[open] Mr. Mom

[Charlie Parker]

Charlie had finally taken the advice everyone had practically been begging him to take, and had taken a day off. He had been working 14+ hour shifts every day to make up for an officer that had been shot and wasn't going to be back to work for about two months. Then when he would finally get home he would have the kids to deal with, and Melody. Of course Brody being there had helped him more than he probably knew, but it was still a lot to handle, and he was quite regularly exhausted. According to the ever blunt and honest Sebastian, he looked like shit. In all honesty, he felt like it most days too.

So he finally took one day off, he'd earned it well enough, considering that 14 hours a day 7 days a week was far more than the 40 hours per week overtime that government officials were given. He was fairly exhausted, and half tempted to just stay home and sleep the whole day, but Chuck had other plans for daddy's day home. When the six year old came flying into Charlie's room and leaped onto the bed around 10 am, Charlie was fairly reluctant to wake up, but Chuck was persistent... a character trait that Charlie knew he got from Sebastian... and Charlie finally gave up and woke up. There was no use in trying to sleep with Chuck jumping up and down on the bed.

This was one of those moments when he had to remind himself to "think like Anthony...just grin and bear it." He didn't want Chuck to know that he was totally stressed out and all that, so he had to put on a smile every time he was around the kid, even on his worst days... or days like this when he really would have liked to keep sleeping. So he finally rolled over and sat up, looking over at the excited six year old. Hey bud... He said, sounding quite groggy despite his best efforts not to. shouldn't you be in bed? He was really hoping Chuck would agree that he should be... but the little boy shook his head enthusiastically and retorted, Nope... it's 10 o' clock... Brody says its more healthier to go to bed early and get up before 10.

[/s]

Charlie raised an eyebrow at Chuck's response... he'd been getting a lot of "Brody says..." answers lately, and he was starting to wonder what his brother was teaching his kids in his absence. Oh he does, does he? he asked Chuck who was still grinning broadly. Yup... he also says I don't need no ejucation and I should go join the NFL now.[/s] Oh good lord... it seemed Brody could tell Chuck to go jump off a cliff and the kid would do it without thinking. Ahuh... where is Brody anyway? He asked after a moment, though he was fairly sure he knew the answer. Still sleepin[/s] Was the answer, just as Charlie had known it would be. Alright. He said with a sigh, getting up out of bed, lets go make you breakfast.

By the time breakfast had been made and eaten, the baby was taken care of and sleeping again, and Chuck and Charlie were both dressed and ready to go... Brody was still in bed, and Charlie had a good feeling that he'd been out late last night with some girl doing the sorts of things that were never ever even hinted to when the kids were around... unless you wanted Charlie to pull out his gun and shoot you. He was kind of sensitive on that subject being brought up when Chuck and Jamie were around. The two boys were smarter than some may have presumed to believe. They understood a lot more than they thought he did. Anyway, Charlie left Brody a note on the table telling him that he was taking Chuck out to the stable, that Melody had eaten and been changed, Jamie was still asleep as usual, and there was food in the oven for them, then headed out, the over enthusiastic Chuck in tow.

It wasn't very often anymore that Chuck and Charlie spend time together, considering Charlie usually worked from ten in the morning until midnight, and Chuck had school at eight, which left almost no time for them to be together. Sometimes though, Chuck would pretend to go to sleep when Brody put him in his room, only to stay awake and wait for the sound of Charlie's car pulling into the driveway, then would book it down the stairs followed closely by the German shepherd, Jigsaw, as Charlie walked in the door. He never lasted long after that, and usually crashed within about five minutes of Charlie getting home. It was nice though, to be greeted like that... made the long day seem just a little less stressful.

When they got to the stable, Charlie haltered Brig and Major, and just put a hackamore on , not concerned at all about any of the horses acting up. He put Chuck up on the paint mare bareback like he'd done so many times. Cheers was a godsend when it came to kids. You could put a kid who'd never ridden before up on her, and thanks to her impeccably smooth stride and gentle nature, you could believe that the kid wouldn't fall off unless they did something really really stupid. Charlie had tried to get Chuck riding lessons, both to force Sebastian to face the child he'd created and so Chuck could learn to ride better... but Sebastian always somehow or another failed to show up to the scheduled lesson. Sure Charlie was profoundly disappointed with Sebastian for that, but Chuck was just as happy as ever and never seemed to care that Sebastian never showed up.

Anyway, as it were, Charlie started Brig and Major out of the stable, Cheers following along behind on her own free will with Chuck already aboard, and once they were out in the open air, he gave Chuck the reins, letting him feel like he was in complete control, even though Cheers was just following Charlie and the two geldings. Brigadier dwarfed Charlie, Cheers, Major, and Chuck with his massive bulk. The police horse was four now, and he had definitely filled out. He was over 17 hands, Charlie hadn't ever bothered to figure out exactly how tall, and he was a very broad chested horse. His legs were about as solid as a telephone pole. He was also a very calm horse... though Charlie would be the first to admit he certainly wasn't the most intelligent animal in the whole world. He got along with any horse that came his way, and never seemed capable of telling the difference between when another horse was being mean to him or just playing with him.

