Time to go down in flames, and I'm taking you

Draven smirked when Grace mentioned alone time in the lake. He was definitely looking forward to that. But he knew they would be lucky if they even managed to stay awake after the kids feel asleep. With four busy children and them wanting to do everything the first day there, he knew he was likely going to pass out reading the bedtime stories. But for Grace he would try to stay up, even if that meant drinking coffee throughout the day.

They arrived at the cabin close to two hours later. All of the kids had fallen asleep in the car and were now awake and ready to go. Draven helped Grace get the kids out of their car seats. Before going to unlock the cabin. It was much smaller than what they were use to. But it would work for the weekend, plus they would be spending a lot of time outside. The cabin had a main room complete with a fire place and a small Kitchenette. There were two bedrooms along with a small bathroom. One of the bedrooms had two sets of bunk beds while the other bedroom had a queen sized bed.

“Daddy! Can I sleep on the top bunk?” Daniel asked as he brought his sleeping bag inside. He was very proud of his new cars sleeping bag. He had been sleeping in it every night leading up to the camping trip for the past two weeks.

“I think it’s best if you sleep on the bottom bunk Danny boy. We don’t want you falling off when you come to get in bed with mommy and Me” Draven answered after thinking it over for a few minutes.

“Aw man” he said with a grumble. Grace felt bad but knew her husband was right. Daniel’s bed now was low to the ground so he could crawl his way out an come find them if he had a nightmare.

“Sorry Danny boy. Maybe in a few years we can talk about you getting the top bunk. For now, why don’t you go in and start setting up. “Mia, help your brother” Grace directed.

“We’re done!” Liddia announced as she came in to the room followed by Elizabeth. “Eww were you guys just kissing?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, we were just talking. You two go gather some sticks to start a fire with. Just don’t go too far away from the cabin.” Draven dropped his arms from Grace’s waist and smiled at the girls.

“I’ll get the rest of the stuff from the car then we’ll get the fire started” Draven told the girls before they ran from the room.

Draven was about to reply to his Grace with a rather dirty comment when he heard Liddia from the back seat. It reminded him that he had to be careful. He smiled at Liddia in the rear view mirror. “Of course you can baby girl.”

He spotted a look of concern from Grace and quickly added “You can help me gather up all the wood and set it up. I’ll take care of actually lighting it.”

Liddia seemed satisfied with this answer and smiled at him before turning her attention back to the movie. He smiled at Grace and kissed her hand again. “To take care of that family tent problem, I got us a cabin. That way there is a bathroom the kids can use without having to wake us up in the middle of the night. Also there are rooms so we have a bit of privacy to be wild if we want to be.”

Draven really did think of everything. Come to think about it, she didn’t see the tent as she was packing and this must have been the reason. It would be nice to have a small kitchen in a cabin to do meals inside if it rains. Grace pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and chuckled.

They arrived at the cabin close to two hours later. All of the kids had fallen asleep in the car and were now awake and ready to go. Draven helped Grace get the kids out of their car seats. Before going to unlock the cabin. It was much smaller than what they were use to. But it would work for the weekend, plus they would be spending a lot of time outside. The cabin had a main room complete with a fire place and a small Kitchenette. There were two bedrooms along with a small bathroom. One of the bedrooms had two sets of bunk beds while the other bedroom had a queen sized bed.

“Daddy! Can I sleep on the top bunk?” Daniel asked as he brought his sleeping bag inside. He was very proud of his new cars sleeping bag. He had been sleeping in it every night leading up to the camping trip for the past two weeks.

“It’s a shame we won’t be able to revisit some things from that trip” Draven smirked at her before glancing back in the mirror to make sure all little eyes were looking at their screens. With four kids within earshot there would be no popping of any air mattresses. Although he did get one of the double enforced ones for this trip. But that was because he knew they would end up with at least two kids, if not all of them in their bed. It was just something he was used too by now.

“We can still be wild. We just have to watch out for little eyes and little ears.” Draven winked at her and lifted her hand up to kiss it. After all these years he was still madly in love with his wife. He was sure that was something that would never change, no matter how many times he was kicked in the side in the middle of the night by one of the kids.

