chapter4

Bright and early the next morning Joe woke to his alarm buzzing in his ear fumbling to turn it off before it woke the whole house. Hitting the snooze button he flopped back down groaning, "The one day I'm allow to sleep in and I forget to kill the alarm."

Hearing his brother moving about in his room groaning, "Gee what a wake up call." Slowly moving, he crawled out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom he shared with Frank hoping to nab the shower first before Frank did.

Hearing a noise coming for the shower, Joe crept forward and peered around the side.

What he saw put a smile on his face. Lapping up the water from the shower wall was Frank's kitten, Little Miss. She was a gray long hair tabby, two months old. Her mother is their family cat Hedi. Joe himself just became a proud owner of a little brown male puppy called Nikko, who was born the same time as Frank's kitten. Both of the family pets gave birth at the same time. Lucky Lady was a three year old Golden Receiver.

"Hey Frank? Come and see this." Waiting for Frank to appear in the doorway.

Frank heard his brother calling him walking over to the bathroom, "What is it?"

Pointing to Little Miss, he smiled over at Frank saying, "Do you think she would like a shower?"

With a smile, Frank scooped her up saying, "Hey you how did you get up here."

Looking over amused as he watch Frank scratched her between her ears.

"Wow, listen to that purr. She's got a great engine." Joe said with a smile.

Frank grinned saying, "You better get dressed before the others arrive for breakfast."

Joe nodded as he petted, Little Miss, who nuzzled his hand.

Frank said, "Ok Little miss lets leave so Joey can have a shower and get ready."

Walking out of the bathroom with her in his arms.

Ten minutes later, Joe was showered and dress and heading down the stairs when the doorbell rung, "I've got it." Joe called out.

Walking over to the door he opened it and saw Sam Radley and his family, "Hey Sam come in, come in," Opening the door wider so Sam and his wife could carry the sleeping twins into the house behind them was a five year old girl and a three year old boy, "Hey June and Sammie how are my favorite little people?"

Giggling they race in and threw them selves at him falling into a heap on the floor, June who was sitting on his chest told him, "Joey we're getting the puppy today."

Moving his head so that he was looking at her said, "I know love and he waiting to go home with you. Have you picked a name for him?"

With a nod Sammie who has been sitting on the floor beside him shuffled closer so he could whisper the name to him, "He gonna 'e called Flash."

"Wow that a really cool name Sammie." Joe said as he ruffled Sammie hair.

Frank walked by saying, "Sammie I agree who picked it out?"

Shyly looking up at him he pointed to himself with his chubby index finger, "I did, Frank."

Picking June up from his brother Frank gave her a hug before setting her down on to her feet saying, "June I think Flash is waiting for a hug in the kitchen."

In a flash she darted off with Sammie on her heels, squealing in glee.

Frank helped Joe off the floor saying, "You better get Nikko Joe."

Dusting himself off he wandered into the kitchen with a smile as his mom and dad stepped around children and animals, spotting Nikko by his mother while the other puppies chased their toys around the floor falling over their feet causing mayhem as the children chased them.

When Fenton saw Joe, he asked, "Joe when are the boys coming for the others?"

"Today sometime." Joe told him.

Walking over to where Nikko and Lucky were he patted Lucky saying, "Well old girl this is the last morning of this your little ones will be in other homes."

With doleful eyes Lucky look at him as if to say, 'My babies leaving?'

Sam and his wife Ellen placed the baby seat onto the counter saying, "Good morning people."

Laura started cooing at the babies as they watched her with sleepily eyes, "My how they have grown since I last saw them."

Sam walked over to the table and sat down beside Fenton asking, "So have you heard yet or not?"

"Find out today." He told his partner.

Sam, Sandy hair, five foot eleven, with bright green eyes, looked over at Laura asking, "Nervous?"

"Nope, we have been wanting another child for a while now, as you know."

Sam chuckled, "Old Fenton a daddy again, I know you both want a girl but what if it's a boy? Or Twins?"

Joe piped up, "We return it."

Frank kidded, "We'll sue the stork for the wrong baby."

Laura was proud of how the boys took the news of them wanting another child both of them stood by their parents in wanting a child.

Joe was happy at the news of their parents wanting another child. He knew that he dad wanted a girl. He always looked at his brothers and sisters with envy. Joe and Frank both knew that their father loved them but he always wanted a daughter. Joe backed his parents in the decision and they knew that if they weren't totally behind them they wouldn't go ahead with it.

Frank watched his mom cooing at Alex and Rachel with a smile saying, "So Sam have they ran you rugged yet?"

With a fond look at the latest editions to his family saying, "Nah not yet, they mainly sleep, cry, and poop and wet their nappies, it the other two that run me rugged."

