Incest/Taboo The Bitch that is My Step-sister

Krissy Lancash, or formerly Ms. Krissy Walburg, laid out beneath the sun in the backyard of her husband's grandparents' property. Humming the tune from their wedding two months ago while the rays of the hot sun warmed her bikini-clad body as she lounged, on the one she's come to favor, lounger since her time moving in with Jamie and becoming his wife. Granted, she wasn't all that pleased with having to lie to her father and Rhonda about her and Jamie's relationship. Yet she knew they wouldn't understand the feelings she had for Jamie; she knew Jamie felt the same way. That was until she felt a shadow looming over her.

"Excuse you?!" Krissy snapped at being brought out of her daydreaming. "Do you make it a habit of trespassing on other people's property and staring creepily at a girl?" she asked, pushing herself back into the lounger.

"Sorry, thought you could see me; I didn't mean to startle you," the young man, clearly from the northern climes, said as he sat down on the other lounger.

"Did I say you could sit? Does this look like a hotel to you?" Krissy hissed when the man wasn't taking the hint.

"Then come with me, we can get to know each other; I got a hotel room, full mini bar, anything you want. Damn, girl, you're fucking hot," the man said, not seeing Krissy rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses.

"Tell you what go wrestle a mountain lion, then ask me; if not, get out of my face," Krissy said, waving the man off.

"What? That's absurd!"

"Why? My husband did it. Are you not man enough to fight a mountain lion?" Krissy asked with a shit-eating grin when she noticed how Jamie had walked around the corner of the house at that exact moment with their drinks in his hands.

"He lied to you; no way he could ever do that, so why don't you cut the stick and just come with me," the man said, laying his hand on Krissy's thigh.

"Oh, I think my hubby would have something to say about that, wouldn't you, baby?" Krissy cooed, smiling seductively at Jamie.

The scar that marred the right side of his face made him look sinister when he smirked like he was doing at that moment when the man just leapt to his feet. "Next time you touch my wife, when she's clearly given you no several times, you were just too stupid to understand it. I will beat you with your own hands if you set foot on this property ever again. Now leave before I call the cops for your trespassing on private property," Jamie stated, keeping his tone hard, yet in his mind, he was laughing his ass off as the man backpeddled towards the beach.

"Hey man, there wasn't a sign..."

"It's right fucking there, you idiot," Jamie said coldly, pointing to the sign on the fence he and his grandfather put up to keep people like the man before him from trampling the lawn to woo Krissy. "There're two of them! Are you telling us you can't read! In this day and age! Shocking! Or are you trying to save your ass because you know what you did was illegal for stepping onto private property when it's been clearly marked we don't want visitors? Was it something I said?" Jamie asked as he looked back at Krissy, who had been giggling through it all, only to laugh hysterically as she watched the man race off.

"Hey," Krissy's alluring voice and beckoning finger pulled Jamie down to her level once he had handed her, her drink, "mmm... I've missed these lips," Krissy cooed as her fingertips skimmed along Jamie's left cheek as he rose.

"You know, we're going to have to install an electric fence, maybe even some barbwire, since obviously, no one can read anymore," Jamie said as he lowered himself down beside Krissy.

"Hush," Krissy uttered, playfully slapping his left forearm. "You know they're only after what they can't have, right?" she purred as her thumb moved her engagement ring back and forth on her finger, causing the light to sparkle off of it. "Baby, I know you don't want to go up there, but you and I know we have to. Our little brother will be born in a month."

"Your brother, not mine," Jamie said offhandedly.

"You're doing it again," Krissy huffed, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Huh?" Jamie muttered into his can.

"You said the exact same thing about Suzie when she was born. Now look at you, paying the artists at school a hundred bucks each to come in the early morning to make mermaid theme objects for her," Krissy said, waving to the ones that hadn't been knocked down by spoiled children. "Why else do you have those scars if you didn't care about her, hmm?"

"What makes you think I do it for Suzie? Maybe I like irking the piss out of your father and Rhonda," Jamie countered.

