• Full of Surprises •

[KC Evania Patterson]

Work was the usual for KC. She took a group of elderly couples around, sticking to the latest exhibits solely because they'd asked that of her. She told them little bits of rumours, tales and facts they may or may not have known. And she answered any and all questions asked of her. These groups were her favourite, along with the school aged kids. Both groups were full of questions but the older crowd had more of an appreciation for what they were looking at. They had more of a detailed opinion while the little kids just told you what they saw. And the older groups preferred conversation to the lecture like monologue KC usually provided. She loved her job, no matter who she was guiding through the building but now her shift was over and she had some time to kill before she was supposed to be home for the girls' night she and Tabs had planned.

She stopped to talk to Chris, one of the four night security for a minute; catch up with his life before saying goodbye and heading back to the employee's lounge. She grabbed her bag from her locker, immediately checking her phone for any messages shefd missed, smiling at the message from Dawson. A movie night at his place sounded too good right then but shefd made plans to spend the night watching bad TV, drinking cheap wine and catching up with Tabs. With school, work and Dawson taking up much of KC's time and school and work taking up Tabby's, it was like they barely saw each other at all anymore. Mornings just before school were about the only time lately and even then KC was hardly coherent until after two cups of java. She sent Dawson back a text, wishing she could but explaining why she needed a rain check. After that, KC texted Tabs asking if she wanted pizza or Chinese with their bad TV.

With that done, she signed out and waved goodbye to Chris as she left. The next couple weeks were going to be hell at work with a new exhibit starting up and a small fundraiser to open it up. There was a lot that went into a single night with barely a hundred guests, but KC was told shefd have to help and shefd have to be there for it to answer any and all questions prospective investors had. She wasn't aware when exactly that became part of her job but she wasn't about to complain. KC had walked to work not wanting to carry a change of clothes with her this time, though she would have loved to zip through the busy New York streets on her Yamaha YZF-R6. Plus, it gave her the time to think about all the treats she was going to pick up at the store for the night. She stopped at the Chinese place at the end of her block first, then hit the store two doors down before heading home, carrying her treats.

KC unlocked the apartment door awkwardly as she juggled the take-out bag from the Chinese place, her own bag and the ones from the corner store where she'd shopped from the bad movie provisions; pop, chips, chocolate, candy and naturally, popcorn! When she finally got the door open, she started to call out. "Tabs, I'm home! I grabbed Chinese since you didn't answer me," she trailed off, finally registering the crying baby. KC sighed, kicking the door shut and walking around the couch to the coffee table. "Tabs! Its sister night! Did you really tell Jade down the hall you'd watch her toddler again?" she started, dropping her bags on the table. "I really wish you would have said something. Dawson wanted to do something tonight!" she continued, walking down the hall, following the baby cries. She knocked on Tabby's door before letting herself in after only a second. "Hello Nata... that's not Natalie," she said, staring at the child in her sister's arms.

Tag || Tabs!
Words || 669
Clothes || Shock and awe!
Music || Summertime by Kenny Chesney
Notes || <3

[Tabitha Kyler Patterson]

Today had been anything but normal for Tabby. The morning had gone all right, she supposed; she went to class, got lunch, then came home to prepare for work. But, as she was coming back to the apartment, he phone rang, flashing off a number and photo Tabby hadn't seen since leaving California. She'd never wanted to see it, either, because seeing it meant something was wrong; seeing it brought back all of the memories.

KC didn't know the real reason her sister had come back, and that's how Tabitha had planned on keeping it. To her, the blonde didn't need to know anything that happened on the coast, or the drivers that had pushed Tabby into coming to New York. There were secrets, too many secrets, that kept her glossed lips shut and her head in her new school books. But, that phonecall had shattered that image beyond repair; Tabby couldn't keep up this act of being fine now.

The main, and biggest, secret she'd kept was the baby -- her baby. Until today, there had been no reason to tell anyone, let alone her family. She hadn't wanted or needed their help with it, and, surely, they would've only pressured her into keeping the child or made her feel guilty for the rest of her life because she'd given it up. She hadn't had a choice, though, and giving it up had been the best option all around. There had been a newly-wedded couple in the group of surfers she'd spent her time with, and they'd been trying for a child since Tabby had come across them. When her pregnancy had come, she'd readily offered the couple the child, as long as they promised to give it a good, happy life since she knew she couldn't. They'd been so excited about it all that it'd helped ease her own guilt, knowing that her baby girl would be much safer with them than she'd ever be with her.

