Memories That Vanished

For the next couple of days I attempted to avoid Matt, no matter how much my heart ached when I glanced at the pictures that were every where in the house. Landon and Vladimir had began acting anxious two days after Matt was admitted to the hospital and eventually Zacky and Brian showed up and forced me out of the house. The five of us ended up going to Wal-Mart to buy some school supplies for the Vladimir, seeing as he would be going back on the 23rd of this month.

This would be the first year that Matt wasn't here to take Vlad to school. Matt had been there for preschool and kindergarden and now, the big year; First grade. Matt would be absent in the morning when Vladimir would roll out of bed and come jump on ours. Matt won't be there for breakfast where Vlad barely eats anything because he's nervous, no matter how much he denies it.

At Wal-Mart it was like I had four little boys to watch after instead of the two already rowdy ones that were racing around the store. Brian and Zacky were constantly tossing things into the cart and running off before I could tell them to put it back. The four of them raced around, receiving strange looks from bystanders and other little kids.

"Brian!" I hissed as he ran down another toy isle with Landon on his shoulders. Brian just turned and grinned before he continued on towards Zacky and Vladimir as they stood looking at a Super Soaker.
"This is so cool!" Vladimir yelled, running his fingers over the green and purple plastic.
"Uh huh," Zacky said, nodding his head, "Lets get it,"
Vladimir grinned a dimpled smile up at the left handed guitarist and nodded his head frantically.
"No," Brian murmured, only to get confused looks from the other three. Brian just smirked and pulled it from the shelf, "Let's get four,"
They all cheered as I shook my head and started tossing random things out of the cart, like the 'Rafael' Ninja Turtle Mask that Zacky had dropped in as he and Vladimir ran by.

"Guys!" I called to them as they walked up and down the isles one last time.
"Yeah, Momma?" Vladimir replied from the row over.
I rolled my eyes at his innocence, "It's time to school shop. I said nothing about toys when your Uncles dragged us here,"
"Relax Bryn," Zacky laughed, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, "We're paying,"
I let out a chuckle and playfully shoved Zacky away from me, "Not the point," I helped Brian get Landon off of his shoulders and I set the two year old in the cart so I wouldn't have to worry about the quiet little boy running off with no one noticing.
Vladimir called for Uncle Brian and Uncle Zacky to hurry up and stop acting like kids as they pretended to shoot each other with the Super Soakers.
"Yeah Syn, stop acting like a kid," Zacky remarked as he shoved the lead guitarist, efficiently making Brian knock into a lady that couldn't be much younger then us.
Zacky laughed loudly while Brian apologized, "Sorry. My friend here is an asshole,"
That only made Zacky laugh louder as well as the boys. The blush on the woman's face told me that she was either a fan or she wouldn't mind Brian knocking into her again.
"It's okay," She stuttered heavily, pushing her red locks over her shoulder.
I grinned and stepped towards her, "So you're a fan, huh?" I asked, the grin still on my face as Brian and Zacky both smirked.
"Uh," She murmured looking to the dirty floor, "Yeah. How'd you know?"
"I've seen a lot of fans, I just know," I told her as Zacky pushed Brian back and stepped towards the intimidated young girl.
"Hi, I'm Zacky Vengeance," I rolled my eyes as Zacky's flirty side came out and Brian scoffed, picking Vladimir up from the ground.
"Zacky Vengeance has a girlfriend," I stated and Zacky glared at me with a pout,
"I'm just trying to be nice!" He defended, raising his hands into the air in surrender.
I stuck my tongue out, "Well stop it,"
"Fine," Zacky pouted, stepping back next to Brian.
"I'm Syn," Brian smiled politely, waving to her from where he stood. The girl nodded and offered a wave in return.
"I know who you guys are," She muttered, "I'm Naveah,"
The guys talked with her for another second and I disappeared as soon as she brought up the accident, asking if everyone was okay, and of course, they had to tell her that everyone made it out with only scratches.

Vladimir, Landon and I went over to the over crowded school section, fighting past parents who were trying to grab everything they could, as fast as they could and get out of the jungle. I held Vladimir's hand as we dodged in and out of Mom's and children. I picked out a few folders for the young boy and then he tugged me to the back pack area.
"Momma! I want that one!" He shouted, pointing at a white and black checkered one, "It's cool!"
I grinned and nodded to the exited six year old, "Go get it,"
A voice startled me from behind, "I'll be able to do this with my kid in a few years,"
I turned to face Brian with a genuine, happy smile, "Yeah, Bri. You'll have your own little baby to love,"
Brian nodded with a nervous smile, "I love my child already,"
"Of course you do," I murmured, resting my hand on the guitarist's shoulder as he watched my own little boy race over to the shelf that held the bag that he wanted.
"I can't wait to teach my kid everything that I know about guitar and music," Brian murmured, biting on his lip slightly, "It'll be beautiful, boy or girl, I don't care. As long as it's mine. I want to hold the baby in my arms and watch as he or she grows up to be everything that the child wants to be. I want to spend the rest of my life with Michelle in a house with a bunch of kids. I didn't grow up thinking about having a family, just being a rockstar, and now I can't take my mind off of the fact that in seven months I'll have my own family,"
I pulled Brian into a hug, my arms wrapped around his neck as he buried his head in mine and took deep breaths. I didn't have words to say to Brian, because experiencing your child growing up was just as amazing as realizing that you would have a baby to take care of soon enough. Brian's grip tightened on me as I felt warm tears hit my neck.
"Oh Bri," I cooed, tears coming to my own eyes as the man and I stood in the middle of Wal-Mart thinking about the future and all that was to come for the Haner Family, the Sanders Family, Avenged Family. It was only when Vladimir ran over to us with his back pack on his back that Brian pulled away, wiping the salty moisture from his eyes, and picked the little boy up from the ground with an excited smile.
We met Zacky at the front after we had checked out. He had the water guns in a bag and his keys in the other hand. The ride back was filled with laughter and knowing smiles between Brian and I. When Zacky pulled up out front of our house and typed in the code, Brian hopped out of the car as well and held Landon as I grabbed the three bags from the trunk, handing Vladimir one as he ran by and up to the front door. Brian let Landon run up to his older brother and grinned at me in 'thanks.'
"Hey Bryn?" He called as I began walking up the small path towards the front door.
I turned back to face with with a smile, "Yeah, Bri?"
"I'm going to get a gate around my house soon, too,"
I nodded, "That's a good idea, then you don't have to worry about fans and photographers coming into your yard when you are trying to play with your baby,"
"Yeah," Brian murmured, thinking about it, "I've only got a few months to get it done. A few months until I'm a father," He murmured after a minute, playing with his fingers as I nodded. He began to get back into the car when I called his name,
"Brian?"
He looked up at me with his liquid brown eyes holding happiness in the beautiful orbs, "Yeah?"
I let a smile take over my face as I spoke, "You're already a father,"
A grin spread over Brian's face as he nodded, "Yeah," He whispered, "Yeah,"