"Lie to yourself all you want, Jamie; I know the real reason; you think I'm sleeping in that bed when you sneak out of it in the mornings? Hardly," rolling her eyes, "when you do have it done, I usually hide behind the curtain, listening and watching it all. What did you think? I was sound asleep when you came back? Nope, you have no idea how hard it was not to roll over and smother you in my kisses for being so sweet to her. So why are you so vehement about not claiming our future little brother as your brother?" Krissy asked, only to be interrupted by her cellphone. "It's Dad; we'll finish this later, don't!" she hissed, slapping his hand hard when he was about to make a crude comment about her father if the look on his face was any indication of where Jamie's mind was. "Hey, Dad, how..."

"Krissy, you need to come home now!"

"What's going on?!" Krissy asked; fear began to flood her chest at her father's frantic words. Her blonde hair floated on the heavy, hot, salted breeze. Her blue eyes darted to and fro in worry as silence was on the other line.

"It's Rhonda..." Her heart sank like a stone at the thought of something happening to her or their brother that was due in a month. Slyly noting how Jamie's eyes glanced up and over to her. "She had your brother early."

"You butthole! I was really worried!" A screeching howl of joy filled the air when her mind caught up to what David had just said. Ignoring the look, Jamie was giving her as she danced around in excitement. "Perv!" Krissy mouthed when all Jamie was doing was staring at her bouncing breasts. "So why didn't you call us?"

"Rhonda's idea; she wanted to wait till she was out of the hospital and back home and settled for a day or two before calling you."

"Does anyone else know?"

"You're the first person I'm about to call everyone else; we wanted the two of you to be the first to know the news. Although if Jamie is like his normal self, he probably wouldn't care either way," David said, wondering if the two months away from his former home had softened Jamie any.

"Alright, let me talk to Jamie, and I'll call you back," Krissy said with a huge smile on her lips at the news.

"Okay, honey, love you; let me know if you're coming alone or not." David wasn't all that hopeful that Jamie would be tagging along with her. Even though he knew it would mean the world to Rhonda. Recounting the first week they left in June where Rhonda just cried herself to sleep every night. Looking over to his wife, watching how she was gazing at their son as his little body was swaddled in a baby blanket.

"Jamie..."

"We'll go up like we planned," Jamie cut in.

"Boy, stop being stubborn and get your butt in that house and pack," Hugo said, walking into the backyard. "I know you don't like them, hell, I don't like them, sorry Kris..."

"No, it's understandable," Krissy said with a warm smile and a taunting look down at Jamie when he wasn't arguing with her about it but his grandfather as well.

"But a man puts that aside for a time just to welcome your half-brother into the world. You are that kind of man, aren't you? I know my boy taught you how to be that kind of man since I taught him. So, get," Hugo said, thumbing towards the door, telling Andrew to get packing. "You can thank me when you get back," he called after him as Jamie grumbled as he headed off to the room he and Krissy had moved into, which happened to be his father's room when Darriel was a boy.

"Thanks for the backup, Pop," Krissy spoke, smiling warmly at the old man using the affectionate nickname she gave him a month into their stay.

"He's like his father when he was that age, head strong and stubborn as a mule; you two be safe on the road; if it gets too late, stop for the night; nothing wrong with showing up the next day," Hugo said in a caring voice only to hear their bedroom window opening.

"If I'm going, I want to get this over with as fast as possible, so get that little butt in here," Jamie said firmly before shutting the window.

"Well, best get my butt in gear, or he's going to be grumpy all the way there," Krissy uttered, rising onto her toes and placing a kiss on Hugo's right cheek. "If we're not back in a week, we'll definitely be back before school starts; tell Marla for us, will you?" she called back as she made her way to the back door.

"I will. Don't let Jamie get into too much trouble."

"I won't." Were the last of Krissy's words as the door closed behind her.

Nearly eleven hours later...

Darkness had blanketed the city Jamie Lancash left behind two months ago for a better environment to live in. Reaching over and shaking Jamie awake, given how they had switched off driving halfway through, so she was rested enough to make the last five hours to Connecticut when Jamie began to doze off.

"Baby, we're home," Krissy whispered in a loving tone as she shook Jamie awake.

"So you turned around?" Jamie asked groggily in his seat as he stretched.

"No," Krissy drew out the word while the darkness hid her smile. "Home," she said, nodding towards the darkened house.

"Shucks," Jamie sighed, earning him a slap on his chest.

