---
Darren
For a couple of weeks, Tyler drove us around in my Lamborghini. It made me uncomfortable, and it wasn't only from my anxiety. It was the type of car that you only owned if you were a millionaire. Driving it around was like rubbing it in everyone's faces.
We left it parked on the curb at the edge of town for ten minutes, and came back to a group of lads circling it, taking pictures on their phones. They startled and jumped back when it flashed at Tyler unlocking it - he seemed amused enough, smirking at them as he walked around to the door. I just felt obnoxious.
Hi, I'm a rich cunt.
Do you like my car? With the scissor doors, so it can't even fit in multi-story carparks if the ceiling is too low.
Fucking hell.
I couldn't wait to go to the dealer to pick up Tyler's new Chevy.
*
That year was going fast. Before I knew it, it was November. Amelia was running about all over the place, preparing for what was coming. Marcus kept coming around on errands from my uncle. My phone never stopped ringing. Even Zack barely left his office.
The prototype impressed, and we beat competition. We were in contract with the military.
The security of my company was going to be funded by the government.
Jackson told me that he was going to do everything he could, to make sure I was kept up to date on whatever happened with the case. No more keeping me in the dark. I wanted to know, I deserved to know.
There would forever be this grey cloud hanging over my life, but I accepted it. I wasn't going to live in fear. I wasn't going to stand down from what I had created, what I wanted to do, how I wanted to live. I could say that for more than just this trouble with the 'black market'.
Jackson made sure that I would be more prepared, should something happen again. He was adamant that there would never be another slip-up, as my family was back under police protection, but he wanted to 'take precautions'. He got me in somewhere to take self-defence classes, and forced Tyler into it, too. He would be 'professionally taught how to subdue and apprehend, without excessive violence'.
"So you don't fucking kill someone again."
Tyler rolled his eyes. "All right, Ted."
I couldn't do much more than shrug apologetically when Jackson gave me a look of daggers. He was going to be Ted forever, just as much as I could be 'babe', 'sweet-cheeks', 'honey-butt', and whatever the fuck else. He might have taken a bit too much pleasure in skillfully demonstrating a take-down on Tyler at the instructor's behest.
When I was ordered to perform the same, Tyler was a giggling mess on the floor beneath me, clinging to my clothing to keep me on top of him.
"Ted. Ted, I can't do this."
"Why?"
"I'm getting a massive boner."
Even the instructor clasped a hand to his forehead. "Jesus fucking Christ."
I was also taught how to wield firearms. But I wasn't supposed to put that skillset to use. Jackson informed me that he'd never had to. Firmly. Once I was striking a series of targets, reloading, and striking them again within the time limit, he nodded at me and crossed his arms.
"Good thing you'll never be hitting a moving target, right?"
Right.
*
We spent Christmas Day around Amelia's and Zack's. I don't think anything could have been a more homely atmosphere. This was the closest family I'd ever had, and it was good to see Amelia's parents again. They'd always treated me close to their own son. They were... pleasantly surprised, to learn of my relationship with Tyler. It was a bit strange that they already knew him. It reminded me of what Amelia said, with everything coming full circle.
What was Christmas without a kid to get unfathomably excited about presents under the tree? David was what made that day so memorable.
Amelia and Tyler had been working together on a present for him. They built a remote controlled car from scratch, using spare parts from the labs. Amelia had done most of the circuiting and Tyler had burnt himself, at least three times, soldering it all together.
The paper came off in a flurry. David squealed and ran around the house before calming down enough to drive it, crashing it into everything while he learnt the controls. It was a sturdy thing, 90% metal, and Amelia was more concerned about her furniture.
I wish I'd had a Mummy Lia and Uncle Tyler when I was a boy.
He asked them why they hadn't made more, so they could race with him. They tossed each other glances before there was laughter. It had turned into a much bigger project than they had expected, filled with frustrations and swearing and something flying across the room. They weren't building another any time soon.
But Zack and Amelia were thinking about making something else.
"So we're thinking of trying for another baby," Amelia said that evening, once David was in bed and the wine had come out.
"Bit of an age gap by now," Tyler replied.
"Yeah, well. Better late than never? It's not like we've been taking measures to make sure I
don't
get pregnant all this time." She finished her glass and swung it slightly in her fingers. "If you must know, we've actually been trying for the past year, it just hasn't happened yet."
"Zack's not potent enough."
He snorted and tossed Tyler a scowl. Amelia tutted.
"No, I think it's probably me. I don't know why, though. Wasn't like we had any trouble conceiving David, I never had any troubles with the pregnancy."
"Body clock's a'ticking," Amelia's mother said, then gave a little clap. "Chop chop!"
"Oh God, Mum. I'm not that old! Besides, you never gave me a brother or sister. You can't talk."
"Just as well. You were enough on your own."
"Pfft. Anyways, I'll probably go to the doctor and get checked out. I really hope there's nothing wrong."
"I think you're fine, dear. Just unlucky."
A little twinge in me watched Tyler closely, worried that I might see that distant expression where he imagined having his own child, raising his own family. It didn't happen. I think he was happy being a part-time uncle to David. He looked around and raised an eyebrow at me, as if he was reading my thoughts.
"Are we trying, Darren? No? Good."
Amelia's father wheezed loudly and poured himself another glass of wine.
We spent Boxing Day with Tyler's family. He warned me multiple times how loud, crass, and working-class they all behaved, while half of them had always been middle-class and comfortable. I was prepared for it.
His mother came from a large family with many siblings, so Tyler had a monstrous amount of aunts, uncles, and cousins. The gathering was around whoever had the largest house, and it was still cramped.
There was a wide age range. His youngest cousin was 10, and the oldest nearly 40. Everybody in that family had to talk. And argue. And rip the shit out of each other while howling with laughter.