Until today, she'd believed her daughter to be down on the coast, growing up with surfboards and the ocean, just like how she'd wanted it. But, that phonecall had been one of her close friends from California, who'd brought the news that the couple was dead; killed in a car accident while going off to pick up dinner for the group. At first, Tabby had felt shocked, then sad, then the reality had sunken in. And, as the friend continued to speak, she knew what was coming; the child was here in New York, under the care of a guy who'd been close to Tabby and had made the trip to deliver the baby. They'd been trying to track her down, she having only given them her new cell number. And, as the knock on her door this afternoon proved, they'd found her.

Tabby had talked to the guy for awhile, getting comfortable with the daughter she'd only ever held or seen once. The little girl was so big; two, now, and looking more like her mother every day. The hair and her eyes; especially her eyes. There was no doubt who this baby belonged to. After two hours, she sent the guy back off to California, scooping up her daughter and going to sit in her room. She had to process this; had to figure out what to tell KC. She couldn't keep the poor kid locked in here and hidden! There would have to be a bed, clothes to be bought, special food, toys; there hadn't been enough money to send up a suitcase full of the things, so the little girl had nothing but a mother and aunt.

She set up the dark head of curls on her pillow, tucking the child in and kissing her forehead before going to sit down at her desk, just watching her sleep. There was a reason she'd given her up in the first place; she didn't believe herself capable of being a mother. It'd be cruel to leave her at an orphange though, and she had no other family she trusted enough to take her in. No; she was going to have to keep the baby girl, no matter if KC kicked her out or if she had to quit college to do it. She had to take care of this little girl.

Tabby was just pulling out her phone to text KC and ask when she was coming home when the sound of the door opening and yelling erupted through the apartment. She swore under her breath as the cries started coming from the bed, going over and cooing to her daughter to try and quiet her. Tabby was getting ready to set her back down when, all of a sudden, her door was open and her twin was in the room. She stared at KC for a long moment, eyes wide as both mother and daughter looked at her. "No, it's not," she whispered, gently sitting down on her bed with the child in her lap. "I've got a lot to tell you, KC." Tabby gulped, running her hand over the dark curls that mirrored her own. She cuddled her baby closer, hoping that her twin would somehow understand.

• • •

WORDS: 914!
TAG: The Twin!
LOCATION: Babysitting, The Apartment
OUTFIT: HOT MAMA!
LYRICS: Somebody's Hero by Jamie O'Neal
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[KC Evania Patterson]

KC had been looking forward to this girl’s night for a week, since they’d planned the thing on the only free night the two shared! KC had gymnastics twice a week, and she spent a lot of time with her ginger haired companion. Things with Dawson were still new and KC wanted to take some of this girl’s night to talk to her sister about it properly. They’d chatted, but it was always in the mornings before the blonde twin had had any coffee in her system at all. Nothing good came from those one sided conversations where Tabs talked away and KC grunted in response. Either she needed to wake up earlier in the mornings, or learn to drink her coffee faster to ne coherent enough to have actual conversations.

She wanted to know what Tabs thought of Dawson, how she felt about him. KC knew they worked together, though she wasn’t sure if Dawson was aware. Of course, she only knew because he’d invited her to visit him at work one night, his friend Cal would set her up with a drink or something, and she’d put the puzzle pieces together. Tabs hadn’t been working that night, having had the library steal her for three days. She’d divulged this secret of hers to the bartended Dawson had led her to, but asked him not to say anything to Dawson or her sister, wanting to see how long it would take them to realize she was Tabs’ sister, and Dawson’s, well, whatever she was to Dawson; they’d never had that chat.

All of this was on her mind when she’d done the shopping and walked through the door of their apartment. She’d had thoughts of watching bad TV, movies and stuffing herself full of junk food. Not a single thought in her head revolved around children, crying or anything remotely close to that. So when she’d heard the baby cries, KC’s level of annoyance went up a couple notches. They’d made plans and KC was upset Tabs agreed to help someone, even if the twins were the final card left to play. But when she saw the little girl in Tabby’s arms, she just had to sit down. Those eyes, that hair, it couldn’t be, could it? KC knew Tabs had a life in California, but, no, surely KC’s mind was just overworked, too much time spent in front of a computer screen editing film. Slowly, still a little stunned, and wondering if there was an explanation to all this, KC sat in the chair her sister, like her kept in their bedrooms. It wasn’t as comfortable as the wingback she had in her own, but it didn’t matter, KC didn’t feel it. “You better start at the beginning, Sis,” KC said, swallowing, hoping to wet her dry throat. “Is she…?” she asked, not quite able to finish that sentence. It wasn’t so much fear of her thoughts being true. It was sadness that there was something in her twin’s life that she felt she had to hide from KC.