"I'll text Dad while you get our bags; we don't want to wake Suzie," Krissy warned when Jamie was about to open his mouth only to close it. "It'll be okay; I'll take care of you later," she cooed, winking at him in the overhead light as Jamie opened his door while she sent her father a text, who told her he would stay up until they arrived that night. Her father knew they wouldn't make it until nearly midnight that evening when she talked to him as they left Jamie's grandparent's home. "Give me your ring so I know you won't lose it," Krissy said, slipping off her wedding ring for the first time; if it wasn't to shower, wash dishes, or her hands, she never took it off. She valued the commitment it took to stay loyal to the one you agreed to marry. "This will be okay, Jamie; you've dealt with Dad for years; a week or more won't kill you," she whispered as their lips left each other's as her right hand instinctively placed their rings in the small pocket on the left side of her purse. Their heads turned as the front porch light flicked on. Krissy's blonde hair whipped behind her as she raced towards the door as it inched open, only to collide in her father's arms once he had stepped outside.

"Hello, Jamie," David greeted as Jamie walked into the radius of light.

"Hoss," Jamie nodded in return. To his thinking that was a perfectly acceptable greeting. His eyes flickered over to David's right shoulder as a hand rested on it, causing David to peer back at who he suspected was his mother.

"Should you be up?!" Krissy asked worriedly as she rushed to Rhonda's side.

"Oh, I'll be fine; this isn't the first baby I've had," Rhonda uttered with a warm sigh as she embraced Krissy like her own daughter. To her, Krissy did feel like her own given the last five years, six if she was truthful, of knowing the young woman. Hugging Krissy just a little tighter as it seemed Krissy needed it how she was holding her. All the while, her eyes were on her son, who looked disinterested as he stood on the walkway waiting to be let in. "Let your Dad show you to your room he made up for you," she said, lightly rubbing Krissy's back, watching Krissy being held close to David as he guided her through the house. Her eyes watched her son as he climbed up the steps like he had always done in his childhood before moving away.

Taking Jamie by surprise when he reached the landing, listening to his huff when she hugged him hard. "You probably weren't even going to say hello, were you?" Her hot breath played along the strands of his hair as she held her son in her arms. "Thought so," Rhonda whispered into Jamie's ear. That didn't mean she wasn't going to hold her son; he might not want anything to do with her; she was going to make the best use of the times he allowed her to see him. "Suzie is going to be a handful in the morning; she's missed you a lot, and so have I," she said, placing a kiss on her son's left temple. "Come see your brother," Rhonda stated, leading Jamie into the house with her right arm wrapped around his shoulders to keep him from escaping.

"I'll take those for you," David said, reaching forward and taking Jamie's and Krissy's bags from Jamie. Not seeing the look Krissy was giving Jamie to cooperate with her father behind his back.

"We're going to turn Krissy's old room into Suzie's new bedroom and turn Suzie's into the baby's nursery. We were going to do that this month, but your brother just couldn't wait," Rhonda said, squeezing her son into her as they neared their bedroom. "So, I'm counting on your help to set up Suzie's new room. Now be quiet. He's sleeping," she whispered, bringing her finger to her lips. Ignoring the look Jamie was giving her as she slipped her hand into his and pulled him along into the room. "Jamie, I'd like you to meet your brother, Benjamin Walburg," Rhonda said in a loving voice as she stared down at her youngest child. "You know he's going to look up to you for guidance; you are his older brother," she uttered, resting the side of her head against her son's. "I'm glad your home, baby," Rhonda muttered, placing a kiss on the side of Jamie's head. "You must be tired; you should get some rest."

"I'll be in there soon, honey," Krissy said, keeping her smile from showing at how Rhonda wasn't giving Jamie a chance to talk and ruin their reunion.

Jamie ignored the soft voices speaking down the hall from his former bedroom. Looking over to the door as he was putting away his shirts into the drawer of the dresser. He had stopped calling anything his the moment he sold the house to David. Watching how Krissy slowly closed the door with her hand on the frame and the door to keep it from waking Suzie up. Neither said a word to the other as they stripped down to get ready for bed. Krissy knew that would only bring about a fight she didn't want to have at that moment.

The next morning saw the two of them stirring by Suzie's happy voice as she talked a mile a minute to Rhonda about the neat dream she had. David had already left for work since Jamie and Krissy were there to see to Rhonda in case she needed anything. Plus, David needed to work unless he wanted to use up the last of his vacation days which he was planning on using to go down and see Krissy during Thanksgiving. An observer would say all hell broke the moment Suzie saw Jamie walking groggily out of his bedroom from her highchair, where her mother had placed it so she could have a clear view of the hallway.