Grace flushed a little bit. She was going to challenge him. Surprised that he was still willing to get a little wild with her after four kids. But she was crazy about him and knew the feeling was mutual. Really and truly, if there was one thing in her life that she was confident about, it was Draven’s love for her.

“Well. I guess that you’ll have to surprise me. I don’t know how you’ll manage to sneak in some us time with this family tent of ours” she teased, grabbing her water bottle and taking a long swig. “But you seem to be the king of surprises.”

He spotted a look of concern from Grace and quickly added “You can help me gather up all the wood and set it up. I’ll take care of actually lighting it.”

“Yes” All three of the girls shouted from the back seat.

“Can we watch Frozen?” Liddia asked and her sisters cheered in agreement. Draven sighed. He was sure that he had seen the movie close to a hundred times by now and could probably recite it from heart. He loved his sister in law but he wasn’t that impressed with the movie. Daniel must have had these same thoughts because he groaned from his seat.

“Ok you guys can watch Frozen, but please wear headphones. Danny why don’t you listen to some music on your tablet?” Draven figured the headphones would keep him from getting ‘let it go’ stuck in his head for the whole weekend.

Grace reached into her bag and got Daniel’s tablet and headphones. She handed it back to him and he smiled gratefully. The girls were busy settling in with theirs. Draven wanted them to have the best and got them bluetooth headphones. Grace’s practical nature made the girls promise they would only use them in the car for trips like these.

She settled back in her chair and took her husband’s hand. So excited to be going on this trip with the kids.

“Don’t listen to a word your mom says” Draven told Danny as he loaded the bags into the back of the SUV. “I use to go fishing all the time with Grandpa when I was little. I was very good at it.”

“That was when you were little, that doesn’t mean you’re still good at it” Mia said as she turned in her seat to look back at her dad. The twins laughed at her comment and nodded their heads in agreement. Draven sighed and shut the door to the back of the car.

“Sometimes I feel you girls just like to pick on me” Draven said as he got into the drivers seat. He grinned at Grace. He looked into the rear view mirror and smiled Danny. “We’ll go fishing Danny boy, I promise. I think Grandpa still has my fishing pole from when I was little. It’s the perfect size for you.”

“It’s just because we love you so much” Grace said, getting her sunglasss from their spot in the glove compartment. She managed to wink before slipping the glasses on her face. After clicking in her seatbelt, she sat back to relax.

“Mommy, how long is the trip?” Mia asked from her spot. Grace pursed her lips in thought before answering.

“I think about 2 hours.” she said “So we should be there by 12 o’clock. PM” she said. Mia reached her little arm up to set her new watch. Grace smiled gently. Her daughter loved that thing. And she loved setting little alarms, mostly because of the cute jingle it made.

“Can we watch Frozen?” Liddia asked and her sisters cheered in agreement. Draven sighed. He was sure that he had seen the movie close to a hundred times by now and could probably recite it from heart. He loved his sister in law but he wasn’t that impressed with the movie. Daniel must have had these same thoughts because he groaned from his seat.

“Can we go now?” Elizabeth asked as she marched down the hall from the bathroom. Liddia came out a few minutes after her. Draven smiled st the girls and picked up his and Grace’s bags.

“Yep let’s rock and roll Johnsons” Draven said as he opened the door and started leading the way to the elevator. Danny ran ahead of him with his back back bouncing on his back to push the button to take them down to the parking garage.

“Good job Danny boy” Draven told him. Danny smiled up at his father.

“Why can Alfred and Isis come camping with us?” Liddia asked as she stepped up to the elevator.

“You know the only trip Isis likes to go on is to the beach house, and even then she hates riding in her cage” Draven answered. “Al is going to stay here and keep Isis company. Uncle Alex and Aunt Cherry will take good care of them while we’re gone.”

“Promise?” Liddia asked with the cutest pout. When Grace nodded, the girl seemed satisfied so off they went. Down the elevator and to the garage where they could pile into their SUV. The girls knew to climb into their carseats while Grace went to the back to help Danny with his. She couldn’t wait until Mia got just bit older so she could help her siblings like this.

