Quiet Family Dinner

[Patch Adams]

It wasn't always that Patch did something nice for his parents. Hell, it wasn't always that he did something nice for anyone other than himself, period. But he had been saving his money since he started working for them and he decided they deserved a break. So he sent them to a B&B for a full weekend pampering session and even offered to babysit Emma. It was a good thing she already weaned off of their mother and didn't mind sleeping alone anymore so taking care of her wasn't going to be a hard task.

Especially since he had asked Layla to come over for dinner. An extra set of hands was always helpful.

He had also decided to cook dinner and was now almost done with the roasted chicken and potatoes when he heard a crash in the other room. "Ems?" He called out, walking out into the living room to find her staring wide eyed at the fallen books on the floor. "Ah! What happened?" He asked, just as the doorbell rang. "I was tryina get Buppy!" She pointed to the toy elephant on the shelf. "Uh...hold on. Let's see who's at the door!" He pointed to the door and she walked over, immediately clutching Patch's jeans. 

He answered the door and gave a wide grin when he saw who it was. So did Emma.

"Hey Lay."

"Nicky!" Emma squealed.

[Layla Harlow]

February 14th was probably one of the stupidest, most ridiculous things to ever be a thing in Layla's mind. Valentine's day, a holiday for couples to spoil each other with love, affection and presents. Things that should be given every single day you're with someone. Flowers, chocolates, annoying little teddy bears with cutesy messages that were all the same. People were so unoriginal that it made Layla sick when she was forced to go to the store. She'd opted to get Nicky supplies for his own make-shift valentines that he intended to give out at their valentine's day party at school. He made one for every single girl in his class, his teacher and his assistant teacher, all with an individual message that pertained to who he planned on giving it to. That was the one thing that had made Layla find it worth it. Nicky wasn't unoriginal. He was unique in many ways and he cared a fair amount more than others.

She tried her hardest not to show how disgusted the holiday made her, especially now that she was living a single life. Before she hadn't minded being single on the 'holiday' but it only offered her a reminder of how lonely she was now that Isaac was gone. Layla was independent, she didn't like feeling like she needed affection and love from a guy other than the little man that was sitting in the backseat of her car. Nicholas spoiled her every day in ways that no one else would understand unless they had a child and no one else.

It also helped out that she had a best friend who was willing to put up with her sourpuss attitude on such a day while his parents were off having a well-deserved weekend alone. Of course as soon as they pulled into the driveway, her spirits lifted because how could one have a sour attitude with a little girl like Emma waiting on the other side of the door. Nicholas flew out of the backseat and up the stairs, leaving Layla with the bags for both Patch and Emma. He knocked on the door excitedly while Layla kicked the car door shut and made her own way up to the door.

As it opened to reveal the two Adams children, Nicholas' smile widened, "Emma!" He pushed past Patch and hugged the little girl. Layla offered a small smile for her best friend and nodded in greeting, "Hey kid, wanna help me with these bags or are you just gonna hog all my girl's attention?"

Nicky disengaged from Emma and smiled sheepishly before taking a bag from Layla so that she could give Patch a one-armed hug, "We brought sugar for the little one, gonna crack her out while your parents are gone." She laughed and pecked him on the cheek, "Missed you. Need help in the kitchen?"

[Patch Adams]

Seeing the two immediately erased all the tension he had the past couple of days. Nicky and Emma got along so well that it looked like a well oiled team. They were shaping up to be the next Patch and Layla if the actual Patch and Layla didn't do something about it.

After hugging Nicky, Emma went straight for Layla's knees, hugging one as Layla hugged Patch.

The shadow manipulator squeezed his best friend back and snorted when promise of sugar was mentioned. Emma immediately pulled Nicky in, consequently forgetting Buppy and the mess she had made trying to get her toy. Who even put it up on the shelf was beyond Patch.

"Missed you too. Sorry I haven't been good at contacting you. Work's been busy and mom and dad are riding me about..." he waved a dismissive hand. "Another time. And no, no help in the kitchen. But if you could trick the kids into cleaning up the living room, I'll save an extra piece of peach cobbler for you after dinner." He whispered with a grin.

