Author's Note: Yea, yea, I'm a slacker. I've had this written for however long now, and I'm finally posting it. Blah Blah Blah, please review.

---

A few hours later Joy was seated across from her two oldest daughters. Alayna had eagerly agreed to hang out with her mom and half sister. She loved any reason to go shopping and if her mom was paying, then all the merrier.

“So, are you going to kick Fred’s ass out of the condo?” Alayna asked.

Hannah let out a deep breath. “I really don’t want to talk about this now.”

Alayna pouted. “Han Marie, I’m worried about you. I don’t want you to leave our house, to go home to some abusive douche bag. I don’t want anything to happen to you. You’re the only big sister I have.”

“Don’t try to scare me into-”

“I’m not trying to scare you into anything Hannah. I’m seriously concerned. From the way things sounds, it doesn’t seem as though he were at all sorry about what he did. He sounds like the type of asshole that would do this again.”

Hannah turned to Joy. “You’re not going to say anything to her?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to tell her to knock it off.”

“Bird, stop.”

Alayna looked from Hannah to her mother. “How can you tell me to stop? Aren’t you concerned about her? Aren’t you concerned that he’s going to do something a little more drastic next time. Like possibly break one of her bones, or god forbid, kill her.”

Joy looked at the eldest of the two. “Honestly Han, I would feel a lot better if you stayed with us for a week or two.”

“Mamai-”

Joy held up a hand. “Hannah, just stay with us for a week alright. One fucking week Hannah, that’s all I want.”

“Look mamai, he’s never done this before. I trust him with my life. I love him with my heart.”

Joy shook her head as she wiped a single tear from her eye. “I’m worried about you Hannah. Truly I am. I love you. You are one of my babies. My personal gift from god.”

“From what I understood you never even liked my mom.”

“You were given to me after I lost Brendan, and I cherish you as though you’re one of my own, because in my heart you are. I don’t want to see you fuck up your life. I can’t lose another fucking kid.”

Alayna began to cry at this moment before she grabbed her mother’s hand. “Just stay for one week Hannah. Please.”

“One week, but that’s it.”

“That’s fine.” Joy told her.

---

Aidan was stretched across the couch with Amber on top of him. They were supposed to be watching some mindless show on MTV, but one another’s lips were much more entertaining. Aidan ran his fingers through her hair as she continued to kiss her, but she wasn’t returning them now.

“What’s the matter with you?” he asked as she sat up.

Not looking him in the eyes she answered. “Your mother is right.”

“Okay, if there’s one thing you don’t say in this house that would be it.” He laughed, yet when she didn’t crack a smile he asked. “So, why do you say my mother is right?”

Amber adjusted her ponytail. “We should talk to my parents you know. Like we could have them meet your parents so that they’ll realize that an interracial relationship isn’t as bad as they want it to be.”

“Why do you think them meeting my parents is going to change anything?”

“Because they’ve been together for damn near their entire lives. How long have they been together now?”

Aidan thought for a second. “About twenty six years.”

“See. They’re an interracial couple that’s been together for twenty six years, and they’ve raised how many beautiful successfully smart children together. Plus, you’re not even completely white, so they can’t completely hate you.”

“What does it matter if I’m not one hundred percent white?” he asked angry. “I’m still white in the end. Racists don’t care about the percentage.”

“Don’t call my parents racist.”

Aidan laughed. “What should I call them? That’s what they are.”

“No they’re not. They communicate with whites all the time at work.”

“Do they have any white friends?”

“Why are you all of a sudden going up against my parents like this?” Amber asked in disgust.

Aidan sat up and looked her in the eyes. “You’re parents have been going up against me since they laid eyes on me. I’m black, but I look too white for comfort. I can only imagine how badly they would talk about my dad after they meet him.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t.”

“I’m only half white, he’s one hundred percent white, and he’s from Ireland. Aren’t they anti white foreigners, because they aren‘t real Americans yet still get treated better than blacks who have lived here their whole life. Or because they came to this country on their own and not against their will like their ancestors.” Aidan paused. “Oh wait, our ancestors, because again I’d like to stress the fact that my mom is black.”

Amber stood and placed a hand to her hip. “I don’t like where this conversation is heading.”

“I don’t either, but you know what, it’s already gone there.”

“I’m going to go home.”

“That’d probably be best.”

Aidan walked Amber to the door before he gave her a kiss on the cheek. As he walked back inside he heard the phone ring. He quickly ran to it.

“I need to speak to Mr. Seamus O’Malley.” the person on the other end demanded.

---

Seamus pulled into the driveway of the house before him and his wife got out of the car. They held hands as they made their way to the front door. Joy rang the doorbell and they waited a minute or so before it was answered.

