I Can't Believe You're with Me after Dark

You go in your house and lay Tobias down and go and call Jacko.

“G’ day Love,” Jacko said.
“Hey Jacko,” you said.
“You both got in safely?”
“Yeah.”

You yawn and lay down on the bed.

“Are you tired?” Jacko ask.
“Yeah, aren’t you?” You ask.
“No it’s morning here.”
“Shut up.”
“Sorry, what are you doing tomorrow?”
“Going down to May’s and have a big family thing with like all my aunts and uncles.”
“Parents?”
“Yeah.”
“Stay next to Todd.”
“Ok.”

You yawn again.

“Go to bed Love,” Jacko said.
“Later.”

You go to bed and wake up to Tobias crying. You get him and see it’s three in the morning and you are not tired at all. You go and start looking at wedding dresses. There is a knock on the door. You open it and see Todd.

“You not even ready,” Todd said.
“What time is it?” You ask.
“Seven.”
“Shit.”
“Good thing I came by early to watch the little guy.”

You run up and take a shower and get dress and look at yourself and call Jacko. It’s ringing for a while and you about ready to hang up when he picks up.

“Hey,” He said out of breath.
“I don’t want to go to the big lunch?” You mumble out.
“Why not?”
“I’m ugly.”
“Since when?”
“Since I got pregnant.”
“That is false Sheila. You were beautiful while pregnant and have been spunky since you gave birth.”
“They going to hate me.”
“I’m sorry love. I wish I was out there with you.”

“JACKO COME ON,” Kain ask.
“Wait up,” You said.
“No one is that important to talk to.”
“Shut up Anna is.”
“Where is she anyways?”
“Holiday for US people call thanksgiving.”

“It’s not a makeup holiday Jacko,” you said.
“Can I hear the little Joey’s voice please,” Jacko ask.
“Ok.”

You go downstairs and Tobias looks at you.

“DADA?” Tobias asks.
“Here talk to him,” You said.

You put it on Speaker.

“Dada?” Tobias said.
“Hey Joey,” Jacko said.
“DADDA”
“You taking care of Mum?”

Tobias coos at him. Jacko talks to him a little bit before Todd looks at you.

“I think it’s time for us to go now,” Todd said.
“Ok bye Sheila,” Jacko said.
“Bye,” You said.
“Don’t worry about everyone else it’s going to be ok.”
“Right.”

You hang up after say bye to him and get Tobias out of the crib and you guys go to Todd’s truck. You put Tobias in and he drove to May’s house after picking Ashleigh up form their house. You knock on the door. May opens it and smiles at you.

“Come on in,” May said.
“Thanks,” Ashleigh said.
“No problem.”

“Here is our contribution to lunch,” Todd said.
“Four bottles of Jacko, Thanks Todd,” May said.
“No problem”
“I got Mash potatoes too,” Ashleigh said.
“Thank you.”

You laugh and May looks at you guys.

“Go on inside lunch is just about ready,” May said.
“Ok,” you said.

You guys go in and your mom looks at you.

“Where is this Jacko I heard so much about,” Your grandmother ask.
“He had to stay in Australia to work,” you said.
“Work in Australia?”
“Yes, he is doing some tapping for a new movie.”
“OH he is an actor.”
“Oh no, Jacko is a professional Freestyle motocross.”
“Like Todd?”
“Yep.”
“Sadly I’m the reason why we meet,” Todd said.
“Aw come on without him you wouldn’t have Tobias,” You said.
“Let me see my great grandson.”

You hand him to your grandmother. Vicky comes in with her mother.

“Oh Vicky, How are you since the divorcé,” Your grandmother ask.
“I’m ok Grandmother,” Vicky asks.
“Come give me a hug.”

You look and see she forgot she is holding Tobias and went to stand up. You, Todd and Ashleigh all scream at her.

“Oh I’m holding him still here you go,” your grandmother said.

You grab a hold of him and let Todd pull you in a hug.

“Nothing to get all worked over about, falls do babies some good,” She said.
“He is going to take enough falls riding his dirt bike Grandma,” You said.
“Dada.”
“Daddy isn’t here baby.”

You go and hand him the phone so he can see a slid show of Jacko that’s your background. He leans against you and look at them.

