Fosters: Blackhawk

by L. Ann Marie

  He smiles, "You're fuckin perfect. I'll always work to keep you safe."

  "I know." I rise up and kiss him.

  "The kids are waiting to eat. If you're not ready I'll tell them to go ahead." He's so damn sweet.

  "Don't you dare I'm friggin starving. We missed lunch then I came to bed." He stands in one fluid motion and carries me out of the room. I hold my chest and laugh. "What? You need to eat. I'm making sure you eat." Everyone at the table laughs.

  "Don't even try to fight it, Danny is the same way. I speak from experience." Kate says from the other side. Jess agrees then the kids agree. Danny throws chin to Cloud. I just smile.

  Looking at the table I moan, "Spaghetti. I can eat spaghetti."

  "Cloud left me a list of foods. This was the easiest to make for everyone. The kids did a good job."

  "Thank you." I say to him and the kids. I kiss Clouds cheek and thank him for being perfect.

  "Got new job, be home more." Steve says.

  I look at him and decipher then smile at Cloud. "What are you doing?"

  He gives Steve a look then smiles at me. "Same thing but working for both Baxter's and the MC. Pres is buying a helicopter; I'll fly like I do now."

  "He's buying one! Nice. I like the artillery on it. Tell me it's loaded?" Danny says making Steve and Cloud laugh.

  "Switchin pilot controlled guns to make it the same." Steve says.

  He's all excited. "Fuckin Nice!" Kate laughs.

  I look around, "Where's Tess and the twins?" I ask Patches.

  "Date night. She's with Rich. I think they're doing dinner at home though. She was tired too."

  "That's so sweet." I tell him. He smiles.

  Danny laughs. "Tiny tells me you thought your meds were really good when you pulled in." Danny says.

  I hold my chest and laugh. "Yeah, seeing my house on a different street threw me."

  The kids start talking about the house. Patches let them walk through earlier. I'm getting tired and turning my head back and forth is hurting. Jeremy comes and climbs up on my lap. Shit he's pulling my shirt and it hurts my neck. Cloud moves my chair out and repositions Jeremy. He holds on to me and takes Clouds hand. I feel the heat like last time. Christian tells Jessie to hold Jeremy's hand. I look at him. "He's stronger." He says. I nod like I know what he means. I guess I'll find out. He friggin laughs.

  Jessie comes over and holds Jeremy's hand. Friggin heat is zinging through me. "Oh." I take a breath.

  Steve laughs. He moves to Jessie's side.

  Cloud moves Jeremy's hand to Steve. Then takes a deep breath. "Fuckin hell! That messes with your head."

  Christian laughs, "Little Ben or Brenna would be better."

  Little Ben nods and moves to Steve. As soon as he takes Jeremy's hand the zinging heat spreads through me. "Holy shit!"

  Joey laughs. "Look at her Cloud she's glowing." Ally and Alex laugh. Everyone watches. Jeremy lets them go after a minute or three and kisses my cheek.

  Cloud lifts him off me and hugs him. "Thank you Jeremy. Next time not so long." I look at him. He's barely keeping his eyes open. I put my hand on his back and thank him. I have tears running down my face. He gave me a piece of him.

  "Little Ben touch him." Christian says. Both Little Ben and Jessie touch his back. We're all just watching. "He says it's enough." I look at Christian he's crying. Kate holds him. "He loves you and said whatever it takes." My eyes snap to Cloud. He smiles rubbing Jeremy's back.

  "Feelin better?" I look up, Steve is talking to me.

  I turn my head and laugh. "Much better. Thank you, all of you."

  "We always take care of our girls. Jeremy is right, whatever it takes." Jessie says.

  Kate and Patches laugh. Then we all do, it feels ok, I'm not holding my chest. "Need to protect him." Steve says looking at Cloud. He nods and looks at me. I blink twice.

  Friggin kids.

  Cloud

  Fuckin kids. Kate and CJ get the kids showering. My head is clear from whatever Jeremy does. "Need to be in the wind." Steve says. "He touches you, go to the wind. Won't fuck your head."

  I nod. That's where he went in the hospital. I'll try it next time. "Does it hurt him?"

  "No but drains him, somethin with the energy. Little Ben and Jessie gave somethin to him. More would drain them, he didn't want that. He can get it back. Like Tess when she sleeps." He's looking out the patio windows.