"Jamie!" Suzie squealed and shouted as she bounced in her highchair in excitement. Testing the limits of the straps that held her in place as Rhonda had to place a hand on it to steady it. Her little arms were outstretched, wanting to hold her brother, who she's missed greatly.

"Hello, squirt," Jamie said as he yawned as he walked into the dining room. Rhonda and Jamie winced when Suzie belted out: 'Krissy' when she appeared from behind Jamie.

"Sit down, you two; I'll get you two some bowls," Rhonda spoke, starting to lift herself out of the chair before Krissy told her she would get them. "Then can I press upon the two of you to watch your sister while I go take a nap while Ben is sleeping?"

"Sure, Rhonda, we don't mind watching Suzie, do we, Jamie?" Krissy asked, putting Jamie on the spot. Scowling when Jamie didn't say a word and instead walked into the kitchen for their bowls.

"I kind of figured this would be his reaction," Rhonda sighed as she lifted herself out of her chair.

"Don't worry, Rhonda, I'll have a word with..."

"No, you won't," Jamie cut in as he walked back into the dining room with two bowls in his hands.

"Jamie, don't start, please," Krissy said in a pleading tone as she gave him the look he knew all too well.

"Fine," Jamie grumbled as he poured his bowl of cereal.

"Suzie, how would you like to go to the park?" Krissy asked as she and Jamie sat on the couch in the living room while Suzie sat on the floor playing with her toys as her cartoons played on the TV.

"Would I?!" Suzie exclaimed with bright wide eyes.

"Jamie, you wouldn't mind driving us to the park, would you?" Krissy asked, batting her eyes at him. Grinning as Suzie rushed up to the front of his legs, giving her brother that look that would melt anyone's heart as Suzie peered up at Jamie.

"Please, Jamie, can we?" Suzie asked in her best voice a three-year-old could muster as she stood on the top of his feet.

"I don't know, squirt; don't you want to watch your shows?" Jamie inquired, to which Suzie shook her head very vehemently, not wishing to miss out on time with her brother, not knowing when she would see him or Krissy again. "Well, you can't go to the park in your pajamas," he said, watching how Suzie's eyes lit up, and her huge smile appeared on her face as she bounded off to her room.

"I know you're not happy being here, but you know Suzie is just so happy to see you," Krissy whispered into his ear as she placed a loving kiss on his cheek before following after Suzie to help her dress then she herself would get dressed while Jamie got Suzie's car seat out of Rhonda's van once he too had dressed.

"You ready, baby?" Krissy asked as she exited the house, carrying Suzie in her left arm as she closed the door behind her. She had written a note for Rhonda telling her they had taken Suzie to the park if she woke up before they returned.

"Yep," Jamie answered as he peered back at them once he had secured the car seat. His arms moved on their own when Suzie reached out to him; they stood there for a few minutes as Suzie hugged him tightly. Jamie didn't like the look in Krissy's eyes when she gazed at him as he rubbed Suzie's back. Smiling at his half-sister as she nodded when he asked if it wasn't too tight for her when he buckled her into her car seat.

"Shall we?" Krissy said, reaching over and resting her hand on his arm as Jamie reached forward and started his car.

"Suzie, don't run too far ahead," Krissy called out in a sisterly voice as they walked towards the play area that rested on the east end of the park.

"Okay!" Suzie uttered as she skipped happily in front of her brother and sister.

"Doesn't this make you think of something?" Krissy asked with a coy smirk on her lips as she lightly bumped Jamie's left shoulder; as she held his hand as they walked over to one of the free benches that weren't taken up by the nannies or other mothers that were there that day. Resting her head on his left shoulder as she watched Suzie running around with the other kids laughing like mad. Her eyes glanced over to how the other women were slyly peering at them. Lifting her head off Jamie's shoulder when he lightly patted her right knee, silently telling her not to worry about what those around them were whispering to one another.

"Jamie!" Suzie cried out as she ran towards him. "Come play with me!" she exclaimed, reaching forward, taking her brother's hand into hers.

"Go on, baby," Krissy cooed.

"Nah-uh, if I'm playing, so are you," Jamie said, pulling Krissy along.