The door was opened and without saying a word the man began to walk back inside. Joy and Seamus only followed.

Once in the den they saw Jason and Riley and a woman they could only assume to be Mrs. Matthews sitting around the room.

“Hey kids.” Seamus greeted.

“You won’t believe what I caught the two of them doing.” Mr. Matthews said.

Joy shook her head. “Were they doing heroin?”

“This isn’t anything to joke about. I caught my son… my son was… pleasuring your son.”

With a grin Seamus asked. “Why are you acting as though you don’t appreciate a good blow job every now and then?”

The two boys laughed but Joy threw them a look before she shook her head, silencing them both.

“How can you two be so okay with finding out that our sons were being intimate with one another?” Mrs. Matthews asked.

“Well it’s not that big of a deal.” Joy said.

“How can you say such a thing?” Mr. Matthews demanded.

Joy looked at him. “Would you be this upset if you caught your son with some girl?”

“I wouldn’t be this upset, but I would be upset none the less. I mean these two boys together like this. It’s just completely against the Bible.”

Seamus looked to his wife. “See, I told you.” he whispered.

“I’m not going to stand for such sinning in my house. I believe the two of you need to get your son out of my house and make sure that he doesn’t return.”

“Uhm, I don’t think our son actually forced Jason to suck his dick, so don’t try to put all of this on our son. Granted they shouldn’t have been doing this in your bedroom, but don’t talk as though what they were doing was wrong because they’re two boys.” Joy said.

Mrs. Matthews looked at Mrs. O’Malley. “Our son was not this way until your son came around.”

“Maybe that’s because our son is so handsome Jason couldn’t resist him.” Seamus said with a laugh.

“I really don’t see how you two can laugh at the fact that our sons are going to hell.” Mr. Matthews said.

“I don’t think anyone has ever gone to hell for giving or receiving a blow job.” Riley spoke up.

“If that were the case, then I’m screwed.” his mother added.

Mrs. Matthew stood. “What is wrong with your family? Can you not take anything seriously?”

Seamus looked from her to her husband. “If you had told us that you’d caught them doing drugs, or drinking, or I don’t know raping someone then yea, we’d be busting balls too. But teenage boys love to have sex.” He laughed. “And sometimes, like in this case, they love to have sex with each other.”

“I want all three of you out of my house.” Mr. Matthew demanded.

---

When they walked through the front door Joy grabbed Riley by the collar. “What were you thinking?”

“I swore the three of us agreed that an occasional blow job wasn’t bad.”

Joy shoved him in the chest. “If you’re trying to keep the relationship a secret from his parents you don’t have the kid blow you in their bed.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Damn it Riley, now they probably think we’re horrible parents because we didn’t take the situation seriously.”

“But you shouldn’t because its not.”

“Besides the point. Just because we felt that way we shouldn’t have said what we did. That isn’t your fault but you put us in that situation. Now there is no way in all living hell that they’re going to accept your relationship.”

“They wouldn’t have anyway.”

Seamus stepped between them. “Joy go upstairs and chill out for a while and Riley go to your room.”

“No,” Joy said side stepping her husband. She pointed at Riley. “You should have thought before you did what you did. Despite how cool you think me and dad are, we’re still parents. And even though we let you do what you want for the most part doesn’t mean you disrespect any one else’s parents.”

“It’s not like I was blowing him in you and dad’s bed.”

“And if you were I would have fucking killed you.” She took a deep breath and a step back. “Just get out of my face right now.”

Riley stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. “Mom I’m sorry.”

“I really don’t think you are.”

“I am.”

“Why?”

“Because I got you all worked up and I don’t like seeing you like this.”

As she walked away she said. “Well think about that the next time you decide to do something stupid. And you’re grounded.”

“Why?”

“You really shouldn’t have to ask me that.”

“I want you to tell me, exactly why I’m grounded.”

“Riley Topher O’Malley stop fucking talking to me right now, okay.” With that she went upstairs.

Riley turned to his dad with his “I’m innocent” smile. “What’s her deal?”

Seamus looked at him sideways. “Why don’t you go to your room and try to figure out what you did wrong? And while you’re up there no computer or phone.” He thought. “In fact hand me your cell phone.”

“Dad, seriously.”

“Riley seriously.”

He handed his dad the phone. “But you guys were totally defending me at their house just a few minutes ago.”

“We were defending you guys’ sexuality. Not your stupidity.” Seamus shut off his son’s phone. “Get upstairs.”

“This is bullshit.”

“One more word and I’m going to give you bullshit.”

