Army Wives

Kal-

Things became confusing as Kal downed more beers. The room was spinning and he landed on the floor laughing. Steve followed beer in hand. Kal had never been this drunk before and knew he needed to stop; but it made it easier to deal with everything that him and Steve were now going through.

"Alright, I think that's enough." Kal hicupped pulling the beer from Steve's hand.

"It doesn't feel like enough."

"It is." The t.v. was blaring but when he went to turn the volume down he only had two clicks on the volume button before it was muted. The lamp in the room was excrutiatingly bright and Kal turned it off. Kal crawled through the darkness and landed on Steve. They both started laughing.

"I think I should go." Kal said struggling to his feet, "Are you gunna be okay?" Steve nodded already drifting into sleep and Kal headed for the door. Going down the stairs took a lot of energy. Kal got lost of few times on the way home but finally made it to the front porch. He fell onto the cold wood of the porch and let his eyelids close, but he didn't sleep. His mind was reeling.

He could hear footsteps inside the house but didn't bother to move. His mother came out and called for his father, worried that Kal was hurt. Kal's dad came out and lifted Kal off the porch. Kal grunted as his fathers shoulder dug into his stomache and then he hurled all over the porch.

He felt himself being flung onto the couch and then his mom came over with a wet rag and pressed it to his forehead, "What has gotten into you, going off and getting drunk."

"I was with Steve." He said, like it would make everything okay. Then he passed out knowing he would wake up with the worst headache of his life.

Nichola

"So I'll be chattering on about Jayne's new word and together we'll take all the attention away from Portia and direct it at ourselves..."

"Oooh, she'd just hate that!" Adrienne interrupted happily.

"Exactly and there's always Robert to talk of too." Nichola paused and smiled widely before saying, in a good imitation of Portia's voice, "Isn't it just darling that Robert's home and helping with the kiddies?" Both Adrienne and Nichola laughed.

"Anyway, I'd best get back and dress the children and myself. Let's see if we can't look better than Portia for once." Nichola rose from her chair and Adrienne walked her to the door, carrying Emma on her hip. They exchanged a few more pleasantries and then Nichola kissed her friend's cheek and squeezed Emma's hand gently before setting off back up the path.

Nichola very carefully chose her family's outfits and though Robert grumbled a little, he finally conceded to wearing his best navy suit. Then Nicki set about dressing herself but her slightly plump figure didn't agree with dresses and she was soon re-thinking the idea when there was a knock at the door, the sound of the door opening and footsteps on the stairs.

"Let me guess, you're not ready yet?" Adrienne entered the room.

"There's still another hour," Nicki replied, consulting her watch.

"And if I'd waited until then, you'd still be choosing what to wear," Adrienne laughed. Nicki smiled fondly and eyed her friend with the closest to a look of jealousy she was capable of. Adrienne looked gorgeous and effortlessly so, her dark hair curling naturally at the edges and the dress hanging perfectly across her body.

"You should dress up more often, dear," Nicki complimented.

Adrienne

"Don't get used to it." Adrienne wagged a finger to Nicki in an attempt to make her believe her hatred for dresses, but she really didn't need too--anyone who knew Adrienne know she'd just as soon go naked than wear dresses everyday.

With Emma on her hip she stepped back into the living room and set her in with Jayne and Alex, winking a bit to Alex who smiled sweetly to her, "Just holler if you need anything." Alex nodded and giggled, turning his attention to Emma, as did Jayne. The three would make amazing siblings--you wouldn't think they weren't apart from Emma's ridiculously blonde curls.

Adrienne moved back into the bedroom and entered Nicki's decent-sized walk-in closet, pushing her out, "Let the expert work here." Adrienne chuckled a bit, a kidding laugh she often used. With one hand on her hip, the other rubbed her lips in thought as she stared at the clothes hanging before her.

"It doesn't matter what I wear, Portia will always look better." Nicki said, rolling her eyes in a way that Adrienne was often unsure whether she meant it or was just kidding.

Adrienne offered an eyeroll back and glanced to Nicki, "Oh stop it, Portia looks like rudolf with a lumpy, broken nose and you know it. She just thinks she's hot stuff. Trust me, if her husbands wasn't the general she would not be half as confident."