“What is on your phone that got him quite like that?” Vicky asks.
“Pictures of his dad,” You said.
“First time there been this separation?” Your mom asks.
“Yeah he’s going on a day.”
“You guys need to stop babying him.”
“He isn’t even one yet. He doesn’t need to stay with anyone else right now.”

“How is Australia treating you Anna?” Vicky asks you.
“Wonderful,” you said.

“Where is this boyfriend you make up,” Your grandmother asks.
“Jacko isn’t fake,” You said.
“He never comes around,” your mom said.
“He is a busy guy and you never announce when you come over so you don’t know.”
“They don’t live together really mom,” Valarie said.
“Lair,” Rodd said.
“Todd, don’t protect your sister,” Your dad said.
“I’m not I came back from Australia a week ago and saw them together with my own eyes.”
“It’s a show like it was with me,” Vicky said.

You go to the kitchen and see May laying things out.

“Oh Honey,” May said.

You hug her tight and start crying. She got you too calmed down and called dinner. You get everything. You grab Tobias car seat and start feeding him.

“May do you have a high chair?” Vicky asks.
“No, I never have kids around,” May said.
“Oh.”

You smile and whip Tobias face before handing him some rolls and start eating.

“Did you feed him already?” May ask.
“Yeah before I start eating, I gotten use to not always have a high chair,” You said.
“You miss him don’t you?”
“Jacko?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah this is the first time for a long time we had been separated. I mean even when we fought we were in the same house. It’s not that I don’t trust him but I worry about him.”
“It’s natural for you to worry about him since his job.”

Ashleigh hugs you.

“What are you two talking about?” Ashleigh asks.
“She is worried about Jacko, so people think it’s her not trusting him.”
“Not with his line of work. I worried about Todd all the time when I was at school afraid to get the call that he hurt himself. We trust them not to cheat but not to be safe when we not there”
“Yeah.”

You look at Tobias and kiss his forehead. He coos a little at you.

“You are such a cute baby. Yes you are.”

Your dad sits next to you and holds his hands out.

“I want to hold him,” Your dad said.
“No,” you said.
“What?”
“You think I’m a drug attic.”
“Ex-drug attic.”
“I don’t’ care.”
“Anna give him to me I’m your father.”
“No.”

He forcibly grabs Tobias form you and walks away towards your mom. You get up and grab him away.

“Don’t touch him ever again,” You said.
“Annabel stop causing a scene family is here,” Your mother said.
“You are all fucked up.”
“You needed to get married.”
“Why do I have to get married? Is it just because I was pregnant?”
“Yes he should have stepped up.”
“We moved in together and got engage. I didn’t want a shot gun weeding. I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing I know marrying him is the right thing. He stepped up in every way I let him. ”

“He doesn’t’ take care of you,” Your dad said.
“He takes great care of me and Tobias,” You said.
“He supplies money that’s all. He doesn’t clean or cook.”
“He can’t’ cook with a dame and he dose clean when it needs to be done. You don’t know the inner working of our house. You never ever took the time to really give him a chance to get to know him.”
“He never took the time to kiss up.”
“He was insulted with what you done with me to think you are not worth it, and he is right”
“What?”
“I don’t care about you two anymore. You gave birth to me but I’m done with anything to do with you good bye.”

You go out to the beach with Tobias and lay the blanket off and play with him for a bit before you go in the house and slip upstairs to May’s room. You lay down Tobias down and make sure he is safe before grabbing your laptop form the dipper bag and start on some designs you have for a clothing line you working on. There is a knock on the door. You open it and see Todd.

“Come on,” Todd said.
“Ok,” You said.

You close everything and get Tobias in the car and he drove to Deegan’s where a Mulisha thanksgiving is. They all hug you and start fighting over Tobias.

“Where’s Jacko?” Deegan ask.
“He doesn’t’ think it’s a real holiday so he didn’t come and he had to still be working at Maddo’s for the pipe movie,” You said.
“Oh that’s right they doing a big section about Australia this year.”
“Yep, They did the one at Jacko’s compound then one at Maddo’s and then there is the ones with Bilko’s and Cam’s spots then a few more things around the country I forgot where they all doing it right now.”

Brian laughs a little. You guys all eat and talk you lean against Todd feeling tried.