[Layla Harlow]

With Emma's arms around her leg, Layla ran her fingers through the little girl's hair, "Hi gorgeous girl!" And like that she was off with Nicky to do who knew what, though she trusted Nicholas to be a good boy with the younger girl, she still wondered what kind of mischief they would get themselves into. "Be good Nicholas," She called after them before shaking her head and sighing. "They're us. I swear to God, they're us."

Layla shrugged, "No worries, Patchy. It happens. I hope everything's okay though? Yeah?" With the kids around, she couldn't imagine him giving way to much more detail than that, but she did worry about him. His comment about tricking the kids made her laugh and she nodded, "You've got yourself a deal!" Especially since the most help she could offer in the kitchen was cleaning up and maybe...maybe cutting up things, but even that was a dangerous task for herself. She was not the cook between the two of them, Nicholas would not be learning that skill from her.

Thank God Patch knew how.

"Alright kiddies, time to play a game! We're gonna see who can pick up the most toys in the next minute, whoever wins gets first dibs on Patchy's cobbler after dinner!" Layla clapped her hands together. Nicholas was competitive, but she knew he'd always let little Emma win and he was a good kid who knew to pick up after himself, tricking the kids was going to be easy. "And go!"

With sixty seconds down, the kids had the vast majority of the mess cleaned up with a few lingering toys that Layla had opted to help pick up. "Now wash up before food, yeah? Don't want those little grimy hands gettin' all up in there, c'mon." She snatched Emma up in her arms and Nicholas followed into the bathroom to wash their hands.

[Patch Adams]

Picking the words right out of his brain, Patch chuckled at Layla and nodded. "I pity whoever tries to break them apart." He said, shaking his head in amusement when he heard Emma's shrieks of laughter.

"Yeah, they're fine. Just too much too soon." He shrugged and watched as Layla gathered the kids into the living room. He took a moment to just watch them before heading back to the kitchen to check on the food. It was browning nicely so he continued with the preparation he made for dessert.

Popping that in the oven and pulling the chicken out, he set it on the countertop to let it rest for a few minutes before he could put it on the serving plate.

He heard the kids running in the hall and he called them in, along with Layla. "So who won?" He asked.

[Layla Harlow]

When Patch called them all into the kitchen, Layla followed behind the two kids as they took off towards the sound of his voice, both laughing. Once they entered, the kids came to a screeching halt and Emma squealed as Nicholas tickled her. Layla smiled and leaned against the wall with her arms folded across her chest. Since Patch had last seen her, she'd put on weight, reaching just below a reasonable amount for her, but she was still working on it. Her appetite had come back and she was doing a lot better than she had been.

"Emma-lemma did. She's so fast!" Nicholas said exaggeratedly, though he had gone at a snails pace so that she could beat him, willingly. He hadn't cared if he won or not because watching Emma scramble around had been hilarious. Emma giggled and made a 'zooming noise' which made Nicholas and Layla both laugh.

Nicky looked back at his mom and he smiled, "Mom said she gets first dibs on the cobbler. I think she's gonna want to take the whole entire thing!" He tickled the little girl again, "Aren't ya? You're the cobbler monster! Rawrrrr!"

"Oh no, Patch, whatever are we going to do to stop her?" Layla said in mock horror with another laugh, tightening her arms around her body further. She was comfortable in Patch's house, especially with just the two kids, but the day had been pressing on her since the moment she woke up and she couldn't shake her own awkwardness.

[Patch Adams]

Patch laughed at Emma's zooming and pulled her booster seat out, picking her up so she could sit. "Oh really now, you're gonna finish a whole cobbler by yourself, Ems?" He asked, tickling her a little. "Rawr!" The little girl curled her fingers in a claw and laughed. "May I please have the drumstick?" She asked, her big brown eyes directed at Patch. Who could resist?