“Mama, I think I want to go fishin!” Daniel said as Grace double checked his seatbelt.

“Fishing? Danny boy have you ever been?”

He shook his head. “But daddy can teach me. I even practiced being real real quiet so I dont scare the fish away”

“That was when you were little, that doesn’t mean you’re still good at it” Mia said as she turned in her seat to look back at her dad. The twins laughed at her comment and nodded their heads in agreement. Draven sighed and shut the door to the back of the car.

Draven smiled after she kissed him. He knew she was still going to worry but that she trusted him with their children. He gave her hand a squeeze as they walked down the hall. He could hear the twins chattering away in their room. They followed Danny to the door and sat their bags down. Mia was the last one out of her room.

“Are you ready to go Baby girl?” Draven asked. Mia nodded and sat her bag down.

“Last chance does anyone have to go to the bathroom now? Because it’s a long ride in the car.” Draven looked to Liddia and Lizzie because they were notorious for announcing they have to go to the bathroom five minutes after leaving the bathroom. Both of the girls groaned and marched off to use the bathroom.

While the twins finished up in the bathroom, Grace knelt in front of Daniel and fixed his little hat. He smiled up at her brightly.

“Thanks mama” he said, rocking back and forth on the soles of his feet. Grace kissed his forehead. “I’m so so excited!”

“Me too Danny boy. It’s going to be so much fun! You know what I’m excited about?” she asked. Her son shook his head in answer to her question. “The snacks!”

“Yep let’s rock and roll Johnsons” Draven said as he opened the door and started leading the way to the elevator. Danny ran ahead of him with his back back bouncing on his back to push the button to take them down to the parking garage.

“Good job Danny boy” Draven told him. Danny smiled up at his father.

“Why can Alfred and Isis come camping with us?” Liddia asked as she stepped up to the elevator.

“They always seem to pick on Mia. You would think they would go after someone younger than them.” Draven sighed, he knew Mia was an easy target because she was a bit dramatic. He smiled at Grace, he was excited to spend the next few days with her and the kids.

“Are you going to ride the screaming metal death trap with me on this trip?” Draven asked. “I already promised Danny and the twins I would take them for a ride.”

He spotted the look of concern on his wife’s face before she had a chance to answer him. “Before you say no, I already got them helmets and I’ll go slow. Plus I was younger than them when my dad would take me on rides.”

“Yeah and you turned out to be a wild man. Do you really want that for our children?” she teased. Grace leaned in to give him a quick kiss and smiled. “As long as you’re extra careful. Maybe I can get a quick picture or two in for my parents. And for the digital album”

“C’mon. Let’s go meet them outside.” she took his hand and guided him towards the door, the luggage in her other. When she opened it she called out “Kids! Let’s get a move on!”

“Are you ready to go Baby girl?” Draven asked. Mia nodded and sat her bag down.

Camping with the Johnsons||

“Ladies we’re leaving in five minutes” Draven announced down the hall to his daughters. Danny came down the hall with his bookbag on his back, all packed and ready to go. He could hear the voices of Mia and the twins down the hall clearly arguing about something. Draven sighed and decided to go see what was wrong.

“Liddia took my charger for my tablet!” Mia announced as soon as she saw Draven.

“No I didn’t” Liddia answered quickly. Too quickly for it to be believable. Draven gave her a look and She looked down to hide her guilty look.

“I don’t know why you even need it Mia. We are going camping. The whole point is to get away from tablets and stuff.” Draven looked back at Liddia. “Give your sister her charger back.”

Liddia handed back the charger that she had hid behind her back. Draven smiled at them. It was true the twins seemed to team up against their older sister, but he wouldn’t trade his family away for anything. Since the fight seemed to be over, Draven decided to go and check to see how his wife was doing.

“Are you ready to go baby?” Draven asked as he walked into their bedroom.

Grace tied her hiking boots a little tighter and adjusted her t shirt. She was excited for this camping adventure. It had been years since her and Draven went camping. She wanted to rough it, like the old days pre-kids. But with four kids of them, the youngest only being 5, and the oldest being a bit of a princess, they opted for a cabin. Still roughing it, but with an indoor toilet. And since Mia was at the age Megan and her mother were when they first got their periods, an indoor toilet was desired.

