#kelseyslife

“Kelsey who are you talking to in there?” Their cheerful banter must have caught his attention, “THEA?! How the fuck --”

“I don’t know! I just am!” Thea cried in defense before he could finish his sentence, “I was trying to do my school work but it was so boring and I started thinking of Kelsey! Then it was like all black and then I was - then I was here! I don’t know!”  

“It’s true daddy! Please don’t be mad!” Kelsey added knowing full well that her father was already not having the best day.

While her dad made a few calls to cancel his appointments Kelsey headed to her room to mope a bit outside of his protective eye. As well as her father had done to mitigate the damage she still was feeling a little off. I mean really, why didn’t her mother want to spend time with her? Was there something wrong with her? As she thought things over she was startled by a sudden shaft of light in the room. 

“Hey! I was just thinking about you!” Her friend cheered as she materialized in front of her. “Cool!! Wait... are you scared?I really didn’t mean to startle you! I didn’t know this would happen! I’m sorry!”

“I’m not scared!” Kelsey yelled in her defense, “You just fuckin’ popped out of nowhere like a damn ground-squirrel or somethin’.” 

“You totally were afraid, you’re swearing!! You only do that when you’re upset! I bet you thought it was an creepy alien or a nasty boy.” 

“I did not!!! And do I need to remind you that  you ARE an alien weirdo?!” 

“Dammit Luna.” She heard her father curse as she entered the house. He quickly made his way over to meet her, though she could tell by his face he was less than thrilled to see her there, “You should have called me baby, I could have walked you back home.”

“It’s not that far daddy. I walk to the cafe after school all the time!” 

“Still you should have let me know your mom hadn’t shown up, I thought you were half way to the city by now. What if I had left? You’d be all alone here! Everyone else went to the cabin as soon as Harmony and Eric got back from school.” 

“Oh...” Kelsey sighed, she hadn’t really thought of the possibility that they’d leave so quickly, “I’m sorry daddy, are you going to the cabin too?” 

“No I had other plans but it’s okay sweetheart.”

“I’m sorry.” She felt really bad, her dad didn’t get out much without her and now he was stuck with her again. She knew he’d never say it or show it but sometimes she wondered if he resented her when stuff like this happened. 

“Hey stop that shit!” He seemed to panic in the wake of her sad reply and knelt down to reach for her, “I’m sorry if I seem frustrated but this is really not your fault honey. Please don’t feel bad. We’ll figure something out and Monday you can to tell your friends about how much fun you had with your dad instead.” 

“Okay daddy but it doesn’t seem fair.” 

“Cause it’s not but you damn well know what we’ll do.” 

“Make the best of it.” 

“Fuck yeah baby, ” Her dad smiled giving her a quick v sign with his fingers, “It’s the venture way. Now you think you got a hug for me? I really think I could use one right now.” 

“Sure do!” She grinned feeling a little better as he awkwardly scooped all fifty pounds of her into his arms. It wasn’t okay what had happened but at least she knew her dad would figure out a way to make everything feel aright. Just like he always did. “I love you daddy.” 

The late summer sun hung mercilessly in the sky as Kelsey sat waiting outside the fence of the now abandoned playground. It had only been an hour or so before that she still had high hopes for her holiday weekend. Retirement Day was a big deal for her family as both of her parents and grandparents were former soldiers in the previously mandatory Katarotosi Guard. Her father often spoke of the great decommission with pride, how 'fuckin wonderful’ it was that the ‘assholes’ back in the capitol finally realized they were actual people now and not just tools of the state.  

The day had different meaning for Kelsey herself though, it was the one day a year she was guaranteed to see her mother. After her fifth birthday her mom had made a point to at least have her that weekend, they’d go visit the family Mausoleum to pay their respects to her lost uncles and grandfather, then follow it up with something cheery like a day at the beach or a festival. Las Palmas was always guaranteed to have something fun going on no matter what time of year it was. As the clock at town hall sung the calls of a new hour though the eight year old blonde felt the last bits of her hope trickle away. 

“You were just too much of a compulsive romantic when you were younger. I mean obviously...”  Audriel sighed as she countered his conflict,  “And asking every girl that spreads her legs for you is probably not going to give you the best track record. You were a fuckin’ teenager when you were with Stacia and Vex was always trying to hard to fix everything that wasn’t wrong. Honestly Iris would have been the most practical of your baby mama’s but since she was Stacia’s friend you both got all fuckin’ weird about it. Anyway, my point is you’re nearly forty man and rampant fertility problems aside, you seem like you actually have your shit together for once. I just don’t see why you need to be nervous about this. I mean clearly you fuckin’ love the girl right?” 

“Yeah of course.” 

“Then don’t be like your dumbass uncle and string the her along. You know how much I hate that wishy washy bullshit.” She growled in her business tone, “I just love you man and don’t wanna see you end up all depressive and alone like our friend Mr. Independence over there.” 

 “Thanks Audri really.” Ti mumbled under his breath in disdain. 

"So Daph’s just feeling a bit under the weather then?” Bastian swallowed down hard as he waited for Aurdi’s gavel to drop. It wasn’t that he was trying to hide anything but he knew if he had said more than that over the phone she’d make a deal out of it. “Yeah that’s what I thought. By the fucking Matron Bash how many is this now? Seven? And I didn’t think you followed your mama’s religion but you’re doing a damn good job adding to the population just like your Nani would want you to.” 

“You know I don’t, that mother goddess fertility stuff is bullshit” Bastian grumbled as he mentally prepared for the usual lecture,  ”and it’s eight actually, pretty sure it’s twins this time cause fuck my luck right?”

“And how old is your youngest?” 

“Frey is about a year old now.” 

“Seriously man, you really need to go to one of those big box stores and buy the largest fuckin’ container of condoms they have.” Tidus added with a tease. Bastian could tell by his tone he was relishing in his misery a bit. Not that he could blame him, Tidus’ own love life was essentially non-existent these days. 

“Yeah and then after that go to a fuckin’ jewelry store and get ring to put on it cause you fuckin’ owe that girl after all this shit.” Audriel continued her mothering,  “Can’t live near her daddy cause you hate Palmas while you pump her full of babies. I know she says she don’t care but you gotta feel like you’re slackin’ off here man.”