fuck;

Yeah, man, no problem. I really can’t imagine what you guys are going through. I’ll always be around if you need me. Ben’s gonna be alright. I know I said it already, but I mean it. He will. 

“The more the merrier, man,” Aleks smiled as a sense of relief filled his body - he was happy to see Miles feeling a bit more comfortable and calm.  He called Ember, Oakley and Niko from the family room, and they slowly but surely scurried out to the foyer. “You know, you lucked out with baby mamas,” Aleks joked to Miles, tossing a tan beanie over Niko’s curly hair, “I couldn’t even imagine all of my ex-girlfriends being in a room together, let alone living in the same house.  Aubree and Taylor handle it so well. You can tell how much they love the kids.” 

Ah, shit, alright. I’ll try my best, I’ll try my best. 

No pressure or anything....

Miles was special. He was a tattooed bad boy with a heart of gold. A young man that might scare an old lady on the street just by his appearance alone, but also the World’s Best Father. He was Aubree’s rock. Her anchor in the rocky waves of life. Her saving grace. And though life had brought her her fair share of evil ex-boyfriends, Miles would the last man she ever loved. She wasn’t much of the marriage type, (though a sexy wedding dress and the kids dressed up as flower girls and ring boys was awfully appealing), but she knew that with or without the wifey title, she and Miles would be together forever. It was that that made Benny’s health issues just a little less scary to Aubree - because her and Miles were facing it together. “I love you more,” She whispered back to him, taking her thumbs and wiping the tears off his cheeks and the little bit of snot from his nose, “We’re so lucky to have you, Mi, you have no idea. You’re the best father I could’ve ever dreamed of for my kids,” It was Aubree’s turn to tear up, her eyes fogging with tears, “Benny’s going to be alright, right? I know everyone is telling us he’s going to be, but, I don’t know. I want to know what you’re thinking.” 

As Aleks was embraced by Miles, it took him back to the younger, scared man he was himself after Viv passed away. He remembered taking every ounce of humility he had in himself and knocking on Nora’s door, a now single father of three, and breaking down, pulling his estranged, foster sister in for a long, much-needed hug. Aleks had come a long way since then, and he was so thankful for Nora’s kindness, now, he hoped to be that beacon of hope and kindness for Miles. “Don’t apologize,” Aleks said calmly, patting Miles back, “The worst thing you can feel as a parent is hopeless. You always want to have the answers to their questions and the things to make their boo-boos and problems better. It’s hard when you can’t. I don’t know if you believe in any kind of God, man, but a lot of praying has really got me through my hard times. I know that sometimes feels like a cop out, but it’s the truth. Well, God and booze and Nora and lots of babysitters all helped me if I’m being entirely honest,” Aleks cracked a small smile, taking another look at the worn down young man in front of him, “Why don’t we go grab a bite to eat? Take a couple of the kids off of Aubree’s hands for a little and I’ll bring along my motley crue too. Might be nice for all of you to get a change of scenario and some greasy food.” 

Miles wiped his face one last time with the back of his hands. With his hands on his hips, he nodded in agreement. “Yeah, man. I could always eat,” Miles spoke. “My group will enjoy it. I’ll, uh, invite Taylor and her two. I’d like to see Chaisee for a bit too.”

Yeah, yeah, I’ll take a couple of ‘em and we’ll go to the park and have a picnic and do all the things! You and Aubree can go be with Lil Man for as long as you want. I’m also the World’s Best bedtime story reader, so if I need to put the kids down to sleep, I can probably do that too with little to no tears, not to flex on you or anything. 

-

I hope you do funny voices because Ava won’t sleep if you don’t do the voices. 

I pray I never have to go through it either, and to be honest, I think Moon was a one ‘n done in terms of kids for me. As long as he doesn’t break any bones or get too sick growing up, hopefully I’ll be alright and stay outta the hospitals with ‘em. Mina’s a kook sometimes though, so, she might end up busting something too, but yeah. Yeah, man, and I really mean it when I say let me watch your kids or cook ya’ll some dinner or do anything I can to help. 

-

Thanks for talking to me, man. Not many’a my friends got young kids, so they don’t know what it’s like. 

Aubree was used to Miles’ temper. Sometimes it bubbled up slowly, other times it was calm and tamed, and rarely, it was eruptive. This time, she could see it had been brewing for a while. As for her, the tipping point came from the producers asking about Bennett, and she was one-hundred percent with Miles’ as he stormed out of the make-shift studio in the basement. “Hey,” She laid a gentle hand on his back, and finally, for the first time since Benny’s birth, Miles broke down. It was rare that he cried, and when he did it was normally in happy moments versus sad ones, so Aubree just pulled Miles in close, cuddling into him like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly. “You don’t have to keep your shit together for the both of us, baby,” She breathed, looking up at his sweet face and wiping his tears away with her thumbs, “We both got us for the both of us. You don’t have to carry it all on your own. He’s going to be alright,” Aubree planted a kiss on his teary, snotty lips, “I love you.” 

As Miles shouted, Aleks saw a lot of his younger self in him. It was just a couple weeks after Viv got diagnosed with her fast-spreading cancer that he had an outburst of emotions just like this. How would he ever be able to survive as a widow with three young children? To him, his world would seemingly end when Viv passed, and yet it was the words of his sweet sister, Nora, that kept Aleks’ head above water then. Now, he hoped to be just as supportive to Miles. “You’ve got us all, alright? A whole family behind you who won’t let you hold up the world all by yourself,” He spoke in a calming tone, “And none of us expect you or Aubree or Taylor or any of your kids to have it all together right now. Hell, with all those damn kids I don’t expect you to have it all together ever,” He playfully and affectionately squeezed the back of Miles’ neck. “Strong doesn’t mean tough and stoic all the time, right? You’re strong for getting your emotions out and not bottling ‘em up. You’re strong for naming what’s hurting your heart. You’re strong for showing your kids love even during this shitty, unimaginable time. You’ll be alright, man. So will Bennett.” 

Yeah, yeah, I bet. Just one day at a time, man, y’know like they’ll tell ya in AA. One day at a time. It’s corny, but true. And in a couple’a years he’ll be healthy and running around causing chaos and these times will just feel like a bad, weird nightmare. 

I couldn’t imagine having a baby in the NICU ever, man. It’s gotta be beyond terrifying. I’m here for you guys, alright? I mean it. We’re family.

Why don’t you let me watch your kids tomorrow for a little while and you can go be with him some more? I got ‘em. And by I…I mean me and Iris.

It’s hard shit, man. 

I don’t think it’s ever a fun place, babe…Nick, I’m done talking about Benny. You’ve gotten enough from us, and if you haven’t, I’m sure the editors will figure out a way to piece together other bits and pieces so you have. We wanna go spend time with our kids, please.