Tag || Tabs!
Words || 511
Clothes || Shock and awe!
Music || Summertime by Kenny Chesney
Notes || <3

[Tabitha Kyler Patterson]

There was a lot that KC didn't know. Tabby had wanted it that way, and had planned on it staying like that; she didn't need any of her California life colliding with the one she'd begun to make in New York. The little girl in her arms wasn't going to magically disappear though, which Tabitha knew. She'd have to face the music and spill at least some of her secrets; not all of them, not yet. Eventually, maybe she'd open that box back up and tell her sister everything, but, for now, she didn't see reason to. All she had to pull out was the story of the child; the rest of it could stay hidden until she absolutely needed to reveal it.

Tabby cuddled the little girl close, willing her to go back to sleep or at least stay quiet. She knew food would be needed soon, and some toys; she'd babysat before, so she knew how demanding and hyper a two-year-old could be. But, for the moment, none of it was really available. Hopefully the kid stayed quiet. "I can't cover three years in ten minutes, Kace," she said softly, avoiding her twin's eyes. Three years of her life had been devoted to sand, surf, and the ocean; three years of her life she'd been almost completely cut off from her family. It'd take half of forever to go through every detail of those days and, frankly, she didn't want to share them. They were her memories, and telling them would ruin the charm of it all; she didn't want to give them up so easily.

"Her name's Brookie -- Brooklyn, rather. Brooklyn Tallulah," she answered, dodging the actual questions. One thing Tabby had given her daughter was her name; the couple had said it'd be better that way than them naming her, and they'd truly loved the moniker she'd chosen, especially when she'd explained what the two words meant in different languages. "Water Leaping"; surfing, in the prettiest definition.

Brook looked up as Tabby said her name, giving her a toothy grin and snuggling closer in her lap. She played with her mother's loose hair, clinging to her almost. At first, she'd bawled when they'd been left alone but, now, she cried whenever she wasn't next to her mom. Though, the sight of the fish tank had distracted her for awhile as she fell asleep. "She's two; three, in a few months. She's awful smart and loves the fish, and she's... she's mine," Tabby rambled, her eyes down on the dark head of hair in her lap. This baby was hers; all hers. Nobody was going to take that away from her, not even KC.

• • •

WORDS: 491!
TAG: The Twin!
LOCATION: Babysitting, The Apartment
LYRICS: Somebody's Hero by Jamie O'Neal
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[KC Evania Patterson]

KC couldn’t say there weren’t secrets; her entire life away from home was basically a giant secret. She’d always told herself it was because she knew her sister worried about her and she didn’t want her to. So she kept it to herself and only told their dad so she had someone aware of where she went off to in the very slim case that something had happened. But KC also didn’t have something as big as a child hidden away in her past! Only the real reason behind broken and dislocated bones! KC nodded; obviously a lot had gone down in the few years Tabs had been in California. “Alright, how about you start with this story and we’ll get to the rest when we need to?” She suggested. As selfish as it was, it was difficult to know that Tabs had another life in California without her. It wasn’t like that first year in New York she’d been depressed and alone in the city; she’d made friends, went out to the clubs, and continued her sports and gymnastics.

KC sat, looking at Tabs with a bland expression. She knew when her sister was avoiding things, they were still twins. And whatever happened in the sunshine state wouldn’t change that. At the mention of the little girl’s name, KC finally took a real, good look at the toddler in her sister’s arms. The resemblance was unmistakable. The little girl in Tabs’ arms could pass as the same little girl in their baby photos; spitting image of her mama. Her mama; Tabitha had a daughter. She was an aunt. It was all a little overwhelming, to say the least. KC had thought she’d be coming home to bad movies and rants about work and school, not to find she had a niece she never knew about. “That’s pretty,” she said, smiling at the little girl sucking her thumb and clinging to her mother for dear life. It was then that KC realized as much of a shock as this was for her, that poor little girl was in a strange place with relative strangers. Tabs may have been her mother, but her sister had been in New York for at least a year now, maybe even a little more than that. Brooklyn was probably scared and wanting a familiar place.

KC wasn’t going to take any of that away from the little girl or her mama. She sighed, slipping from the chair to take a seat next to her sister and niece. “She’s beautiful, Tabs. The spitting image of your when we were that small.” she asked, laughing as tears fell from her blue eyes. “They don’t know do they, mom and dad?” She asked, unable to help herself and already knowing the answer to that. If they knew, she would have heard about Brooklyn long before now. She wasn’t about to let anything happen to the little thing now that she was there, and tugging on her heartstrings. “Do you think she likes Chinese?” KC asked, grinning down at the tiny girl and waving. KC hadn’t been the one for kids. She liked them just fine but she’d always been nervous around them; what to say, what to do, she didn’t have the first clue. But since she wasn’t about to kick Tabs out for having a baby, she had better figure out how to act around the toddler, because she wasn’t going anywhere.