Adrienne's eyes lit up as she pulled a pair of black, straight wide-legged dress gauchos from the shelf and turned around to the shirts, quickly finding a green, yellow and black sleeveless shirt with a cross-over front that hung quite passed anyone's waist (and, following current style, probably could have been worn as a dress by itself in that Shirley Temple look).

She turned to her best friend, "You'll look absolutely dashing." She held it up to herself to show her the outfit. It is true that, had she actually been wearing it, the outfit would have swallowed her whole. Adrienne was well petite in everything about her-her height, her size, her shoes, her clothes. She had never spent a day in her life being overweight...but it was never because of careful eating. She was just one of those really annoying people who went through life with a ridiculously fast metabolism and could eat anything they wanted. Even when she was pregnant with Emma she just looked like a sitck with a basketball under her shirt. But, she was also the kind of person who rarely looked at the outward appearance of anyone else, and never flaunted her own.

"What do you think?" A smile flashed in Nicki's direction, hoping for approval.

Nichola

Nichola took both of the items and held them against herself dubiously before glancing in the mirror. She frowned and pretended to be critical but then shrugged and turned back to Adrienne.

"Well I'm going to look fat whatever I wear so it's as good as anything," she said with a laugh. But the smile said quite clearly that she approved. Adrienne wagged a finger and tutted.

"I'll have none of that," she said. "Now go change." Nicki saluted smartly.

"Yes ma'am," she replied. Nicki dressed and then Adrienne helped her fix her unruly red waves and even Nicki had to consent that she didn't look too bad.

"Shall we have a cuppa before we leave?" Nicki suggested, bustling in the direction of the kitchen. She put the kettle on and selected her best china that was starting to show signs of too much use. In fact, it would soon be destined to becomes the second best china, as soon as Nicki could find a set she liked better.

"Yes please," Adrienne agreed, following Nicki into the room. Once the drinks were made with a coffee on one side for Robert and a plate of biscuits, they drifted into the front room where the children were playing happily. Nicki took the coffee across to Robert who had not moved from his chair and watched him with concern as he took a gulp. It wasn't like Robert to not be playing with the children for every minute he could steal. It wasn't like Robert to not say thank you and steal a kiss.

Adrienne

Adrienne held her tea in her hand as she took a seat on the end of the living room couch and watched the kids infront of her.

Alex skipped over her direction and leaned into Adrienne's lap, "Aunt Aidee, can Emmy stay over wif us tonight?" He giggled and jumped a little with his feet as if dancing to music no one else could here.

Adrienne leaned forward and rubbed his short hair sweetly, "We'll see sweetheart, you three will be together all evening, your other friends as well. Now go play, we'll be leaving here in a few minutes."

Alex smiled as Adrienne gave him a kiss on his forehead and he went back to the blocks game the three seemed to be playing. Alex and Jayne would build a small tower and Emma would immediately knock it down and they all three would laugh histerically. The simpleness of childhood.

She checked her watch, ten to seven. Adrienne stood and glanced over to Nicki, "should we go?" she finished the last of her tea as she waited.

Nicki

"I suppose we should," Nicki conceded. She took the cups through to the kitchen and quickly rinsed them through, placing them carefully in the cupboard before making her way back to the front room.

"Ready to go?" Robert asked as he eased himself out of his chair. Nicki nodded her response and approached the children.

"Come on sweetie," she said to Jayne, picking her up as Adrienne gathered Emma in her arms. Nicki carried her daughter on her hip and held her hand out for her son to take.

~

A gentle wind buffered Alex's short hair as he led the way down the street, tugging at his mother's hand enthusiastically.

"Why doesn't Jayne walk yet?" Alex asked curiously.

"She's still young, Alex," Nicki explained patiently.

"But she walks in the house," Alex said, his small face scrunched up in confusion.

"That's different," Robert said.

Adrienne

It was only a short walk to Portia's, a few blocks at the most. Unfortunately, that was all the space they had managed to put between them. Adrienne pulled Emma onto her hip, a pie she "made" in her other hand and a purse on her shoulder.

They reached the steps before Portia's house and the girls glanced to each other, "Well, get ready for fun."

Nicki smiled a little and shook her head, "Like you wouldn't believe. Early night, let's hope."

