*Warning* There is one brief swear word in this chapter. This is the only swear word in this story.
"Did you have fun?" Peter asked with a smile.
"Uh huh." Heather grinned.
"I wonder where Jesse ran off to?" Peter wondered.
He walked over by the bandstand and seen his guitar. A string was hanging down. Peter entered the downstairs bedroom. He seen Jesse sitting on his bed. He had a belt in his arms and he was softly crying.
"What's wrong pal?" Peter asked.
Jesse got off the bed on rubberly legs. "I broke your guitar." he sniffed.
"No you didn't. You just broke the string. That's all."
Jesse handed Peter the belt and turned around. He waited for Peter to yank on his arm, and whip him. He was surpised when Peter gently turned him around. He sat the belt on the bed.
"I will never hurt you Jesse." Peter told him in a soft voice.
"I broke your guitar string! Hit me! I deserve it!" Jesse sobbed.
"No you don't. There will be no beatings in this house."
"But I was bad!"
"No you weren't. Your father was. He had no right to hit you and your sister like that. I have an idea. Why don't we make up some rules. You can help me." Peter smiled.
"You're not mad?"
"No Jesse. I'm not mad. Rule number one. No touching the instruments without permission. Some of them are pretty-"
Jesse cut him off by throwing his arms around his waist. Peter smiled as he hugged the boy back.
"You're not like my dad, are you?"
"No. No one's going to hurt you here. You kids are safe." Peter assured him. Jesse smiled.
"Food's here!" Micky yelled.
Jesse raced to get his food. He ate it slowly.
"I see his table manners have improved. When are yours?" Davy teased Micky.
Micky stuck his tongue out at him.
~~~~~~ "Alright guys. Time to go to sleep." Micky said.
"Check the closet." Heather begged.
"Okay." Micky did, then smiled. "All clear."
They heard Davy whistling down the hall. A wicked smile formed on Micky's face.
"Ask Davy to check the closet. You guys are going to love this." Micky hid.
"You kids okay?" Davy asked.
"Check the closet." Heather begged.
"Okay." Davy smiled.
He entered the closet and seen Micky with a flashlight up againest his face.
"Boo!"
Davy grabbed his chest and jumped. "Don't do that!"
"You should've seen your face! That was so funny!" Micky gasped.
A pillow smacked his face. The kids laughed. Micky looked at Davy who had his arms folded.
"Oh you wanna fight huh?" Micky asked in a gangster voice.
"Uh-huh." Davy replied with a nod.
"Well then. You've asked for it!" Micky yelled.
The two had a pillow fight showing no mercy for each other. The kids screamed in delight.
"What's going on in here?" Peter asked.
A pillow smacked his face. He looked to see who had hit him. Both Micky and Davy were staring at the ceiling trying to look innocent.
Peter grinned as he grabbed a pillow and began smacking both Davy and Micky with it.
"What's going on in here?" Mike demanded.
Jesse and Heather now looked scared. Mike felt bad about that so he quickly added "How dare you guys have a pillow fight without me!"
The fight resumed.
~~~~~~~~~
It was now going on three weeks since Jesse and Heather had moved in.
At first Mike wasn't sure he and his friends could handle two kids. But now he felt he wouldn't have it any other way. He glanced at Davy who was fixing breakfast. He looked half asleep.
"Morning. I see you just woke up." Mike said.
Davy nodded. "About ten minutes ago. Do we have any milk?"
"I don't know. I'll go check."
They heard a knock on the door.
"After I answer that." Mike laughed.
He opened the door and seen Mr.Babbit.
"Rent!" the older man barked.
Heather came downstairs.
"Davy, I was looking for you...hey I know you!"
Mr.Babbit smiled. "You do?"
"Yes. Mike told all about you. He says you're the landlord from hell."
Mr.Babbit shot Mike a glare.
"Um...Davy why don't you give Heather a bath. Heather go help him. I'll finish making breakfast." Mike said.
"Come on." Davy laughed as he took Heather's hand.
"You do know I'll be doubling your rent." Mr.Babbit barked.
"Yes, I know." Mike sighed.
"Who is she anyway?"
"We have two kids staying here. She and her older brother were being abused by their father."
To Mike's shock Mr.Babbit's face fell.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Listen don't worry about the rent, okay? If you boys need anything don't be afraid to ask, okay?" Mr.Babbit patted Mike's shoulder.
"Thank you Mr.Babbit." Mike said sounding surpised and grateful.
The older man smiled and left. Mike sat on the bandstand with a smile on his face. Davy came out of the bathroom.
"You okay mate?"
"Yeah. But we're going to have to be a lot nicer to Mr.Babbit." Mike smiled.