She heard her daughters bickering. She was about to handle it when Draven beat her to it. She was so lucky to have him. The man in question came to the door. Grace smiled, sat up and nodded.

“Are you going to ride the screaming metal death trap with me on this trip?” Draven asked. “I already promised Danny and the twins I would take them for a ride.”

“Of course it is baby” Draven said as he moved his bowl of popcorn closer to her. He was always willing to share his food with his wife. After all she did for him he was okay with sharing his food with her. She deserved it and whatever else she wanted.

Draven leaned over and kissed her cheek. Unfortunately for him not every one was distracted by the movie. Lizzie groaned and said “eww can’t you guys save the kissing for when we are out of the room?”

Draven just laughed at his daughter. “You’ll feel that way about someone soon. Just you wait.”

“Yeah, maybe. But not right now!” she said with a gentle roll of her eyes. Grace tossed a piece of popcorn at her and she laughed. “Mom!”

Draven sat down in his favorite chair to watch the movie. When the kids were younger he could remember all of them climbing on top of him to watch movies and TV shows with him. He smiled when Grace handed him a bowl of popcorn.

“Thanks Gracie” He smiled at her. He motioned for her to sit in the chair next to his. The twins grabbed their favorite spots on the couch. He was glad they decided to have a movie night. It was nice to have the family all together.

“Is everyone ready to start the movie?” Draven asked as he looked around at everyone. Both of the twins along with Danny nodded yes. “Gracie are you ready?”

Grace curled up in her chair. Reaching her hand over to rest on Draven’s wrist. She smiled at him before nodding. “Yeah, I am definitely ready”

Work had been a lot so it was nice to just sit at home and relax with her family. Even if they weren’t talking, it was warm and fulfilling to just be in their presence. Draven started the movie and she reached over to snatch some of his popcorn and slip it between her lips.

Draven leaned over and kissed her cheek. Unfortunately for him not every one was distracted by the movie. Lizzie groaned and said “eww can’t you guys save the kissing for when we are out of the room?”

“I’ll take some cheesy popcorn too baby.” Draven opened the cabinet door and pulled out a drawer filled with movie theater candy. He picked out a box of sour patch kids for the movie before stepping aside so the kids could pick their favorites.

Mia grabbed a box of snow caps to share with Juliet, she had never been a fan of popcorn. She had inherited her sweet tooth from her father. “No popcorn for me thanks.”

Draven got bowls out for everyone who wanted popcorn and sat them on the counter. “Lizzie could you go get the movie ready to start?” Draven asked Elizabeth after she picked out her candy for the movie.

“Yeah” she said popping round the corner and going to grab the remote. She usually would have just found it on their television, but she knew their dad was a little old school and still loved Blueray. It was such a weird thing about him, in her opinion.

Juliet curled up on her favorite spot on their couch and grabbed a pillow to place over her stomach. Mia sat next to her and she held out a hand for some snocaps. She sneaked a quick kiss to her shoulder after popping a snocap in her mouth.

“Thanks Gracie” He smiled at her. He motioned for her to sit in the chair next to his. The twins grabbed their favorite spots on the couch. He was glad they decided to have a movie night. It was nice to have the family all together.

Mia had been looking forward to getting all of her homwork done. She didn’t care if her siblings thought she was boring. But she couldn’t say no to Juliet, especially when she gave her that smile. She shrugged.

“Okay, I guess we can watch a movie. But promise me you’ll pick something that’s not boring and not scary” Mia told Juliet as she gave her hand a squeeze.

“Great! Family movie night! I’ll make the popcorn!” Draven walked over to the cabinet to get the popcorn and the air popper out. He set everything up and stopped to give Grace a quick kiss on the cheek.

“So what movie are you going to pick,Juliet?” Draven asked with a smile.

“Mm Avengers? A classic” Juliet said, making her way into the living room. Grace could be down for a little superhero action.

“Now, typically, I would say we were a strictly DC household. But, since they did such a terrible job with Justice League back in the day, I’ll allow it” She leaned over to kiss her son’s forehead. “I’ll go make some popcorn”

“Oh can I have mine with the cheesy dust?” Daniel asked, and Grace nodded.