"Of course, little one." He nodded and waved Layla in. "You want the drumstick too, Nicky?" He asked as he started to cut the chicken. He didn't notice the way Layla was standing but her not coming in immediately did make him wonder a little.

[Layla Harlow]

When it came to food, Nicholas was always right there at the front of the pack. He didn't mind waiting for Emma to get situated, but he was most definitely going to be the next one to be fed! "Yes! Please, I mean." Always remembering those manners that even his mom had trouble remembering at times. She figured he'd done well enough to at least remember that please should be added in there somewhere. She offered a slight smile at that as he glanced over his shoulder at her to see if she'd caught it.

Layla slowly made her way into the kitchen, Nicholas patting the seat between him and Emma for her to sit. She walked past the table and kissed her son's forehead, mussing his hair before grabbing a plate of her own. She was hungry, and not all at once today and although she knew if she didn't eat Nicholas would be on her case, she knew she wasn't going to eat all that much.

"I can dish my own if you wanna just get yours and sit with the kids?" She said quietly, not expecting it to work, but it was worth a try. Patch wasn't always perceptive and he didn't need to be. She was going to eat, she was going to do her best to smile and laugh and have a good time. But she wasn't quite right. And waiting for the moment until she was could take forever. She just didn't want anyone to worry about her. "I think Em wants you to sit on the other side of her. Nicky already delegated where I'm sitting."

[Patch Adams]

"Coming right up." Patch nodded, grinning at the quick catch. As Emma drummed her fingers on the table, bouncing up and down, Patch couldn't help but look at the pseudo family he had sitting at the table, looking like the apple pie life he probably wouldn't actually have. It gave him pause before he continued to cut the pieces for the kids.

When Layla offered to cut her own portion, a part of Patch knew why but he shrugged it off. "It's cool. I'm here already."

He plated the drumsticks on Nicky's and Emma's plate and cut a piece for himself and Layla. "Hey Ems-" Patch started to ask Emma if she wanted the potatoes but was cut short by her nodding. "Taters, gimme taters, precious." She called out and Patch couldn't help the snort. The burdens of being a kid of parents who loved to quote from movies they watch too much.

Scooping up potatoes for Emma and Nicky, he put a few pieces on Layla's plate as well. Once everything was set down, Patch sat by Emma and before he could say "Dig in," Emma was already nibbling on her potatoes. "Well then, impatient little miss. Thanks for waiting." He teased.

[Layla Harlow]

Layla tried to keep the frown off of her face when he declined her offer. Of course she had expected as much, he wasn't stupid by any means. He knew she had a teensy bit of an eating disorder. Nothing her therapist didn't know about, but even so, she had hoped that he would let her divvy up how much she ate. She just worried that he would give her more than what she could handle and she would waste it after he spent so much time preparing it.

He cut her portion and she remained quiet, as to not seem ungrateful or to make him think there was something really wrong. Emma had him distracted enough that she was able to sit down at the table quietly while remaining for the most part undetected. Her mood remained off, not gloomy, not even depressed, just not her usual self. Not how she was with the three of them usually and she had to make sure Nicholas didn't catch on. He turned to her once she sat and she smiled, kissing his cheek and nuzzling him.

He waited until it was clear that Emma had already began eating before he too dug in and attacked his food. "This is good, Patch. You gotta teach Mom how to cook now." Nicky laughed and smiled sweetly at Layla.

Layla smiled and rolled her eyes as she slowly picked her way through her food. It was good, Nicholas hadn't been lying. She wasn't quite as enthusiastic about the food as the kids were though. She kept her eyes down on the table only occasionally glancing at her little boy when he decided to nudge her or poke fun. He still seemed clueless enough.

[Patch Adams]

"Eh, she gets by. Don't bully your mother." Patch chuckled in amusement, grinning at Layla. Just as Nicky seemed oblivious to his mother's odd behaviour, so was Patch. Busy dealing with Emma's quite messy eating habits, he had to keep constant watch while entertaining Nicky's ramblings as well. He didn't mind the chatter, and dinner wasn't the main event of the night. He knew the kids were going to want to do a lot more after this. It was going to be a long night, for sure.