---

The next afternoon Joy and Seamus entered the kitchen with thirteen year old Josalynn Tareena behind them. Her normally dark complexion, almost as brown as her mother’s was pale, her curly naturally dirty blond hair in a ponytail, and her green eyes glassy.

“I don’t feel good.” she whispered and leaned against the counter.

With that being said Seamus picked the thin girl up before he carried her to her room. Upstairs he placed her in bed before he tucked her in.

“Do you need anything for now princess?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m just really tired I guess.”

“Alright. I’m gonna let you sleep. If you need anything just call me or mom on the intercom.”

“Kay.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.” She whispered while watching her father leave the room.

When the door was closed Josie immediately pulled her blanket over her head. She had every intention of sleeping in her room peacefully for the next month, until she was well enough to go back to school. It was true, that of everyone in the family she had the worst of luck. A trip to Brazil ended in pneumonia. Ireland a broken leg. Just this winter break she’d luckily only had a tooth knocked out in a freak shopping cart accident.

She was almost out for the count when there was a knock on her door.

“What?”

“Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

Alayna slid into the room before she closed the door. She walked over to the bed and laid beside her baby sister whom she adored.

“I just wanted to come and see you before I leave tomorrow.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going with dad to New York for the photo shoot for Irish Lovin and dad’s letting me go. So I wanted to know if you would like for me to pick you up some free shit.”

Josalynn looked at her sister with envy. “How come I always get shat on?”

Alayna laughed. “At least this wasn’t as bad as the shopping cart incident.”

“Don’t remind me.”

Alayna watched as her sister buried herself in her blanket again. “So a couple shirts and a skirt or two.”

“Blah, you know what I like, just get me whatever.”

Birdie wrapped her arms around Josalynnn. “Cheer up; I don’t like to see you like this.”

Kicking her covers off as hard as she could considering the circumstances, she lifted her shirt to show her sister her new scar.

“I had an organ ripped out of me.”

“At least you were asleep when they did it, and from what I saw of you in the hospital, you were pretty doped up on morphine.”

Josalynnn pulled her shirt down. “I wish I had some now.”

“Do you want anything else, that’s not morphine?”

Hearing this she sat up. “If you can smuggle me a burger and some fries I’ll love you forever.”

“But you just lost an organ.”

“An organ that man hasn’t had a use for since the stone age.”

“Josie, Josie, Josie.” Alayna sang as she headed for the door.

“Don’t forget my burger.”

When Alayna stepped out into the hallway she closed the door, just as Riley was coming out of his bedroom.

“What’s going down?” he asked.

“Josie’s home and miserable.”

Riley pouted. “Should I visit her?”

“I don’t know, she seemed kind of tuckered out, but I’m sure it’ll cheer her up.”

“Will do.”

Riley watched his older sister go down stairs before he entered his little sister’s room.

“Does anyone in this house know how to knock.” he heard the mound beneath the blanket ask.

Riley ran over to the bed before he jumped on it, avoiding landing on her before he pulled the blanket off her and kissed her forehead.

“Aren’t we feeling mighty gay today.” she teased.

“I told them, so make all the gay jokes you want.”

Josie smiled before she hugged her brother tight. “Thank god. It was killing me being the only one in the family that knew. How did they react?”

He slid out of her arms. “Well Jason was here for dinner and when I told them mom started crying and hugging us. Where as dad bitched about us hugging and letting the ice cream go to waste.”

“Good ole Seamus.” She laughed. “So how is Jason?”

Riley laughed before he told her the story. The two were laying in bed laughing when Joy came in to check on them. They invited her in before she laid in bed with them.

“So I hear someone is trying to get someone else to buy them cheeseburgers and fries.”

“Okay, I only told Laynie to get me a hamburger and fries. And what’s the big deal?”

Joy let out a deep breath. “The big deal is your still on a diet per Dr. Wong. And Mr. Riley what are you too talking about that’s so hilarious.”

“He told me how you grounded him for his uhm… relations with Jason.”

“Yea, I’m glad the two of you found it funny. I just got off the phone with Mrs. Matthews a few minutes ago, and I’m not laughing.”

Riley pouted before he said. “Mom I’m really sorry about last night. You were right. I shouldn’t have allowed Jason to do what he did where we did it. It was stupid, selfish, disrespectful, and irresponsible of me. I should have thought of the consequences of my actions before hand.”

Joy frowned. “Gosh I hate you kids, with your perfect bullshit answers.”

“No, I’m seriously really very sorry. I told you I don’t like to see you so upset, and I mean it. I never want to be the reason for you to cry again.”

She grabbed his face and kissed his forehead. “I’m sure you mean it, but I’m sure you’re going to break my heart many times more.”

“Not intentionally.” Josie added.

“But it’ll happen.” Joy finished.