With This… 8B

Travis had gotten Sawyer's response finally. He held his sigh of disappointment until after Toby left his office before letting it out. To be clear, he did want to spend time with his sons. It would be easier than flying out there. At least he told himself that. Tom had reluctantly said yes and Sawyer stalled until the last minute and made new plans. He didn't mind Sawyer's plans at all. But for the sake of the fact that they hadn't been in the same room together in nearly if not more than five months, he was disappointed at the wasted opportunity. In fact, there is a possibility that Tom might change his mind when he finds out Sawyer isn't coming. What difference would it make if none of them are with him for the summer? He rubbed his face. No difference really. After all he's always been alone in this house while they stayed in the other one. He'd made that choice. In any case, he wouldn't be telling Sawyer to come home. And he'll leave it to Sawyer to tell his brother he isn't coming home. He sighed again, searching through papers on his desk he didn't need at the moment. It would have been nice to have them over.

***

It was easy for Sawyer to pick the design his mother would have had done for Peggy's cake. Of course she could out source the whole thing. But certain events, she took control of. Like milestone graduations and certain birthdays. His and Tom's fifteenth birthdays, and undoubtedly Peggy's sixteenth would have be wildly out sourced. She had someone and stand by.

As opposed to spending his summer break in Otto's house, he'd chosen to spend it in a hotel room close to Otto's house. Otto couldn't get him to agree to stay with him. He just wanted his space. Nevertheless, in the five days since he'd been in the room, Otto had come over four times. He'd said it was almost like school. Of course they'd gone out too.

And now, as he read through what he'd written, he remembered his own doodle looking cake design. He was eleven and had just found out he needed glasses. He didn't exactly love the idea of having to wear them. While he moped in his room, she came in with a cake she'd had just for him that had glasses drawn on it. He didn't get the joke. "It's just glasses." She'd said. Dropping his four inch cake on his bed in front of him. "It's not going to make you any different. Of course when you're older you could use contacts. But it's just glasses." She stroked his hair with one hand and revealed two fork and a small assuring smile. "I'll still wallow with you for a bit." She had stayed there until he took a bite and then she did as well. Her presence alone made him feel better. They shared his cake. "You could always take it off when you want to." She'd said when they were done eating wallow cake. Up until two days ago, and in this moment, he'd never thought of that time. He didn't even think about wearing contacts. Not even for a moment.

All the while he was lost in his memory, his phone was ringing. It had gone off and rung again and he still didn't notice until it was too late. Just as he noticed the screen light, it vanished. Snatching it up, he saw the caller ID: Tom. For a second he wondered why Tom was calling, then it began to ring again.

"You're not coming are you?" Tom blurted out when he picked up.

"I thought dad told you."

"Was he supposed to?"

He wasn't. Sawyer didn't answer. He scowled. "Well?"

"I Told you." "You're right, you did. But what I remember is you saying maybe. You made your decision and didn't tell me."

"Tom I-"

"I'm here Sawyer!" Sawyer could hear the hurt. "I'm not gone. I'm here. All you had to do was tell me."

"I'm sorry. But don't make me out as some jerk alright! You know what?" He didn't feel like talking. "Call Tate and ask him what I told him."

Tom scoffed. "So I don't deserve to hear what ever it is from you as well?"

Sawyer clenched his jaw, upset. "You didn't call me Tom. And when I call you it's always one thing or the other. Don't take your anger out on me."

"I didn't call you?! When I called, your phone never rang! Not once in like two months. I had to hear everything from dad!"

"I guess we've both been pretty terrible haven't we?" On realizing that, he was calmer. He sighed. "I'm not coming Tom. And you know why. Deal with it." He hung up. So… he was still upset. Just not upset enough to yell.

=Peggy's party was in full swing. Her friends all over the place. Finding spots away from all the adults none of them wanted to be in contact with for the next few hours. While Peggy knew almost all the kids at her party, she spent her time with Aida. Only going to greet whoever whenever her mother instructed her to. Each time she gave her mother a 'whiny' look. "You know how this works now go." And she always did. Of course with Aida by her side. When she wasn't talking to kids her age or slightly younger she was friends with, she was talking to adults. In every three adults she spoke to, she got two envelopes of cash. Way awesome. She compared it to having a birthday party.

Almost everyone she knows came to her party. Including her aunt and her a little children. However, Peggy didn't like children so after a greeting she forced herself to give, she was off and out of sight from the children she liked to call 'it'.

Tanner, was present and absent at the same time. With his best friend in attendance they were barely at the party except for food. Both were in his room playing video games and ignoring the music and guests downstairs until he too… they actually, were both called downstairs to greet just like Peggy was made to do. "It's normal to greet guests when you host. You know that." Steph said to them both.

"It's not my party. Come on mom." His hands on his game controller and eyes on the tv screen.

"It's the least you can do. It's a party for your sister in your house now move it."

"Uhh…" Trip, the best friend put up his hand. "It's not my house."

She sighed, tilted her head and planted her hands on her hips. "Just for today then huh?"

Trip chuckled. "Mmmm maybe?"

"Get down there." She pointed out his room. "Both of you. Don't give me a headache."

Tanner rubbed his eyes as he sighed. "Fine." He grumbled. "Let's go. The quicker the better." He dumped his game controller.

The front door had been opening and closing for almost four hours. Guests coming and going. One of the times it opened again had Peggy screaming and the whole room stood still when her father walked in faking surprise that was nowhere as real as hers. She ran to her father who she hadn't seen in weeks and jumped on him like he'd been gone for years. "You're here!" She said into his coat, holding him tight.

"Did you think I'd miss this? Come on."

She lifted her head and saw her cake in someone's hands. Looking further up, the sight had her gasping and struggling to get out of her father's hold. "Shane!"

"Take it easy Peggy." Someone said, half the guests who noticed the struggle were laughing. The other half chatted among themselves about the return of father and son.

"Let her go Travis. Before you get hurt."

"Can I not hold my daughter?"

Shane's return had been a last minute surprise that Steph knew would take her daughter over the edge. She watched her as she finally got down from her father and made her way to Shane and the cake. The cake! "The cake Peggy! Be careful!" Her breath trapped itself in her throat. Luckily, her warning got her to stop just in time. Her eyes made contact with her husband and he knew just what to do.

He turned around and grabbed the cake. "I'll take that."

"You came!" Peggy continued like nothing happened. Giving him the hug that was delayed for about thirty seconds.

"It's summer. I had to. If I didn't I'd be trapped in school and starve."

She giggled. "I missed you."

"Congratulations Sid. You're going to high school."

"I absolutely cannot wait."

"Hi Shane!" The voice of a bold enough thirteen year old girl reached them and Peggy burst into laughter. A high pitched, fun filled laugh that had Shane smiling as he closed his eyes and let go of her.

While their hug was over. She stuck to him like glue. Parading him around her friends nonchalantly and telling him everything that he'd missed in the last three days since their last call. And when the party was over, everyone sat in the living room, including Trip and his sister, to open her presents and have cake and listen to stories about what had happened in school for the children while their father told them about strange things and people he met at the airport. And Steph told them about a crazy drama that had gone on at a photo shoot. A great way to celebrate Peggy's achievement.=