Krissy couldn't help but smile bashfully as Jamie pulled her up and how Suzie was ecstatic to be playing with her siblings. She didn't care what all the adults thought as Suzie led them around the playground. She was just having a great time seeing the joy on her sister's face. Biting her lip as Jamie was holding onto Suzie's waist as she traversed the monkey bars since she wanted to try it. Trying to hide how aroused she was as she watched how the two of them interacted, knowing Jamie would make a great father when they were ready to have their own. Reaching behind her, and pulled out her phone when its ringtone played on the air as Jamie stayed with Suzie when she wanted to do it again.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Kris, I found your note; what park did you take Suzie to?" Rhonda asked after Krissy's greeting.

"Oh, just up the street from the house; you should see Suzie; she's just having a blast," Krissy answered, smiling at her little sister, who was grinning like mad as Jamie sat her down on the ground.

"Hi, Mommy!" Suzie greeted exuberantly into Krissy's phone when she held the phone up to her ear.

"Hey, baby! Are you having fun?"

"Mmmhmm! Jamie and Krissy are so much fun to play with!" Suzie said, slipping her hand into Jamie's. Peering up at her big brother, giving him a toothy smile as her hair swayed in the breeze.

"Oh! Are they now?! Well, wish I could see that; shame that I can't," Rhonda pouted over the phone.

"But we can come back to the park, and we can have so much fun!"

"Can I?! I just might! I haven't seen your brother playing in years and years!" Rhonda was smiling as she sat on the sofa, breastfeeding Ben, listening to how sweet her daughter's giggle was. "Let me talk to your sister, sweetheart."

"Mommy wants to talk to you, Krissy," Suzie said, gazing up at her sister. "Jamie, come push me on the swing," she said, pulling her brother towards the other side of the playground.

"Now you go on; I'll watch from here," Krissy said, waving Jamie on as she brought her phone up to her ear. "Yes, Rhoda?"

"How's Jamie with Suzie?"

"Oh, they're just having a ball; Jamie even held Suzie up, letting her think she was crossing the monkey bars on her own just so she wouldn't fall and hurt herself," Krissy explained low, smiling was Suzie's laughter filled the air as Jamie pushed her on the swing.

"So his attitude isn't affecting her?"

"No, he hasn't been grumpy since we left the house."

"So it's me then?"

"Well... Dad, too, I don't think he's ever going to get over it, but I don't know, but we'll see how the years go by. He might soften a bit, but I don't think he's going to like either of you much more than he does now." Krissy did feel for Rhonda as she heard her stepmother sigh over the line.

"Yeah, I thought as much. So how are the two of you doing?"

"Oh, we're doing just fine, had a few fights, minor ones, but we got past them. He took me out for a romantic dinner a few nights ago; oh, my, god, I was so in heaven?!"

"Were you? You'll have to tell me about it when we're alone."

"Mmmhmm," Krissy hummed as she swayed a little.

"Don't let Suzie stay out in the sun for too long."

"We won't, thinking we'll be back in, say, thirty minutes; I know how you like to keep her naps on schedule."

"I do; you don't know how hard it is to get her to sleep if her naps are late."

"I can imagine; we'll see you then."

"You three be safe; I'll see you when you get home."

"Shh, you'll wake her," Krissy said as she peered around her seat when they pulled to a stop in front of their childhood home. Seeing how her little sister had dozed off in her car seat on the ride home. Watching how Jamie slid his key out of the ignition before he opened his driver's door. "I'll put the car seat back in the van," she whispered as Suzie instinctively wrapped her arms around Jamie's neck as he gently picked her up out of it. She saw how Rhonda stood in the doorway and how her lip was trembling as Jamie carried Suzie towards the house.

"Go put her in her bed, honey; I bet she had so much fun with you," Rhonda said in a loving voice as she lightly rubbed her son's back. Noting how he pressed his lips together, keeping the retort he would usually spout to himself due to who he held in his arms. "You should come and see Ben; he's awake; he'll love his sister," she spoke, smiling at Krissy as she approached the porch. "Oh, your Aunt called. She said they were thinking of coming over sometime in the afternoon to see Ben."

"Then I know when to leave," Jamie said, walking into the kitchen as Rhonda shut the door.

"Jamie, she's not like she was during Thanksgiving," Krissy huffed.

"Sure, she isn't; once a she-bat, always a she-bat," Jamie said from the depths of the kitchen. "I'll give her five seconds before she reverts back to her normal self once she sees me," he stated as he walked out with a drink in his hand.