Tag || Tabs!
Words || 575
Clothes || Shock and awe!
Music || Summertime by Kenny Chesney
Notes || <3

[Tabitha Kyler Patterson]

Tabby knew that growing up would bring more distance between the sisters. They couldn't be roomies and little girls forever; eventually, they'd both have to have lives away from each other entirely. Really, that had already happened after graduation, but it was coming around to bite her in the butt now as she sat with her daughter half-asleep in her laugh. The secrets didn't hurt, though they did sting as they played through her mind and tried to find a way out. She was well aware that she'd end up spilling this to her sister; she'd just hoped it'd be much later in life, when everything had found its happy ending.

"It's not a good story. It's not important now, anyways. She's here and... that's what matters. She's here, and I have to take care of her," she said back, cuddling her little girl closer in her lap. Brooke clung to her mother, still blinking at KC with wide eyes before burying herself in Tabby's chest. Tabby just stroked her hair, kissing her forehead softly. "How 'bout we get you some food, Brookie?" She couldn't hide a smile as the matching eyes stared and nodded innocently. The poor thing probably didn't even know what Chinese was; well, she'd have to get used to it if she was going to survive with the twins!

Carefully, Tabby helped Brooke down onto the floor, standing herself and nodding for KC to come with. She went out into the kitchen, setting the little girl up on the counter and cooing at her as she pulled plates down for them all. "The people taking care of her let me name her before I... gave her up," Tabby said slowly, glancing at her sister. "It means 'water leaping'; surfing," she smiled fondly, dumping some of the takeout onto a plate and gently feeding a piece to Brooke. "No one knows except for you, and my friends in Cali," she shrugged, laughing softly as Brooke began digging into her plate with her spoon. Tabby helped her, kissing her forehead and making sure at least some of the food got into her mouth. Turning to look at KC, she said, "So, can we keep her?"

• • •

WORDS: 413!
TAG: The Twin!
LOCATION: Babysitting, The Apartment
LYRICS: Somebody's Hero by Jamie O'Neal
NOTES: <3 <3 <3

[KC Evania Patterson]

KC was in shock, and rightly so. There was so much she didn’t know about her sister or her time in California. There wasn’t much she was hiding and even that small bit she felt terrible for keeping to herself, but she thought it safer. At least with Tabby not knowing she was rappelling down sides of cliffs and mountains, she wouldn’t worry about the blonde of the duo. But to keep something so big as a child, even if she had given the girl up when she was born that was even more than she could comprehend. It broke a little piece of her heart to know her sister thought she couldn’t confide in her. It wasn’t like she was about to tell their mother; the two had never gotten along.

“None of that really matters now,” KC agreed easily. Tabs had to keep her and that meant KC, too. They lived together and though she was Tabby’s baby, KC would obviously help out as much as she could as well. She could feel her heart swell for the child her sister held close. She was so scared, probably didn’t have a clue what was going on. Just the other days she was probably sitting on the beach in her cute little swimsuit, or more appropriately from the stories KC did gather, a wetsuit, playing in the sand and surf. KC stood with Tabs and Brooklyn, following the pair back out to the main part of their apartment. She stopped long enough to grab the bag of Chinese takeout boxes from the coffee table and continued into the next room.

She unpacked the bag, setting about the handful of cartons she picked up. KC loved so many different things at the restaurant that it was difficult to just pick a couple things. She always came home with more than the two of them could eat in one sitting and managed to have leftovers for a couple days afterwards. “Sounds like the perfect name to me,” KC said smiling at the little girl on the counter. She didn’t try to reach for the little girl or get a smile from her. This was all so new for both of them. Even as she asked the question, KC realized the stupidity of it. If anyone else knew before now, it would have gotten to the eldest twin long before this moment. Watching with a smile on her face, KC took the container of sweet and sour ribs and the chopsticks and dug in as well. At Tabby’s question, KC almost choked on the food in her mouth. “Keep her?” She repeated, stunned for a second. “No, Tabs, we have to ship her off to the pound for children,” She said dryly. “Of course she’s staying,” she said cooing at the toddler.

Tag || Tabs!
Words || 470
Clothes || Shock and awe!
Music || Summertime by Kenny Chesney
Notes || <3