  "He made her better didn't he? He heals with that energy, like the doctor said Reiki?"

  "Somethin like that yeah. I get it from Christian. He doesn’t understand but gets enough to help." He looks over at me. "We have warrior. They have more. The kids here all have somethin. They're different, better. We need to guard that so they can do what they're supposed to. Old Pres was groomin Ben to be a new kind of Pres. Makin it better for the kids. He knew but died before he could pass it down."

  "Ben understands about the way it is supposed to work. He has a compassion and vision in him that created all that we are. He draws men and the special kids in. We protect him just like the kids. Me, Steve, you, Casper, Rich, Tiny, Driscoll, Bob, Geek, Chet, Sam, Allan we all are warriors. Ben, Patches, Dave, Bull, Digs, strong men but with more compassion, empathy and they're more open to see what we have to work for. They need to be protected by the warriors so they can make it work. From what I see, it works the same at the Baxter's, they just don't see it." Danny says from the couch. He's looking at the water.

  Steve smiles, "What he said." I laugh. Fuck it feels good to laugh.

  "Jeremy will draw strength from his sleep but some will come from Jacob. That's why there are two. Jacob will be like Jessie and Little Ben, the warrior but one that needs to be protected. Steve's right, they're different, better, stronger."

  "How the fuck do you know this shit?" I ask him smiling I have them aligned different but close.

  "Watching the women, their strength, their ability to cope and come out stronger from the wars and challenges the Club has gone through. Then the kids, how different they are. You didn't tell your kids to be good for us. You knew they would be. All of them are like that. Never a problem, ever. They're all beautiful to look at, like the women, every fuckin one of them is beautiful. Not an average looking woman, not an average looking kid. Not one. Even Ally and Alex are beautiful, the Down syndrome is evident but doesn't take away from that beauty, it enhances it. It's fuckin weird for all that to be in one small area and no one notices. Do you think you have one single kid in your house that's not special in some way?"

  "No. I noticed it too, just thought I was the only one seeing it." I laugh. Fuckin hell. "See it at Baxter's too. They surround themselves with beautiful people. Extraordinary kids and Mitch, she's unfuckinbelievable. She's guarded by all of us."

  They both nod watching the water. "I need to check on the kids. Christian doesn't sleep much; if his brain doesn't shut down he won't sleep at all." I turn to go in.

  "You belong here Cloud. You were groomed to be a warrior. This is where that happens, the most important job you'll ever have is starting now with your family. Ben has the paper on all the kids. We need to do that tomorrow. We have to avoid the little fights and concentrate on the bigger picture." Danny says looking at me.

  "I'll talk to CJ tonight. We'll get it done." I throw him chin and go in the house looking for my incredible kids and woman.

  CJ

  Air mattresses are on the floor for the boys. I crawl from one to the other. Jacob has his arms around Jeremy. They're facing each other. I lay down behind Jeremy and hug him and Jacob. "He's ok CJ. He just needs to sleep. I'll take care of him. Christian said he'll watch over us." Jacob says so sweet.

  "I know you all look after each other, you're good brothers." I touch his sweet little face. "I love you my J's."

  "We love you too our CJ." He says with a smile. Too friggin cute.

  I roll off and crawl to Brantley who is right on the side of them. "Patches said you were a big help today. I'm proud of you Brantley. You're
a great big brother."

  "I love them CJ. It's not work when you love someone, I like doing things with them." He smiles.

  "That's what makes you a great big brother. Loving someone's not easy, it takes work and understanding. You show them that so they learn how to do it. I love you Brantley, you make it easy for me." I kiss his head and stand up. I've kissed everyone in the room.

  I smile and turn to leave; Cloud has his hands up on the door frame. He's smiling. "You’re feeling better."

  I smile and walk to him. "I am." I put my arms around him and my head on his chest. "I love you Cloud. As crazy as this last couple of weeks has been, it’s been the best too. You're always right there when I need you."

  "Love you too CJ." He puts his arms around me. "I need to talk to you but I don't want the boys to fall asleep before I tell them goodnight."

  I lift up on my toes and kiss his chin because that's as far as I can reach, he laughs and bends. I kiss his lips. "I need to see Joey and Christian; I'll wait for you in there." He nods and lets me go.

