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Robby walks into the house to the scene of chaos.
Junie is on the floor, kicking and screaming.
Nell is clinging to Jack’s leg and whining.
Clark is arguing with Jack, twin looks of anger on each of their faces.
Milo is melting down, tears pouring down his face as he sobs.
“Wooooow,” Robby drags out and all heads snap in his direction. “Where’s the crisis, people?”
“We create our own crisis, baby.” Jack snarks back but Robby can tell he’s just messing with him.
“Okay, what needs addressing first?”
Jack spreads his arms out. “Take your pick.”
Just for one less thing to worry about, Robby chooses the easiest option first. He walks over and picks up Nell who quickly lays her head on his shoulder in contentment. One down, three to go.
“June, what’s going on?”
“I’m MAD.” She screams.
“Yep, I can tell you’re mad because you’re screaming and kicking your legs. What I don’t know is why you’re mad. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Daddy say no.” A fresh round of wails starts up.
“Hey, sometimes Daddy has to say no.” Junie arches her back. “Wait, listen. Sometimes, Daddy has to say no if it’s not the right time for something or if it’s something that’s not safe. But it’s hard being told no sometimes, isn’t it?”
Junie’s breath hitches but she stops crying, looking at Robby as he validates her feelings.
“Would you like a hug?” He asks her gently.
Junie nods and Robby squats down with Nell still perched on his arm. Junie makes herself at home in the other arm and takes a teary, shuddering breath against his shoulder.
That done, Robby moves on to Clark.
“Why are you arguing with Daddy?”
“Because he’s being rude to me.”
Jack jumps in immediately. “Check yourself, little boy.”
Clark goes into a long drawn out explanation of why Jack is rude and what Jack disagreed with him about. Robby listens carefully but, of course, Robby and Jack are a united front.
“I understand what you’re saying, but Daddy’s answer was no and I agree with him.”
“Then you’re BOTH rude!”
“Not letting you do something you want to do does not make someone rude, Clark Kent. You’re upset and that’s fine. You’re allowed to be.”
Clark growls and stomps off to his room.
Robby turns to Milo.
“What’s going on, Goose?”
“I just don’t feel good.” Milo cries.
It can be so hard to tell with him sometimes what is truly not feeling well and what is anxiety.
Robby pulls Milo to him and rubs his back. “Okay, buddy. Why don’t you go lay down for a bit?”
Then he turns to a worn down looking Jack.
“Hey baby.”
Jack sighs. “Hey babe.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I need a break.”
“Okay, no problem. Why don’t you go get comfortable and do something for you?”
Jack shakes his head. “No, I mean I need a real, actual break. I need to not be in charge of anybody or anything for at least a solid day. I’m…” Another sigh before he continues “I’m getting close to my breaking point.”
“Okay.” Robby nods. “Okay. Of course, whatever you need. We’ll make something happen.”
Thoughts and ideas are running rapid fire through Robby’s mind. Maybe Dana could keep the kids for a day. Maybe Robby could get Jack a hotel room while he stays with the kids. Maybe Sarah could watch them for the weekend so they could get away together.
“Do you… also need a break from me?” Robby asks tentatively.
Jack smirks and says “Oh, always, you big goofball. You make me crazy.”
Robby laughs and Jack saunters over, squeezing Nell between them as he presses a gentle kiss to Robby’s lips.
“Well I was thinking… what if Sarah agreed to watch them for the weekend so we could get away?”
After another sweet kiss, Jack says he loves the idea.
Robby sets it into motion, texting Sarah. Once he gets confirmation that she can do it, he looks for places to go within a few hours of Pittsburgh so they don’t have to take up too much of their time with the drive.
He considers asking Jack’s opinion but decides against it. He figures Jack would probably appreciate not having one more thing to think about or figure out.
Robby decides on Buffalo, New York. They can also visit Niagara Falls while they’re over that way.
The plan is to leave Friday afternoon after the kids get home from school, drive the few hours and get dinner before going to the hotel then they’ll have all day Saturday to do whatever they want. They’ll drive back Sunday to spend the day with the kids before the week starts again.
When Friday afternoon rolls around and they get the kids home and situated for Sarah, they give everybody hugs and kisses and love and reminders to behave.
Robby drives while Jack rides passenger and gets some music going.
Jack is a menace the entire ride. Singing, poking, drumming. Talking nonstop. Robby is so overstimulated that he wants to cover Jack’s mouth with his hand, but he refrains. Just barely.
“Why are you Clark?” Robby finally asks him.
“Better question is… why is Clark me?” Jack responds with a devilish grin that looks so much like Clark it’s uncanny.
Robby laughs. He loves that Jack is feeling carefree right now with a break in front of him, even if he is a little overwhelmed by him.
As soon as they arrive in Buffalo, they grab some dinner and then find their hotel to check in.
They’d like to think they’re young and about that night life still. But they’re absolutely not and they happily settle into some comfy clothes and watching something other than Disney movies on TV.
At some point, they drift off and manage to actually sleep until 8:00. Their bodies are used to being woken early by an alarm for work or by children who are ready to start their day, so 8:00 feels amazing.
Shortly after, Robby’s phone rings with a FaceTime call from Sarah.
Robby answers it beside Jack on the bed and they see a bunch of bed heads pop into view. The girls screech and Clark starts jumping around. Milo is grinning.
Sarah comes into view behind them and says “I tried to convince them to hold off, but they insisted they see you before the day started. I’ve been holding Clark off since about 6:30 this morning.”
Jack laughs. “Miss us already guys?”
It’s utter chaos on the other end, everybody chattering at once.
Jack starts making faces at them and sticking his tongue out which sets off peals of laughter and reciprocated silly faces.
The chaos on goes on for about 10 minutes before Robby laughs and says “Okay, let’s let Sarah have her phone back. We miss you guys.”
They take another two minutes of all hollering bye and love you and miss you and behave before they finally get off.
Jack sighs, in contentment this time, and says “I do love those little stinkers.”
The morning is spent around the city. Eating breakfast, sight seeing, visiting a couple of the museums before having lunch and heading back to their car to make their way to Niagara Falls.
It’s a fun experience. They do a little hiking, take a lot of pictures, and just enjoy the serenity and peace for a bit. There’s a good long moment where both are just quiet, watching the falls and taking it in.
Robby glances at Jack. “Thank you for telling me you were drowning and needed a break.”
Jack glances back at him before looking out at the water again. “We’re a team, right? You don’t know what I need if I don’t tell you. But I do appreciate you taking what I said seriously and helping make that break happen.”
Robby nods. “You’d do the same for me. We are a team.”
Jack looks at him seriously. “You haven’t mentioned needing anything lately. You’re doing okay?”
Robby is still in weekly therapy and is doing well. “I’m okay,” he confirms.
“And you’d tell me if you weren’t?”
“Promise.”
Jack nods, content with his answer.
They hike a little more before Jack says he’s done. His leg doesn’t hurt, but he also knows it won’t thank him if he keeps going so they head back to the car.
When they arrive back in the city, they go to dinner and talk about lighter subjects, enjoying each other’s company.
The rest of the evening is spent taking their time with each other and not having to rush through sex for fear of being interrupted. It’s loving, it’s sweet, it’s slow.
On the ride back home the next morning, Jack blares the Beastie Boys and Tom Petty. Robby joins in with his obnoxious singing.
The kids all scream in excitement when they walk in the door, and Jack throws Clark over his shoulder which gets screams of laughter.
Robby watches Jack love on and talk to each of their children, recharged and ready to tackle their sweet, chaotic lives again.