Just then June climbed into her daddy lap saying, "Daddy?" Like her father June had green eyes and light blond hair, while Sammie was dark like his mother with hazel eyes.

Looking down at his eldest daughter saying, "Mm what pumpkin?"

Giggling she said, "Me and Sammie hungry."

Fenton looked over saying, "Hey June?"

With a smile at the little girl he said, "Tell aunty Laura that we are hungry."

With a surprise look she asked, "You to? Daddy told me that you ate before I woke up."

"Did he love you tell daddy that it didn't work."

Roaring with laughter, Fenton ruffled her hair saying, "Never mind love."

With the Hardy's and the Radley's it was a common joke that when Sam came over Fenton had already eaten and when Fenton went over Sam had already eaten.

Crawling off Sam's lap she walked over to her aunty tugging on her jeans she told her,

"Auntie, unc' and I are hungry."

"Ok breakfast is on it's way love tell uncle to hold his horses." Throwing a look at her husband saying, "A certain male could help."

Fenton shot back, "Frank and Joe help your mother."

Laura said, "They are already love I was talking about a certain male sitting at the table."

"Sam you mean?" Fenton asked.

"Nope, this certain male has dark hair and he happens to be married to me."

Looking about the room he said, "Mmm whoever it is please move your butt,"

Sam shook his head with a smirk saying, "Fent old boy you're gonna pay big time you know?"

"Oy I know." Throwing a grin at his wife he stood up and walked over to her giving her a hug and a kiss.

June called out, "Yukkie, Daddy Unc' does what you do as well."

Sam blushing brightly as the rest of the room roared with laughter, Joe said, "Ahh now the secret's out Sam."

Frank picked up the plates from the counter, once he managed to control his laugher.

Hearing a loud backfire he said, "Quick hide the food, Chet and them are here."

Hearing the door open and Chet call out, "Anyone home?"

Frank called back, "In the kitchen."

Chet and the gang trooped into the kitchen, Chet rubbed his stomach saying, "See I told you we didn't miss anything."

Vanessa said, "Hey guys."

Joe walked over, pecking her cheek, as Sam told June, "See June Joe and Frank are as well."

"Not the same daddy," She told him.

"Yeah, Sam not the same." Joe mimic back.

"Ok everyone have a seat. Breakfast is ready." Gertrude told them.

With a scramble to the table, everyone sat down for the meal.

An hour later, with the last dish put away, everyone trooped outside.

Laura called out, "Joe remember we need to be at the doctors at one."

"Who is first you or me?" He asked.

"You are love, then right after me. We have a back to back appointment." She told him.

Chet told them, "You know your mother is amazing. She had you two and she's what to go through that again."

Callie said, "You'd think after Joe she would have stop, he a mother's nightmare."

Sam, who heard her, warned, "Callie's that enough."

Shamefaced, she said, "Sorry Mrs. Hardy."

Joe jumped up and walked away from them. He usually didn't let what Callie say get to him, but that remark hit him hard.

Fenton sternly said, "Callie, I think you better leave, and don't come back till you can respect everyone in this house and before you leave apologize to Joe."

Looking at Frank, who was looking at the ground picking at his fingers, "You gonna just sit there and say nothing?"

Looking up at her he said, "You better do as my dad says Callie. He's not joking and it's best for us not to see each other till you sort out whatever it is that makes you say those sort of things about my brother."

Stunned, Callie asked, "You're breaking up with me?"

Before he could saying anything Fenton spoke, "Callie, please go."

In shock, she stood there staring at Frank saying, "I can't believe you would breakup just because of a remark about Joe."

Laura frowned at her saying, "Callie it's more than a remark. You have done this before to Joe. Like last night and other times. Today was the last straw Callie, now please leave."

Looking at the others then at Vanessa, "You coming?"

Shaking her head she said, "Sorry, I'm staying."

Looking at the others, who were embarrassed by what happened, refused to look at her.

Meanwhile Joe walked to the front of the house. Just as he sat down a black B.M.W convertible pulled into the driveway. Chet's sister, Iola, stepped out of the car. Iola had been modeling in New York and decided to break it off with Joe five months ago. She put her career ahead of their relationship, not giving him a say in the matter.

Callie walked by spotting her, "Hey when did you get back?"

Iola looked over at Joe who she had spotted as she pulled up sitting on the pouch with

Lucky and a puppy in his lap, waving over at him as she replied, "This morning, where are you off to?"

Glaring over at Joe, she told her what happened, "I made a remark that went over like a lead balloon and because of it, Frank dumped me."

Iola said, "Maybe you went too far Callie."

"Iola how can you say that?"

Looking over at Joe with regret she said, "Is it worth it Callie?"

Looking over at Joe Callie said, "He broke your heart Iola."

"That's where you're wrong Callie." Looking over at her friend, she shook her head and walked away.