“You ok?” Todd asks.
“Just tired,” You said.
“It’s only seven at night,” Jimmy said.
“It’s late in Australia.”
“Right you use to that time,” Todd said.

You laugh at them and Todd looks at you.

“Come on let’s take you home,” You said.
“Ok,” Todd said.
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow at six.”
“Not staying here long?”
“No Jacko want to do the double back flip but I convince him to not do it while I was away.”
“Wait he is doing a double back flip?” Jeff ask.
“Yeah.”
“That kid is going to die one of these days,” Todd said.
“I know, he decided not to tell anyone when he was practicing it.”
“You worry too much about him,” Jimmy said.

Hazel hit him and stares at her.

“No she doesn’t. We worry about you guys because we care about you guys too much,” Hazel said.
“Yes Hazel,” Jimmy said.
“Thank you.”

Your phone rings you look and see it’s a text form Jacko. You open it and him just telling you good night and he’s all safe. You smile and yawn.

“Come on let’s take you home,” Todd said.
“Ok,” You said.

You get up and wave to everyone. Todd drives to his house.

“It’s closer,” Todd said.
“Whatever,” You said.

You go to your old bedroom and lay Tobias in the crib before lying down. Ashleigh comes in and looks at you.

“Do you want clothes to change in to?” She asks.
“I’m fine,” You said.

There is a knock on the front door. Todd runs downstairs and opens it.

“ANNA!” Todd yells.

You go down and see your oldest brother Michael.

“Hey Mikie,” You said.
“This cannot be my little Anna,” Michael said.
“Excuse me? No she is my Anna,” Todd said.
“Nope both wrong.”

Todd looks at you.

“I’m Jacko’s,” You said.
“Who?” Michael asks.
“My fiancé.”
“Is he here?”
“No, he’s in Australia.”
“Why? Where do you live? Mom never talks about you and I don’t bother with the husband.”

You sigh and Todd hugs you.

“We don’t get along since I moved out of the house,” You mumble out.
“What happen?” Michael ask.
“I got pregnant and they been assholes since then.”
“Where is the baby then?”

You go upstairs and grab Tobias and Michael grabs him.

“Is this your baby?” Michael asks.
“Yeah he looks a lot like Todd and his dad,” You said.
“The blue eyes and blond hair?”
“His dad.”

You grab your phone and show him a picture of Jacko.

“This is Jacko,” You said.
“What does he do?” Michael ask.
“He rides dirt bikes. Did you get my wedding invitation?”
“Yeah it said Jackson and the picture that makes sense now.”

You laugh at him. His wife comes and looks at the baby.

“Who is this?” His wife asks.
“Tobias our nephew,” Michael said.
“He’s blond no potter has been blond or blue eyes.”
“It’s his father traits,” you said.
“Where is he?”
“Working still.”
“Why is the wedding all the way in Australia?”
“It’s really pretty.”

Todd laughs. Your phone goes off.

“She’s going off to bed being tired from the time change,” Todd said.
“Shut up,” You said.

You look and see Jacko calling.

“Hey,” You said.
“Are you doing ok?” Jacko ask.
“Yeah just going off to bed.”
“Ok, my bed sucks.”
“I’m sure is not that bad baby.”

You go upstairs and lay Tobias down and lay down in bed and remember the few times you and Jacko fell asleep in this bed together.

“When we first start dating when I was in high school did you love me?” You ask.
“I didn’t think it was love then but I figure out that what I was feeling why?” Jacko ask.
“I’m at Todd’s and he hasn’t changed my room since I moved out. It just got me thinking about that part of my life. I just was wondering what was going on threw your head then.”
“What about yours?”
“I was serious about you. I needed to get out of Temecula to not hate Todd since you never fucken left.”

Jacko laughs a little.

“You never wanted me to move on,” You said.
“I loved you,” Jacko said.
“You were a pain in the ass. I was so pissed at you till I left for college.”
“I didn’t want you to move on. I thought I could get you to break down. When you left I gave up.”
“You wouldn’t even talk to me after you called me a bitch.”

Jacko sighs.

“I was a wanker to you,” Jacko told you.
“It’s ok. I was a bitch before that to you.”
“No you were cold not a bitch.”