Because of that, Brig was often put out in the pastures with the horses that were mean to other horses. Like Sebastian's mare... she was a spoiled brat, and she was always picking on the other horses... but big dumb Brig never humored her by running when she came after her because he thought it was just a game. Of course, this came in handy for Charlie, considering a police horse couldn't very well be a mean horse, and the lack of intelligence made him more apt to just do whatever Charlie told him to. When he was pushing through a crowd, he'd just keep right on going, knocking people out of his way if need be, but never stepping on anyone's feet. He was a good horse... young and still learning, but he was definitely a good horse despite his unintelligent demeanor.

When Charlie, Brig, Major, Cheers, and Chuck reached the pastures, Charlie opened the gate and turned the two police horses loose, and let Chuck and Cheers wander in. Out in the pastures Charlie was quite confident that there was no way Chuck could get hurt. If he fell off, it was a relatively soft landing, and there weren't any other horses, besides Brig and Major, around that could interfere with them, and they were too interested in grazing to pay any mind to Chuck or Cheers. Charlie had grown up with horses, and it seemed only right that Chuck should too. The six year old seemed to enjoy it almost as much as he enjoyed his football, so Charlie figured it was a good way to occupy the kid's time without having to be too involved. He was quite worn out, and chasing after Chuck all day wasn't something he was up for right now. As Brig trotted off, stretching his long legs, Major stopped instantly to eat, and Cheers ambled ever slowly out into the pasture turning which ever way Chuck asked her to, Charlie leaned back against the fence wearily. He had a good life... but sometimes even the best life could wear on someone, and it had definitely done so to Charlie. He enjoyed it though. His kids might drive him crazy, but they were the only thing keeping him sane.[/center][/size]

[loneangel08]

Melinda woke up with a headache once again. She sighed as she sat up in her bed. Summer, her chocolate lab, heard her wake and suddenly jumped on her bed. The Lab puppy happily started to lick her face. Mel smiled and laughed. 'Thanks girl. That's just what I needed this morning. She patted Summer and loved on her for a moment. She yawned as she moved out of her new bed. It sleep very good. She moved out of her room down the hall and into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror. She looked a mess. Her face winced in pain. She brought her hands up to her temples and rubbed them for a moment.

Summer danced around her happily as she walked out of the bathroom. 'Your hungry aren't you girl. Well lets go outside and potty and then I'll feed you. The dog jumped around really excited now. She walked down the hall and to the back door. She opened it just in time for the puppy to zoom past her. She turned and walked to the small kicthen. She was still in her sleeping shorts and a small tee. She walked over to the fridge and removed the pizza box inside. She moved to the table to sit down. She ate the left over pizza from the night before.

As she sat there her phone rung on the table where she had left it the night before. The name that blinked on the screen hadn't been one she wanted to see. It was James. And old boyfriend if you wanted to call him that. Ever since he found out she was moving he was all I want you back. I'll change I'm promise. She rolled her eyes and turned the phone off. In her eyes a cheater once was always a cheater. He had been a thing for her but after a while he began to push her away. Then her best friend and him got together. The day she found out she cussed the two out and said she hated them and walked away. Never talked to either one again. She just pushed the unwanted thoughts away and continued to eat.

About the time she had finished eating a second piece she heard Summer at the back door whinnying. She pushed herself out of the wooden chair and went to open the door. The puppy raced through the door into the house. Mel laughed her silly dog. 'Your hyper this morning.'

She feed Summer and walked to her room to get dress and go see how Scream's night had been. Her bedroom was still littered with boxes for she had just arrived yesterday around noon. she walked over to a box and pulled out her favorite pair of dark blue jean pants. Dug through another and found her favorite pink Guy Harvey shirt. She stripped down to her bra and underwear then pulled on her shirt and pants. She quickly pulled her hair back into a ponytail like always. Grabbing a pair of sock and her steel toed boots she walked to the living room. She sat on the couch and put on her sock then pulled her boots on. Summer ran to give her more kisses. The dog had been her grandpa's idea and she was glad she had let him talk her into getting one. Summer made the house seem that less empty. She told Summer good-bye. Grabbed her wallet and light blue ipod off the table. She looked at her phone for a moment but though it would be best not to take it. She turned and walked out the door; locking it behind her.

She put her headphones in turning ipod to a random song. She was gonna walk to the stables today instead of driving. It was only about an hours walk. But it's help her relax a bit. Walking and running always did.

After a little while she arrived at the stables. She walked into the gravel parking lot and She headed to the large wooded doors. She pushed one open a bit and walked in. She put her ipod in her pocket and called Scream softly. The gelding whinnied to her. She walked over to his stall and patted him on the nose. 'Hey boy. How was your night? Wanna go out to the pasture? Scream whinnied again and Mel smiled. She grabbed his halter off the hook beside her and placed it over his dome. She clipped the lead rope on and opened the stall door. She closed it back and started down the stall hall and out toward the pastures.