Mia grabbed a box of snow caps to share with Juliet, she had never been a fan of popcorn. She had inherited her sweet tooth from her father. “No popcorn for me thanks.”

“Both of you are boring.” Daniel had only heard the tail end of the conversation but he meant what she said. He hoped to never be caught doing homework on a Friday night as a teenager. He was going to be cool just like Tai and his other cousins.

“Danny be nice. Your sister takes after your mom” Draven said as he began to dry a pot. “Plus school is going to get harder for you as you get older.”

Draven handed his dish towel to Daniel so he could take over the dish drying job. He started to wipe down the counters as the kids took care of the dishes. He felt like just yesterday they were all little and now they were growing up too fast.

“I vote we have a movie night for those who don’t want to do their homework” Draven said as he sat his sponge down.

“Oh yes! I get to pick this time” Daniel said, shoving his phone in his pocket.

“Wait, whoa, why do you get to pick?” Elizabeth asked with a raise of her eyebrows.

“Because I’m the youngest. And the favorite” Daniel responded almost immediately. Both Elizabeth and Liddia looked affronted and about to respond before Grace stepped in.

“Alright, how about tonight we let Juliet pick” Grace said looking to Juliet. She smiled softly and then turned to Mia. Taking her hand.

“Okay, I guess we can watch a movie. But promise me you’ll pick something that’s not boring and not scary” Mia told Juliet as she gave her hand a squeeze.

“Great! Family movie night! I’ll make the popcorn!” Draven walked over to the cabinet to get the popcorn and the air popper out. He set everything up and stopped to give Grace a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Marry this girl” Draven told Mia as he smiled at the girls. Mia’s face got red and she rolled her eyes at her dad. He could be dramatic and embarrassing sometimes. Mia stood up to help Juliet gather the dishes.

“No one is talking about marrying anyone yet. We’re still in high school dad.” Mia took the plate from in front of him. She stopped to kiss his cheek before following Juliet into the kitchen. She knew she was very lucky to have parents and a family that was so accepting of her. She knew some kids weren’t as lucky.

Draven followed the girls into the kitchen. He knew that it was already fair to help out, since Grace made dinner. He began loading the dishes into the dishwasher after Elizabeth rinsed them. “So what are the plans for after dinner?”

“We’ve got homework” Mia said, reaching into her pocket and grabbing a hair tie. Like her mother, she preferred her hair up, she felt like it accentuated her features.

“It’s Friday” Elizabeth said as she walked into the kitchen.

“Danny be nice. Your sister takes after your mom” Draven said as he began to dry a pot. “Plus school is going to get harder for you as you get older.”

Draven handed his dish towel to Daniel so he could take over the dish drying job. He started to wipe down the counters as the kids took care of the dishes. He felt like just yesterday they were all little and now they were growing up too fast.

“That’s right you’re mom is not afraid to call me on my crap. In fact I think she enjoys it” Draven grinned at his wife. He knew he wouldn’t be anything without her. Each day the Grace and the kids taught him to be a better person. Draven felt like he could never show her how much she meant to him.

“She’s right. You’re still a part of our family even if you and Mia are dating. Feel free to come by any time you want. Bring your dad along as well, I feel like I never get to see him anymore” Draven smiled at the girls. Juliet nodded and gave Mia’s hand a squeeze underneath the table, causing Mia to smile.

Grace smiled as she took her last bite of cake. “Alright, the children who didn’t help set have to help clean” Daniel and Elizabeth groaned a little.

“Mia and Jules didn’t help set, are they helping clean?” Elizabeth asked, with a small tone.

Juliet grinned. She didnt have any other siblings besides Tai so she loved the twins like they were her own. “I can, I know the rule. This isn’t my first Johnson family dinner rodeo”

“No one is talking about marrying anyone yet. We’re still in high school dad.” Mia took the plate from in front of him. She stopped to kiss his cheek before following Juliet into the kitchen. She knew she was very lucky to have parents and a family that was so accepting of her. She knew some kids weren’t as lucky.