Dinner went by quite quickly, with the kids asking for seconds. It was then that he noticed that Layla was having trouble with her food. He knew he couldn't say anything in front of the kids. Young as they were, they were incredibly perceptive. Nicky especially towards his mother.

Come dessert, Emma was already hyped up for it. Patch had to calm her down as they washed her hands first. "Okay guys, important question. Do we want ice cream with the cobbler?"

Emma's resounding yes had Patch looking at Nicky expectantly.

[Layla Harlow]

Layla was happy that Nicky so ecstatically asked for seconds, even more so when he ate all of it. He was a growing boy for sure and he was starting to eat like one. She could only cringe at the idea of him as a teenager and his eating habits. He was going to have to buy special stuff just for him because she wouldn't be able to afford it. There would hardly be anything left in her house if he ate much more than he already did.

Throughout dinner and seconds, Layla continued working on her portion but in such a way that it didn't seem as much of a struggle as she felt it was. Nicky was very preoccupied with Emma and all of the information he felt he needed to get out during the time they were all sitting at the table. For a kid that didn't talk much as a toddler, he didn't stop talking when he was with Patch, Emma and their parents. As Layla had guessed, it was all about comfort for her little boy. She guaranteed if he was forced to interact with his grandparents, he wouldn't be willing to say a word.

"Ice cream! Yes!" Nicholas exclaimed and fist pumped in excitement.

Layla stood up from the table, her plate almost cleared, though she hadn't been able to eat all of it. The idea of dessert did nothing for her stomach and the nerves she felt twisting inside of her. She gathered the rest of the plates and decided to help work on the dishes while Patch did his duty as chef, dishing out the cobbler and ice cream. She remained quiet as she started scrubbing the plates.

[Patch Adams]

Patch served the dessert for the kids and kept the rest for later. He wasn't going to eat the dessert until the kids had their fill. Knowing Emma, a killer for peaches, she would be asking for more. Because their parents weren't home, Patch figured she could ruin her eating habit for one night.

He let Layla clear the table as he continued his discussion with Nicky and Emma about Pokemon. As he predicted, Emma asked for seconds. And thirds, which after that, Patch had to put a stop to because she was practically vibrating in her booster seat.

"Nick, could you take Emma to her room?" Patch asked once he had helped clean her face. "I'll be there in a sec."

He wanted to talk to Layla who had been uncharacteristically quiet and he knew he shouldn't point that out while Nicky was still in the room.

[Layla Harlow]

Despite Nicholas' appetite, he was always pretty good about his sugar intake and limiting it without Layla having to be the mean and boring mom that made him stop. He had been content with just one helping of cobbler, as long as they saved him a piece for them to take home when they left. Those were his terms, and Layla had agreed with little hesitation. She already had an extra piece coming to her for getting the little ones to clean up.

She let the water run over her fingers and across her ring that now sat on her right hand. She finished with the dishes as Patch conversed with the kids about cartoons among other things that entertained them long enough to get through the rest of their dessert. By the end of it, miss Emma was covered with hers and Nicky assisted Patch in cleaning her up before taking her to her room to find something to play with. He rushed to Layla and wrapped his arms around her legs before taking Emma's hand, "Wanna show me all your cool toys, Em?"

Layla's smile slipped and she knew she was in for it.

Keeping her back turned, she stacked the plates so that she could dry them and put them away. She wasn't going to be the one to talk first. She didn't even know what she could say because she couldn't figure out what was even wrong with her.

[Patch Adams]

Patch was wiping the table down when Emma and Nicky left. He made sure that the kids were out of earshot before leaning against the countertop near Layla.

"So Em's birthday is coming up in a few week's time. Mom's having the party at this new kiddie restaurant Michael's. They're like Chuck E. Cheese with less gross. Nicky would love it."

Patch knew the conversation would turn in another direction so he led with something light. He knew Layla knew why he had asked for a little privacy.