  Christian is sitting on Joey's bed. Ally is watching them with a smile on. I thank her for sharing her room and kiss her goodnight. Going to Joey I thank her for helping with the toddlers today. "I like helping. Patches says I'm good at it too!" She's so excited.

  "That's what I saw too. You looked happy and made the kids happy. That's the best kind of help to give. I'm proud of you Joey." I kiss her head. She hugs me. She's so friggin happy telling me she loves me too. Christian hugs her then Ally.

  He walks out with me. "You’re feeling better already. Jeremy didn't know if it would work because you were hurt bad."

  "Has he done that before?" I'm shocked.

  He looks at me, "Yes with cuts and stuff. It always works but you were hurt bad. You're still hurt, he said it's better but you still hurt."

  My little man. "I'll be fine Christian, don't worry over me, I'm just sore not really pain. It's so much better. Being with you guys today helped and of course what Jeremy did."

  "Cloud helped keep us safe again. He was mad but then he was so happy to see us. He watched you sleep then came to see us. Danny did that too. Jessie said you and Cloud are the real deal. You both love us like a real mom and dad."

  "Of course we do. You're very easy to love." I squeeze him.

  "When you adopt us we'll be a real family with the same name, do we call you mom and dad?" He's looking nervous.

  "You call us what you feel comfortable with, you’ve been CJ's forever and now you're mine too." Cloud says from behind us. I smile. "I'll always call you mine." He hugs us from behind. I look up and smile, he always know just what to say.

  "I want a mom and dad. CJ and Cloud are cool but mom and dad is cooler." He says with a shy smile.

  "We would be honored if you chose to call us mom and dad. I know a lot of kids but I don't know any I'm more proud of than you and your brothers and sister. You all took the bad in your life and built good around you and CJ, now me. I'm proud to call you my family and I'm proud to give you my name." He gives Christian a squeeze.

  He looks up at Cloud with the biggest smile. "Christian Blackhawk. That's a cool name thanks dad." I feel the tears and I don't friggin care. Fuckin kid. He squeezes us both. "I love you mom and dad. Goodnight." He goes around us and up the stairs.

  "Fuckin kids." I can hear the emotion in his voice.

  All I can get out is, "Yeah."

  He puts his hand on my back and guides me downstairs stopping in the living room. He sits and pulls me to his lap. "Ben has the paper for the kids. Danny thinks we need to do it tomorrow. He says we need to deal with the small stuff so we can focus on the big stuff." He watches me.

  I'm a little surprised. "He has adoption papers for all of them even Taylor?"

  "He said kids he didn't say all but Taylor. Why would Taylor be excluded?"

  "He came from another home but I thought his mom was working to get him back. I need his book to be sure." I tell him. "He's new so I haven't read the whole thing."

  "Last contact was a year and a half ago." He says.

  I'm surprised he knows this, no I'm not, I'm happy he knows it. "Damn, they don't usually come back for them after a year."

  "Are you ready to do this tomorrow?" He asks again.

  I kiss his lips. "Yes, are you? Six kids and a crazy woman is a lot even for a warrior like you. We've never talked about money Cloud. I don't have any. I put it all into the houses, now I won't have even that. I need a job." He may want to think about this.

  "I have enough that you don't need to work. If you want a job, keep running the other house. We can find a house around here and you can open another one. That would keep you busy and flexible for Christian and the other kids."

  Oh my gosh! "Another house, we could help more kids with another house. Are you sure? The food bill alone is crazy."

  He friggin laughs. "I make good money. I don't spend anything because I've lived on the compound, base or reservation. I haven't had a bill in years and Mitch invested our money in Baxter Corp. so we're set for life."

  "Holy Shit! What are you doing with me?" He's crazy.

  He laughs like it’s a joke. "You're beautiful inside and out. You're funny, smart, honest and you love me. Where else would I be?"

  "I do love you Cloud Blackhawk." I kiss him because I can.

  We hear the door close. He stands up and puts me behind him walking to the kitchen doorway. "Pres, late night."

  I move to his side. Ben is smiling. "Cloud, CJ. At home I'm just Ben. You look like you're feeling better CJ."

  "I am thank you. It's a long story. I'll let Danny and Kate tell you." I tell him with a smile.