"Don't you want to see Ben?" Krissy asked as Jamie began to turn towards the hallway.

"Nope, have fun though," Jamie said, walking towards his former room, now turned guest room.

"Jamie?!" Krissy spoke, putting her displeasure into the tone of her voice, causing Jamie to stop in his tracks when he knew he was about to be cussed out. "Get in here and see our brother, now," she said through clenched teeth.

Rhonda just stared in awe at her stepdaughter when Jamie didn't say a word and walked into the living room. Grinning at Krissy, who blushed beneath her silent praise before Rhonda slid her arm along Krissy's shoulders and led her into the living room. Ben stared at his mother as she and Krissy walked around the couch.

"How's my baby boy!" Rhonda cooed down to him, who gave her a gummy smile as she tickled Ben's stomach. Glancing up, noting how Jamie was just sipping on his drink, unclipping Ben from the baby rocker she had placed him in. Humming as she swayed as she held Ben to her chest like she had done with all her children. As she sat down beside her son, noticing how Jamie glanced out the corner of his eye at her when she did. Flashing Krissy a smile as she took Jamie's drink from him, over his silent protest, before Rhonda turned towards him. "Hold your brother, Jamie," she ordered, not giving Jamie a chance to object before she laid Ben into his arms. "Support his head, honey, like this," Rhonda instructed, moving his arm to support Ben's head as Jamie cradled Ben. "See, you're a natural," she uttered in a loving voice as her hand brushed along the back of Jamie's head.

"That isn't so bad, now is it?" Krissy asked as she stood to the left of him. Given the look on his face, she knew he was not happy with her at the moment. She, on the other hand, thought he was just being stubborn; it wasn't Ben's fault for being born, and Jamie shouldn't take his frustrations out on him when he disliked who his parents were.

"Okay, I held him," Jamie said, handing off his brother to his mother, and quickly got to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Krissy asked; her annoyance was plain as day as Jamie opened the front door.

"Out." Was all Jamie said as he walked out the door.

"Well, look who it is," Casandra said; while her sneer wasn't on her face, it wasn't hard to miss as Jamie walked into the house a little around three that afternoon.

"I see you're still a she-bat as I expected you would be," Jamie said, not bothering to be nice.

"Casandra, I warned you," Casandra's husband spoke as he, Casandra, Rhonda, and Krissy all got caught up.

"But Trace..."

"No buts Casandra, if you can't keep that attitude of yours under wraps, then don't open your mouth," Trace said sternly; after what happened over the Thanksgiving holiday last year, they had it out once they were home. Seeing how his wife's mouth just snapped closed. "Afternoon, Jamie," he greeted, getting a nod out of Jamie.

"Well, since I'm not welcomed in this little family of yours, I'll just mosey on," Jamie said, looking down when Krissy held out her hand to him as she reached over the couch.

"We're okay, aren't we?" Krissy asked, her thumb brushed along Jamie's knuckles affectionately as she held his hand.

"Yeah, why would you think otherwise?" Jamie muttered, confused.

"Just you haven't been all that happy since coming back," Krissy said, ignoring the snort of disgust from her aunt.

"Yeah, did you expect I would be?"

"No, but I'm happy you're not upset with me," Krissy said, bringing his hand to her lips and placing a kiss upon it. Casting him a smile before Jamie disappeared down the hall.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Jamie's shout caused everyone in the living room to quickly get to their feet. Krissy was the first one to crest the threshold of the hallway, only to see her cousins rushing out of Suzie's room. Who stopped in their tracks and had a look that told her they had done something very wrong. That was when she heard the faint, muffled crying coming from Suzie's room. That was when Rhonda flew past her when she heard those same cries.

"Mark, Theodore, what have you done?!" Trace growled as he glared at his two sons.

"We were only playing," Mark muttered, thinking they did nothing wrong. When in truth, they had if you don't consider shoving a three-year-old into her closet and running amok in her room as doing something wrong.

"Then why is your cousin crying if you were just playing?" Trace asked, his hands resting on his hips, waiting for an answer.

"Mommy! They broke it!" Suzie cried out as she ran sobbing into her mother's arms once she was free from the hug Jamie gave her when she buried her face in his chest.

"Broke what, baby?" Rhonda asked, looking into the room and seeing her son standing there with his back to her as he stared down at his feet.