They walked past what looked like lesson rings. They passed a few more arenas before nearing the pastures. She stopped Scream. She kissed his soft muzzle and whispered, 'May I ride the rest of the way? She smiled as the gelding watched her. He pushed him nose into her face. She laughed and took it as a yes. She unclasped the lead roped and clipped in on the side of his black halter and tied the other end of the lead to the other side of the halter. She place the lead over his head and move to mount him. He was taller than her so she had taught him to come down on one knee so she could get on him better.

Mel tapped his shoulder twice and the gelding moved himself down to one knee with the other leg stretched out. She placed herself on his back and he slowly stood back up. She smiled and patted him neck. 'That's my good boy. She pressed her heels into his stomach and he moved forward. She looked towards the pastures. They were beautiful. Grass a nice green. As her brown eyes flickered over the land she saw someone against one of the fences.

She moved closer but tried to stay where she could be seen. She didn't want to scared them. As she looked on she saw a three horses in the pasture where the guy stood. She noticed a small child on one of the horses. She smiled. As she got closer she stopped Scream and dismounted. She untied the lead and clipped it back in it's right home. She tied it to a fence post and let Scream graze. She leaned up against the fence a few feet from the guy. She watched the kid for a moment.

She finally turned to him and spoke, 'He's looks so happy. And you must trust your horse alot to just let him ride around like that.' She smiled. 'I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

[Charlie Parker]

Having three children at 23 was definitely not how Charlie had seen himself when he was younger. He was an awful older brother, always ditching his younger brother, blaming things on him, and doing any number of other things that made him a bad sibling. For that reason he had never seen himself as a dad... but things had obviously changed. When he first met Hayley she didn't tell him about Chuck, but did later, and Charlie was so in love with her that the fact that she had a son didn't make a difference to him. Even her being an alcoholic and drug addict didn't make a difference to him, even though he was a policeman. It was about a year after meeting her that she wound up pregnant. They hadn't planned to have children, but we all know how that happens. After sending Hayley away after the baby was born, he met Peyton, and it didn't take him long to fall in love with her. She was everything that Hayley hadn't been... only trouble was that she didn't have long to live.

Unlike with Hayley, Charlie wasn't blinded by love so as to not see any of her issues. Peyton didn't have anything to keep him from wanting to spend the rest of his life with her. She was kind and caring, she probably hadn't ever even considered drugs and never drank a drop of alcohol in her life. Her son was her whole world, and even though Jamie was somewhat withdrawn at first, after a while he started getting along well with Charlie and his two kids. Peyton died a few months later, asking Charlie to take Jamie since she had no family on her side and Jamie's grandparents on his dad's side had been the ones who took him off life support, ending his life, and neither she nor Jamie had any desire to ever see them again. He'd gone from a bachelor living on his own to a single dad of three kids over the course of two years. He did have a girlfriend now, and Chuck absolutely adorer hed, and she didn't come with any kids attached. Though it wasn't exactly the way he had imagined his life going, he loved all three of those children as if they were all his own and he wouldn't change any of this for the world.

He had worried about Jamie for a while after his mom died, because he completely withdrew into himself and wouldn't talk to anyone about anything. He didn't cry, he didn't start acting out... he just drew away from everyone. It lasted for a few months until he slowly started to come out of it, and then it was as if nothing happened. No one doubted that he was really just hiding how he really felt, but no one was going to bring it up. He was only seven and had already lost both of his parents within four years of each other. There was no way he could walk away from it unscathed. He was definitely different from most kids. He had the intelligence level of someone at least twice his age and he was always more interested in what the adults were doing than playing with Chuck and Melody. There was really very little about Jamie that was normal as far as personality went.

Charlie was shaken from his thoughts when someone a short distance away spoke. He turned towards the girl and shook his head slightly. You should see him when he has a football in his hands He said with a smile, You're not interrupting a thing. Charlie had no doubt that the older chuck got the less he would ride. He practically lived for football, especially the Broncos team, and even at only six he was absolutely convinced that he would play for the Broncos one day. There was absolutely nothing he liked better than the game. He wasn't apt to be all that tall considering his dad was only 6' and his mom was about 5', but when you took into consideration how dedicated to the sport the kid was, his lack of height probably wouldn't be much of a factor in his ability and skill in the game.

Charlie had never been a football player. He was only 5'10" and not exactly built like a football player would be. He made a much better policeman than he ever would have made an athlete. He didn't understand Chuck's obsession with football at all, but he wasn't going to try to stop him from doing what he wanted. His parents had tried and tried to get him to do something other than police work, and the more they tried the more determined he was to not do what they wanted. Knowing what it was like to have your parents try to change what you wanted was enough to make Charlie want Chuck to do whatever it was that he wanted to do. After all, what more would a dad want for his kids than for them to be happy?