You smile and look at Tobias.

“You don’t just miss me do you?” You ask.
“Of course now how is the Joey doing anyways?” Jacko ask.
“He didn’t like anyone but Todd to hold him. He asked for you a few times. He would take my phone to look at the picture I had of you on it.”
“What picture do you have on this week?”
“You on the ramp chilling in gear I think it’s cute. You look like you modeling.”

Jacko laughs and shakes his head.

“You are so wired,” Jacko said.
“What is the background on your phone?” You ask.
“You are holding Tobias. Your top is a little lower than normal. I don’t like people looking at my phone anymore.”
“You are too protective of me honey.”
“It’s in our nature not to be secure about our relationship”
“Bullshit Amy and Maddo, Cam and Brooke are all secured in their relationships.”
“We are not married.”
“You are not going to change when we get married.”

Jacko laughs and yawn.

“Good night Love,” You said.
“No, I’m not done,” Jacko said.
“Yes you are honey.”
“No.”
“Yes and I’m tired.”
“I love you and Bilko got his invent.”
“Thank god he can stop thinking he been forget about.”

Jacko laughs and you stretch a little.

“How was the dinner?” Jacko ask softly.
“Fine, my brother Michael came to Todd’s. I don’t know if he was there or not. I ate then went upstairs to get away from my parents. They are jerks and dead to me. I really never want to see them again.”
“Ok.”

Tobias wakes up and starts crying.

“Let me talk to the Joey,” Jacko said.
“LET’S GO JACKO,” Kain yells
“SHUT UP KAIN.”

You laugh and grab Tobias then his cup and put it on speaker and hand it to him.

“It is dada,” You told Tobias.
“DADDA,” Tobias screams in to it.
“Hey Joey.”

Tobias laughs and starts blabbing to Jacko. You go down and put milk on the stove to heat it up.

“What are you doing?” Todd asks.
“Heating up milk,” You said.
“Is he felling ok?” Jacko ask.
“He hasn’t been eating much. I think he is confuses with the time change.”

Jacko laughs a little.

“Are you doing ok?” Jacko said.
“Yeah, traveling has gotten better since the pregnancy,” you said.
“Dada bike.”
“It’s night time Joey.”
“Wait I thought it was Tobias?” Michael said.
“Who that?” Jacko ask.
“Michel my oldest brother,” You said.
“Oh.”

“Who are you talking to?” Michael asks.
“It’s Jacko,” You said.
“He needs to go to bed,” Kain said in the phone.
“Where are you?”
“Outside of a bar,” Jacko said.
“Why can’t he go inside?” You ask.
“Because he has to sober up.”
“Do you have to sober up?” Todd asks.
“No Todd I’m driving everyone home who went out tonight,” Jacko said.
“Why?”
“I don’t want to drink tonight because I don’t want to wake up sick.”
“Without Anna there to take care of you?”
“Of course.”

“Dada,” Tobias said.
“Yes that’s dada,” You said.

He push end. You text Jacko that he hang up and also that you are going to bed. You set him down and pour the milk in the cup and gave it to Tobias. Todd grabs him from you.

“Todd, he needs to go back to bed,” You said.
“It’s fine, I got him,” Todd said.
“Todd, give me my kid.”
“I got him.”
“Ashleigh get pregnant he needs a kid to keep away from my.”
“I never see him anymore.”
“It’s going to change soon.”

“Do you live here with Todd?” Michael ask.
“Oh no, I have a house here but Todd doesn’t want me there alone since the guy who lives in it while I’m home in Australia with Jacko, is gone.”
“Wait you guys live in Australia so the accent wasn’t fake?”
“Yep.”
“So is he part of the Mulisha?”
“Yeah for years now.”
“Really how long?”
“Since he was 17.”
“He is the same age?”
“He is two years older than me.”
“Oh ok.”

You look at Michael and see him looking at Tobias.

“He seems attach to his dad,” Michael said.
“Yeah, he never gone this long without seeing Jacko,” you said.
“What about you?”
“Um there been about four hours that he hasn’t been with me maybe five.”

Todd gives you a sleeping Tobias. You wave to everyone.

“Night all,” You said.
“Night,” Todd and Michael said.

You go upstairs and go to bed.