"The mermaid Jamie got for me," Suzie said through her sobs. "When I got mad because I loved it, they were mean to me and pushed me into the closet."

"You did what!" Casandra roared, seeing the fear in their eyes as she glared angrily at her two boys.

"No, we didn't," Theodore said defiantly.

"Yeah, you did; you were snickering as you were tearing up her room while one of you, you both look alike to me, so I never really cared to know your names, where the other one kept Suzie from getting out while the other had his fun," Jamie said, stepping out into the hallway.

"No one believes you since no one likes you!" Mark stated with a snide attitude he picked up from his mother.

"And? You seem to think your family is the best there is; news flash, you little dweeb, you aren't; all you and your so-called relatives are nothing but self-centered, ego..."

"That's enough, Jamie; I think they get the idea," Krissy said, stopping him when she knew he was only getting started.

"Do they? Seems they haven't changed much since the last time I saw them," Jamie stated, looking down when Suzie latched onto his left leg.

"Told you, you care about her," Krissy whispered low, casting him a knowing smile as she rested her hand on his right shoulder.

"Mark, Theodore, get your buts back in there and clean that damn room!" Trace hollered, pointing at Suzie's room. "I can't believe the embarrassment you've caused your mother and me; I thought we raised you better than that. Then again," turning to peer at his wife who stood behind him, "I can see where you get that attitude from. And if that room isn't straightened out in half an hour, I will tan your hides, now get!" he barked. Watching his son's scurrying back into Suzie's room. "Don't worry, Rhonda, I'll make sure this doesn't happen again, and they will pay for another one of those mermaids. Be silent! It will come out of your allowance; keep up your bellyaching, and you won't have that for much longer. When we get home, you both are grounded for a month for what you did to your cousin. I'll keep watch..."

"We will keep watch, Rhonda; I'm terribly sorry what the boys did to Suzie; they will be punished, I assure you," Casandra said, cutting off her husband. "Suzie," smiling sweetly at her niece as she bent forward, "I'll make sure the boys put your room back to the way it once was," she spoke, hearing Jamie's snort as he walked down the hallway.

"I want that room spotless when I come back to check on it," Rhonda uttered.

"It will be; we'll make sure of it, hear that, get this room spotless!" Casandra snapped, causing her children to jump.

"Come on baby, let's go see your brother," Rhonda said, holding out her hand to Suzie, noting how Krissy was following after them.

"Hello?" Krissy answered her phone late the next morning as she and Jamie lounged in the guest bedroom. Biting her lip as Jamie's hand ran along her near-naked body, waving his hand away when he was palming her ass. How she enjoyed the fact that her husband couldn't keep his hands off of her body, something she thought how it should be. Remembering how her father was when he came home from work last night and the heated conversation he had when he spoke to his sister.

"Hey, girl! Why didn't you call that you were in town!" Krissy squealed as she bounced on her knees on the bed, noting how Jamie's eyes were following the bounce of her breasts in her bra.

"Missy! I thought you left for college!" Krissy exclaimed.

"I'll be leaving here in a week; why didn't you call and tell me you were back in town!"

Jamie rolled off the bed, getting dressed, knowing she would be talking for a while. Only to stop when Krissy placed a hand on his back, feeling his skin heat when Krissy's soft lips graced it. Looking down when Krissy's left arm wrapped around him, keeping him rooted on the bed.

"Well, I didn't know you were still in town; I thought you left after graduation," Krissy said truthfully.

"How long will you and Jamie be in town?" Missy asked, knowing if her friend was here, then Jamie was as well.

"Don't know, maybe a week, might be more. Are the others still in town?" Krissy inquired, eager to spend some time with her friends.

"Just Dafne, Rachel already left for college like a month ago or something like that," Missy informed Krissy, who was sad she couldn't see her other dear friend.

"Oh."

"I know Rachel would have loved to see you again before she left. She was always wondering how you two were doing down there. So spill how's married life going for you?"

"Oh, Jamie's awesome; you wouldn't believe how sweet and romantic he can be; just before we came up here, he took me out to this very, very romantic restaurant where my baby just wooed me all over again," Krissy chatted away.

"So, want to grab a coffee and catch up?"

"Hell yeah!" Krissy giggled.

"Sweet, I'll call Dafne and see if she wants to come."

"Then I better get dressed!"

