ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

(James)
=I had just finished putting the plates down when they walked out of the room=
"Hey, you girls hungry?"

(Sam)
"Yeah. Starving."

Eve nodded. "Yeah!" She grinned.

(Andrew)

=I nod=

Alright...just checking in.

=I looked back at Sarah and Mira, smiling at the two, then turning my attention back to the road=

Well, they certainly are getting along quite well...

(Sarah)

=I lay back in the seat, a smile on my face as I took a nap=

So what, I like it...deal with it.

=I give Mira a light kiss on the cheek, and then lay my head on the back of the seat=

Mira blushed, but snuggled up a bit more.
She closed her eyes and took a nap.

(James)
=Sitting down, they joined me and I was suddenly struck with a strange thought: this was a lot like my family, before all this shit=

(Sam)
"James? You okay?"

(James)
=Shaking my head and coming back to the present, I sighed=
"Yah, yeah I'm good."

Eve looked at Sam, then leaned towards her ear.
"Can I...sit on your lap?"

(Sam)
=I sighed=
"Eve.....you have a chair, and I'd like to eat. Can't you sit there?"

Eve nodded. "I can try!"
Laughing softly, she took her seat.

(Book)
"What's been going on while I was.....out?"

*Marcus*
"A lot. We found James, and Hibiki. They're still okay, and we have a destination, further east. We're on our way to meet up with Cooper first though."

(Book)
"God be praised...."

(James)
"So.....this is a nice family brunch."

Eve nodded. "Yep!"

Hibiki reached over to rub Eve's head, then looked at Sam. "Thanks for making her happy."

(Sam)
"No problem. It was....a long time coming."

(James)
"So, we're probably going to be the first ones to get to that town. Think Marcus and Cooper will make it?"

"Of course!" Hibiki said, digging in with Eve.

(Sam)
"I'm sure they'll be fine James, odds ar-wait, did you say Cooper? When did you talk with him?"

(James)
=Right, that had slipped my mind=
"Oh yeah, he got on the radio earlier. Managed to get to a radio tower, contacted Marcus and I. They both agreed on a place to meet, join up, then travel from."

(Sam)
"Oh. Good."

Eve and Hibiki ate...mostly silent.

(James)
"So.....pity we haven't had much of a chance to really use the bike, huh Hibiki?"

(Sam)
"Oh right, you guys still have that thing."

Hibiki smirked.
"Not losing my baby, not when I can put it on the boat."

(James)
"Still seems wasted. We don't stay on the ground long enough to get much use out of her."

"She'll be useful. Just gotta wait."
Hibiki finished her catfish.

(James)
"Heh, it's been three weeks. Think we've waited long enough?"

"We've been on a river James. A river."
Hibiki rolled her eyes. "You're complaining it's useless. Well, I highly doubt this yacht is useful for driving cross country."

(James)
"Nope. But it's sure been useful sailing cross country."

Hibiki facepalmed.
"I give up." She got up and started to walk towards her cabin.

Eve finished and waited for Sam.

(James)
=It was too much, I burst out laughing=
"Oh come on, was it that bad?"

(Sam)
"It kinda was James."
=I still had a lot of fish to deal with. It wasn't that I was a slow eater, I just wanted to savor the taste=

Eve kissed Sam's hair, not wanting to impede her eating.
"I'm gonna go wait in our room." She smiled. "Don't hurry; I'll be there."
She headed off as well.

Hibiki maintained silence.

(James)
"Well, she seems eager doesn't she?"

(Sam)
"Oh shut up James."
=With that, I got up and followed Eve=

(James)
=I looked to Hibiki=
"So......is it going to be nothing but this all the way to that town?"

Hibiki shrugged. "No clue."
She left.

Eve heard footsteps and turned around.
"Sam? I thought you were still eating..." she looked a bit ashamed. "I didn't make you leave did I?"

(Sam)
"In a manner."
=It was all I said before I picked her up and kissed her=

(James)
"So....guess I'll just stay here.....and sit.....oh fuck it."
=With that I got up, and got in my room. I could probably do with a nap=

Eve was pretty surprised when Sam picked her up.
She was sure her mind short-circuited when Sam kissed her.

So Eve did the only thing to come to mind.
She kissed right back.

Hibiki was already there, curled up on one side of the bed, sleeping her lunch off.

(James)
=Sighing, I got down on the bed next to Hibiki. It was hard to sleep though, mostly because I wanted to do something, anything but just lay in bed=

(Sam)
=Almost giggling into the kiss, I tossed her onto the bed and followed. It wasn't going to be like before, since we had eaten. But it would still be enjoyable=

=The Shepherd convoy was making good time. Now that they knew where to go, they cold take a series of back roads as short cuts. They would be waiting near the town=

Eve giggled, bouncing with a soft thump.
"Someone's eager."

(Sam)
"Just a bit."
=Then I pounced on her, but there was the sound of polite knocking.....from the wall=

(James)
"Hey can you two keep it down in there? Seriously."

Eve blinked.
"But daddy...we just got on the bed?"
She blinked.

(James)
"That's what I meant. I could hear you landing."
=Stepping back from the wall, I sat down on the bed, frowning=

(Sam)
"Well, that made things awkward."

Eve blinked, then shrugged.
"So...what were you planning?"

(Sam)
"Just cuddling and kissing really."

(James)
=I looked to Hibiki, a little bit jealous=
Sure. While my adopted daughter is enjoying herself, my wife is asleep. Don't even get to have a conversation anymore....

Eve giggled. "I offered shirt or shirtless. Do you wanna choose?" She asked.

Hibiki rolled over.
"What did you do?"

(Sam)
"Shirt. No nude cuddling for you."

(James)
"Jesus you're awake!"
=I was not expecting that, and it kinda made me flinch=

"Uh, nothing. Just yelled at Sam and Eve to keep it down while they move around."

"Aww.." she snuggled under Sam, hugging her down against her.
"Then could you...make up for the weeks of no kissing?"

(Sam)
"With pleasure."

(James)
"So.....feeling okay?"

"Feeling good." She yawned.

Eve smiled, gently pulling Sam's face closer.
"Then stop making me wait."

(Sam)
=Suddenly, my lips closed with hers, and we soon devolved into a battle of lips=

(James)
"That seems to be happening to you a lot lately. I know it's probably part of the pregnancy, but you aren't that far along, I think."

"I just want all the sleep I can get... been awhile since I could sleep without worry." She said.

Eve was willingly losing the battle of lips...but hugged Sam a bit tighter.

(James)
"Heh, yeah I guess. It's just...."
=I sighed=

"I feel like we don't talk anymore. I mean we do, but it feels like there something missing from it."

(Andrew)

=I yawned once again, not having the pleasure to not be in the driver's seat. I blamed it on myself=

Well...live and learn Andrew

=I gave a brief smile, seeing the pleasant expression on their faces as they slept=

"Then lets talk." She answered.

(James)
"Okay.....um, lets see here."
=Searching for something's talk about was hard=

"Well, anything been on your mind lately?"

"Eve's growing up...and it makes me...sad." she closed her eyes. "I can't even say I remember her when she was a child. And she's all grown up."

(James)
"Yeah.....and at least you've gotten to see her grow up, at least longer than I have anyway. And cared for her more. You two....have a stronger bond than I with her."

"You should work on that bond." She said softly. "She needs a father."

(James)
"I've been trying. But when I try....."
=I cast a glance at the door, in Eve's direction=

"It always seems like she wants to be with Sam more than me. I get that, I do. She loves her. I just wish....you know."