They both took a deep sigh and headed up the steps with the others. Nicki was about to ring the doorbell when the door opened before them with a rather ... cheery...demeanor. Portia stood on the other side smiling as if she took far too many happy pills that morning, "Hi girls! Come on in!"

Too. Loud. Adrienne thought, but did as she was told with Nicki close behind her. Portia took the pie from Adrienne's hand, "Oh you didn't need to do that! Let's just put it in the kitchen here."

Adrienne chuckled a bit to herself as she thought about how she had removed a frozen pie and plopped it into her own container about 10 minutes before she went over to Nicki's.

Portia scurried into the kitchen, the rest following as a much slower pace. She was a tall woman, model height for sure--probably around 5'9" or 5'10". Blonde, and she knew she could pull anything off she wore. Her hair was pulled up in a style that looked professionally done, and she wore a light yellow sundress that Adrienne guessed with a Vera Wang purchase.

Adrienne glanced across the kitchen to the outdoor patio, where several other base wives and mothers stood and sat around tables. She was not looking forward to their welcome, to be honest. Not from these particular women.

Nichola

A snearing, five year old girl entered the room, followed closely by a huddle of prissy, smartly dressed children and a plain looking, dark haired woman with rich, chocolate skin. The girl, Minerva, stepped towards the newly arrived families and their children, her blond hair shimmering prettily beneath an expensive, stylish hat. But her beauty was marred by the snear and two heavy eyebrows knitted together in a permanent frown above squinting, agate eyes.

"Everyone is here now," Minerva said in a self important tone that held a crisp, irritated tick. As if to suggest that it was unacceptable, but expected, that these three would be late.

"Take us through to the nursery," Minerva commanded the woman who bowed her head and took Emma and Jayne from their mothers. Adrienne's expression was one of reluctance and distaste while Nicki hid pity behind an encouraging little smile.

"They'll cause you no trouble," Nicki said, gently pushing Alex forward. The nanny dipped her head slightly but her expression was that of disbelief.

"Come, come, sit," Portia ordered as she glided towards an empty chair beside her husband. Adrienne, Robert and Nicki did as they were bid.

"Your outfit is just darling," the woman to Adrienne's right said in a forced tone.

"Isn' it?" Nicki agreed. "And what a sweet hat you're wearing. My cousin - you might remember her? The cleaner? Well, she has a hat just like it." Nichola beamed encouragement as Adrienne tried to keep from laughing. The poor woman to Adrienne's right looked a little horror stricken. Nichola knew she'd never wear that particular hat again.

"So Robert," the man on Robert's left began. "How's the fever going?"

"I'll be back out there before the end of the week," Robert replied cheerfully.

Kal-

Kal sat up and stared at the clock. He had only been out an hour or so. He was still drunk so the headache hadn't set in yet. He stood and staggered to the bathroom and puked again. He rinsed his mouth out and wiped it off before opening the door to try and stagger back to the couch, or maybe his room, but that seemed so far away.

His mother was standing outside the door when he opened it.

"Kal, what's going on with you?" He could tell she had been crying. He was thinking normal and logically but when he tried to do or say anything it all came out wrong and he looked and felt like an idiot.

"I told you, I was with Steve." He said in a 'duh' tone, which he hadn't intended. Kal frowned at himself and swayed sideways. He was in the danger zone. What if he let it slip that he was gay to his parents? That wouldn't go over well.

"Why are you doing this? You've never done anything like this before?" He felt bad for his mother as she started crying, but he couldn't help wanting to scream at her. And he did.

"You think everything has to be so perfect all the time! You think you have to just control everything and make it all line up and be so fucking perfect! I can't take it anymore, I just can't. The world is a fucking mess out there, nothing is perfect. But you put out lives in this bubble and try to pretend that it's okay when it's not!" He leaned against the wall and eyed the door, he needed to leave before he did something he would really regret.

"I'm calling Robert." She said turning to get the phone. Great, she was calling his brother. Robert would beat him up when he heard what Kal had been up to. Kal headed for the door and his mother yelled for his father as she waited on the phone.

His father came down the stairs and grabbed Kal just as his hand was on the door knob.