"Oh, please tell me you aren't naked, and Jamie isn't between your legs while we're talking?!" Missy teased. "Because that just be so damn wrong!" Krissy fell onto her back, laughing like mad at her friend's words, remembering back to when they had taken Jamie to Missy's apartment, where they all had gotten Jamie to eat them out.

"So, girls' day out?" Krissy asked, hearing Missy's fingers tapping on her phone, knowing she was texting Dafne.

"Mmmhmm, Dafne is so in!"

"Cool, let me shower and dress, and I'll come and pick you two up," Krissy said quickly, rolling off the bed.

"We'll be ready."

"Baby, would you mind if I borrow the car and some money?" Krissy asked, batting her eyelashes at him, hoping he didn't make a big stink about her seeing her friends.

"And leave me stranded here?!" Jamie said in mock indignation, smiling at Krissy, who returned it, knowing he was only teasing her.

"Thank you, baby," Krissy said, elegantly sliding off the bed, swaying her hips as she ambled the few feet between the two of them. Leaning up, placing a loving kiss upon Jamie's lips as he dropped his keys and forty dollars into her left hand. "I promise no drag racing," she uttered before walking out of the room and into the bathroom.

"Awful late in the morning to be taking a shower," Rhonda spoke as Jamie walked into the kitchen. As she was washing the dishes while Ben slept in his baby swing, she and David had saved when Suzie was a baby.

"She's going out with friends," Jamie informed her as he pulled out the makings for a sandwich.

"Would you mind making one for Suzie? It is about lunchtime," Rhonda spoke as her hand moved over the plate from that morning's breakfast. A motherly smile formed on her lips as Jamie didn't put up a fuss when he got another small plate out and made another one for his sister. Her heart swelled when she heard Jamie's voice calling Suzie to the table; she was so glad the two of them were bonding so well. She might have lost her son's love due to how she and David went about their affair when she was married to Jamie's father, Darriel, before he was untimely killed. That didn't mean that her love for her son had been lost; it was the opposite; ever since Jamie had been gone, she's missed her son all the more. She knew David was worried and scared having Krissy so far from home, just as she was about Jamie. Yet she knew Hugo and Marla were keeping a very keen eye on them, so she knew both of them would be safe under their care. Listening to Suzie chatting away with Jamie as they ate their lunch.

"I'll be back later," Rhonda turned her head towards the dining room at the sound of Krissy's voice, "I promise I'll be safe," she tried not to get teary-eyed at how sweet and loving Krissy sounded before their kiss filled the air. Looking over when Ben started to cry.

"What's the matter, my sweet baby?" Rhonda cooed as she held her son, checking his diaper and seeing that it was still dry. "Jamie, will you watch Suzie while I feed your brother?" she asked, without waiting for an answer before walking into the living room, turning on the TV so she had something to keep her occupied while Ben suckled. Turning her head, peering back towards the dining room, watching Suzie following after Jamie as he walked back down the hall. "Jamie, what are you doing?" Rhonda spoke as she stood in the hallway with Ben in her arms; as she noted how Jamie walked out of Suzie's room, his arms loaded down with clothes, with Suzie hot on his heels, helping as best as she could with a rather smaller stack of clothes.

"Moving, Suzie," Jamie said plainly. He had promised Krissy he would try to keep his snarky attitude to a minimum.

"Oh? David was going to start on it tonight, but thank you, honey. Suzie, you don't get in your brother's way, mmmkay?"

"Yes, mommy," Suzie uttered with a bright smile on her face.

"So, how are you and Jamie getting along?" Dafne asked as they waited for their lunch to arrive.

"Oh, you know we had some moments, but it's better than I could ever hope," Krissy stated, taking a sip of her drink.

"How's the sex?" Missy asked with a coy grin on her lips.

"Oh, you should see my man in action; oh, wait, you have," Krissy teased.

"I have," Missy cooed with a knowing smirk.

"And you're dad doesn't know that you two got hitched?" Dafne asked, looking at her friend suspiciously.

"No, he and Rhonda were all on us to wait, but I know Jamie is the one that I'm going to be with forever," Krissy said, looking around the table.

"You sure? I mean, I bet you've seen a lot of hot guys down at that beach, given the tan I see you sporting. Don't you want to sample them?" Dafne asked, not to berate her friend, just to understand why Krissy felt the need to attach herself permanently to Jamie.​