in the chest with her finger, hard. "Got you!"
AJ grunted and grasped his chest. "You got me." He looked at her slyly. "Or do I got you?" He grabbed her and started tickling her. She squealed and giggled, squirming in his lap.
"Don't tickle too hard."
"Okay, okay, I'll stop."
When he did, Christina and I looked at each other.
"Got you!" we both exclaimed and started tickling AJ.
"AH! No! Not fair, I'm outnumbered!"
"That's what makes it better!"
This went on for a while, until we were all out of breath. AJ rubbed his stomach.
"Ow. I hurt."
"You deserve to."
"You're cruel."
"I know."
He smiled at me and I grinned back from my seat on the floor.
"I'm hungry," Christina said after a minute.
"AJ didn't feed you?"
She shook her head and I glanced up at AJ. He grinned.
"Sorry."
"Are you trying to starve my daughter?"
Christina giggled as AJ shook his head.
"Of course not."
"Hmmm... I dunno, we should just not feed you."
"Hello? It was just once! You know how captivating cartoons are!"
I laughed. "I'm kidding."
We ended up going out, because neither of us wanted to cook, or even felt like cooking.