"Where do you think you are going?" He father had pinned his arms at his side and was pulling him away from the door. Kal squirmed with all the energy he had left and managed to toss his father off of himself. He got to the door again and thrust it open just as his mother said, "Hello, Robert? We need your help."

Kal stumbled down the steps and could see the lights from the backyard across the street. He was pretty sure Robert was there, but things were getting fuzzy. If Robert was there he didn't have much time to get away. He just didn't want to do or say something he would hate himself for later on.

He made it to the driveway and realized the keys were in his hands. He didn't remember picking them up, but fumbled with the key anyways. He was leaning against the car to support his weight and trying to unlock the car at the same time. He wasn't being very sucessful.

*sorry, I like this SB and wanted to bring myself back in somehow*

No, that's good. I was saying to Via just the other day that we needed a way to bring your character in more. And besides, it means I get to write my first post from Robert's view =)

Robert

I was growing tired of smiling at the general and nodding along with the small talk while my wife and her beautifully exotic friend played their silly games with the other women.

"Military?" A thin, reedy woman asked in a high, squealing voice. "But she isn't even two yet." I could hear the little cogs turning in her head as she compared my daughter to her own children. But what matter was it to me when the little brat started speaking? What matter was Jayne compared to my boy Alex?

"I know," Nichola said proudly. "Takes after her father that one does." Nichola beamed at me and I smiled back to appease her. My wife's a pretty woman, if a little plump. But that's why I married her. Plump women are so much easier to handle, so much less secure. And better for birthing sons I've always thought.

As the women chattered on, I started to get a headache. The sooner I was deported again, the better, but the general seemed to have other plans.

"Is that so?" he asked with a thoughtful glance in my direction. "You're a smart man, Robert?"

"Yes sir," I replied, hoping this might be leading to some form of promotion. Captain Robert Mathews sounded real good to me back then.

"I'm in need of a strategist. Only temporarily of course but you're a competent man and I'm sure you'll relish the extra time at home with that brilliant daughter of yours."

"Sir?" I asked, feigning misunderstanding.

"Report to me tomorrow morning," the general said. The matter clearly closed. My wife beamed at me again, clearly delighted. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it.

And then my phone rang so I excused myself from the room.

"Hello, Robert? We need your help." My mother's voice was crisp. She was the sort of woman I could respect, unlike my wife and daughter with their dithering and giggling.

"On my way, mum," I replied, wondering just what my brother was up to this time. A disgrace to the family that boy.

"I'm afraid I'll have to depart," I informed the room, kissing my wife's cheek and saluting to the general.

"That brother of yours in trouble again?" the general asked with a frown.

"Nothing I can't handle," I said firmly. I kissed Nichola on the cheek again and squeezed her hand as she pouted at me. Then I went to find the children. I cuddled Jayne as was my duty and then ruffled my boy's hair affectionately before heading home.

"He's driven off somewhere," my mother said, meeting me at the door. Her face showed anxiety and I hated my brother for bringing out any signs of weakness in her. My mum wasn't made to be weak.

"I'll get him," I assured her and dad before going next door and getting into my own car.

"He'll be at Steve's," dad said solemnly. I nodded and set off.

Kal-

They weren't kidding about being drunk making it hard to drive. All of the traffic lights and head lights were so much brighter and he was having a hard time staying in his own lane.

He wasn't sure how he did it, but he ended up back at Steve's, knocking on the door and yelling.

"Open the door Steve!" Kal wasn't sure what time it was, and he didn't care if he woke anyone else up. Steve was probably passed out already, he had been even more drunk than Kal.

Another car pulled into the driveway and Kal squinted at the head lights. He banged on the door again and yelled for Steve.

"Come on!" He heard movement behind the door, and a car door slam. He looked in the drive way to see his brother standing at the car, and he looked pissed. Steve flung the door open just then, Kal couldn't move. His brother could really beat him up if he wanted to.

Kal and Robert were so different. In every way imaginable. And Robert knew, about Kal being gay. Kal had told him a few years ago, when he had had a different break down. Kal was still in high school then and their father wouldn't stop bugging Kal about enlisting. He just broke down and told Robert, and he regretted it.

"Get in the car Kal." Robert said. Kal didn't move, he wanted to go into Steve's house, but Robert could, and would, nock the door down.