  "I'm glad you're both here, I have the adoption papers for the kids. If you sign them I'll get them to the lawyer tomorrow morning. The judge will sign and record them by lunch time. He pulls a big envelope out of his bag. "The state gives a stipend or college tuition. I chose the tuition. You'll thank me for it when they start looking at schools. They get a free ride as long as they pick a state school."

  "That is awesome. Thank you." I'm so friggin happy. Cloud pulls a chair out for me, I sit and he sits on the side of me.

  We get everything signed and Ben puts it back in the folder smiling. "This is the first time I've done the adoption thing without tears. It feels good." He's so cute, he has a shy smile on.

  "Only happy today Ben, they'll be so excited."

  "Did you pick a day so your name matches theirs?" He asks. Pulling another envelope out. It's a marriage license. Cloud looks at me.

  "Are you busy tomorrow morning?" I ask Ben but I'm looking at Cloud.

  "What time?"

  "Early so everyone can get to work." I look at him smiling.

  He smiles, he's so handsome. I don't know why that surprises me. "Eight thirty?"

  I look back at Cloud. "Perfect." He smiles then kisses me. We sign that too. I'm laughing when Kate comes in.

  Ben stands and she goes right to him pulling him down by his shirt for a kiss. "I thought you'd be later, I'm glad you're home."

  "I need you at eight thirty tomorrow morning. We need a witness." Ben tells her.

  She's squeals making everyone laugh. She hugs me so excited telling me she has the dress, she runs up the back stairs. I just laugh.

  "I'm happy for you both. The Club will help with the kids just like we promised." He tells us looking from Cloud to me.

  "I got this Ben. I'm ok for money." Cloud tells him.

  Ben waves his hand, "it's not about the money, we take care of our own. If we want to promote that, we need to show it. This is our way of making sure we never forget what's important to us."

  "Thank you." I feel the tears.

  "We were thinking about opening another house." Cloud says.

  Ben laughs. "Fuckin women, always stronger than we think. We'll help you with that too! This is so fuckin good. If I bring any more kids home Kate will kill me."

  We laugh. Danny comes in throwing chin to Be
n. "I thought I heard you. Everything go ok?" He watches Ben. All these men give undivided attention when it's important. Something more must have been going on. I'm not sure I should stay.

  "Yeah, Baxter's took half. Steve's got them in holding. He wanted to let them sit overnight. I wasn't at Security though, I was at the office getting the adoption paperwork and meeting with Jamie and Ben. The chopper is ours. They're fitting it with new guns or something." Ben sits back down, Danny sits with us.

  "I love the fuckin chopper." He says with a huge smile. His patch doesn't take away from his handsome face.

  Cloud laughs. "You didn't get to see all it can do yet."

  "Cloud will work with the next training class. I'll set a meeting to go over what his schedule will be. We talked about that tonight too. Do we have a house in the yard that would be good for a group home?" He jumps from one thing to another so quick.

  Danny smiles looking at me. "Strong fuckin women. We have a couple to choose from. None are as big as your house but they'd work. I can take you to see them day after tomorrow. I'm on HS tomorrow." I nod but don't understand.

  "I have a couple of days off, whenever it fits your schedule." Cloud says. I lean into him. I love him so much.

  "You doing ok CJ?" Danny asks.

  "I am. A little tired is all." I tell him.

  "She was crawling around from bed to bed upstairs." Cloud tells them smiling.

  Ben looks shocked. "Fuck, shouldn't you be taking it easy?"

  Danny laughs. "You missed the kids fixing her up. I'm sure Kate wants to tell you, we'll talk later." Ben nods smiling.

  Kate comes in with a pretty white dress. "I had Nancy order it a couple of weeks ago." I laugh. She's so friggin funny. I just met her a couple of weeks ago.

  "It's beautiful. Thank you." She kisses my cheek.

  Cloud stands up. "Let's get you resting so I can marry you with your eyes open."

  "Once you get her settled come out to the patio, it’s the next building over. We need to talk about Security for the kids." Danny tells him.

  He nods and pulls me up. He guides me right into the bathroom and sits me on the chair. Pulling my shirt off, he starts taking the bandage tape off. He's so gentle I smile, it doesn't hurt but he goes slow watching me. Pulling the gauze off, he sucks in a breath. "Stay right here." He says putting my shirt up in front of me and walks out." What the heck is he doing now?