Robert

With a frustrated sigh, I strode over to my little brother and grabbed his arm firmly. "Now," I commanded. That seemed to slice through Kal's indecision and he tried to pull away, kicking his feet violently at the door.

"Steve, Steve, you've got to help me out here," he whined. Pathetic. I dragged him to the car, opened the passenger door and shoved him onto the seat. I even pulled his seat belt down and clicked it in for him. It would be so much easier if he hurried up and got himself blasted to pieces. That would be a decent, respectable death. One our parents could cope with.

"Now sit still and be quiet," I said. Kal's head drooped and I shut the door softly. Didn't want to scratch any of the paint work. I walked around to the other side, got in, belted up and drove steadily back towards the house.

Kal kept his head down the whole way, fiddling with his hands in his lap. He disgusted me. Every inch of him roared homosexual. His hair-cut, his clothes, the lingering scent of alcohol and another man on his shirt. I probably imagine half of it, since finding out, but I hate to be in the same room as him, to share the same space as him.

"You're a disgrace," I said.

"You don't understand," Kal mumbled.

"What was that?" I demanded. "Look up when you're speaking to your superiors and speak clearly. God almighty, Kal. What are we going to do with you?"

"You're not my superior," Kal snarled. "You're too stupid to see beyond all your rules and damn military ranks. You don't know what the fuck matters and what don't." I was stunned. He'd never spoken to me like that before. Never dared. I reached across and thumped him hard, bloodying his nose and the flare of red on my knuckles made me madder still.

"Family is what's important," I told him.

"Oh is it now?" Kal mocked.

"Get yourself a wife and kids or get yourself killed. I don't give a damn which one but if you mess up again, if you een think about... about... that, I will see to it myself that you don't live to disgrace our family name!"

Thank God! I was itching for some storybook action.

Kal-

I wiped at my bloody nose as the car pulled to a stop. Robert had pretty much beaten the drunk out of me. I covered my nose with my hand and walked into the house so I wouldn't mess up the carpet. I was used to Kal hitting me.

"What happened?" My mother asked shooting up from the couch. I just shook my head and walked up the stairs to the bathroom. Robert would explain to her how it was an accident, his hand slipped, or some bullshit like that.

I cleaned up my face and went into my room. Oh the drama.

What was so wrong with being gay anyways? It was because I didn't think like they wanted me to, I didn't do what they wanted me too. And I was miserable, I would have to change. Something had to happen.

Sorry for the delay =)

Robert

I took my mother's hand and smiled warmly at her.

"It's very good that you called me," I said softly. "That Steve he's so chummy with was completely drunk."

"Drunk?" Mother's eyes went wide and I squeezed her hand comfortingly, leading her to the Persian sofa in the next room.

"Yeah, did you see what he did to Kal's nose. If I was a less honourable man, I'd have killed him." I turned away, my head slightly bent and just the right measure of anger and regret in my voice. This was easy.

"You did the right thing, Rob," father said solemnly. "We're sorry to have interrupted your dinner party." I released my mother's hand and shook father's firmly before heading towards the door.

"That's okay," I said. "Someone's got to look out for my little brother. Say goodbye to him for me and tell him to stay away from Steve, okay? That boy's bad news."

"Will do," father said gratefully and after a few brief farewells, I got back in my car and drove it next door. I let myself into the house and realised I was hungry. For a moment, I was angry at my wife for not being there to cook me food as was her job. But I was able to calm myself and opened the fridge. A sandwich would have to do.

Robert is brutal lol

Kal-

There was a knock at the door, "Yeah." I said laying on my bed.

My father came in, "I want you to stay away from that Steve kid. I mean if he did that to you, he obviously wasn't good for you. And Robert said he was pretty drunk. You just don't need to be around that." I nodded in agreement. Everything was going to have to change.

"Kal?" My mom said from behind my dad. I sat up.

"What?" I said keeping my tone even.

"I just want you to know that I love you," her eyes were tearing up. I stood and hugged her.

"I know mom."

"I'm so glad Robert straightened things out." She blubbered into my shoulder. I had to close my eyes because I knew I would involuntarily roll them.

My parents left and I closed the door. Things were going to be better, they had to be.